Cartoon Drawing of a Skull

Below is the stock photo I located, you will notice I marked a grid at the edges of the photo so it was easier for me to start the drawing. This is a common method to help you create an initial layout. Split the subject photo into equal aquares, then create the same number of squares on your piece of paper, and attempt to create an outline by carefully studying where the lines of the skull croos the grid squares.

Below you can see the first two stages, creating the grid and then creating an outline for the skull based on where the grid meets the lines in the photo. You will notice on the right hand side of the photo I marked on the grid the position of the teeth, about 3/4 of the way down the image, and the top of the eye socket. These positions were roughly transferred over to the drawing grid so I could quickly and (relatively) accurately create the outline.

  

The next set of images show the drawing taking shape, once the outline was complete I added more detail, shading and tone to the drawing simply using my pencil. Finally shadow was added on the ground underneath the skull.

    

Finally, now that we have seen what a real skull looks like, we can create a really simple cartoon. Firstly I created a circle, then added wide eye sockets, as if the skull was wearing wide square glasses. I completed the cartoon by adding the upper and lower jaws simply, and shaded the eye sockets and the nose.

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