Drawing cartoons is a wonderful way to bring everyday objects to life. One of the most interesting objects to draw as a cartoon is a broom, which has a simple shape but provides a lot of room for creativity. With its tall handle, bristles, and potential for fun details, a broom can be turned into a whimsical cartoon character or object that adds charm to any illustration. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of drawing a cartoon broom step by step. Let’s dive into the details and get started on creating a fun, friendly broom cartoon!
Tools and Supplies You’ll Need to Draw a Cartoon Broom
To draw a cartoon broom, you’ll only need a few basic tools. Here’s a list of what will come in handy:
Paper (a sketchpad or printer paper)
Pencils (HB for sketching, and 2B or 4B for darker outlines)
Eraser (preferably a kneaded eraser for flexibility)
Fine-liner pens or black markers for inking
Colored pencils, markers, or crayons to add vibrant color
A cartoon broom can be drawn by anyone, so if you don’t have all of these supplies, don’t worry—you can still follow along!
Step 1: Sketching the Basic Outline of the Broom
Start with the Handle
Begin by drawing two parallel lines vertically on your paper. These lines will form the broom handle. Keep them close together to create a thin handle but ensure enough room to add details later. For a cartoon, a slightly wavy or curved handle can add character and make the broom look more whimsical.
Add the Bristles
At the bottom of the handle, draw an oval shape that will form the top of the broom’s bristles. This shape should be wider than the handle itself and slightly rounded to create a full, cartoon-like base.
Step 2: Shaping the Bristles and Defining the Handle
Creating the Bristle Shape
To make the bristles, start by sketching curved lines that fan out slightly from the oval base. You can draw the bristles wider at the bottom and taper them as they connect to the oval. A cartoon broom doesn’t need to be overly detailed, so keep the bristles simple and smooth.
Adding Sections to the Handle
To make the handle look more three-dimensional, add a few light lines along its length. These lines can be horizontal or slightly angled to mimic wood grain. For a cartoon, it’s fun to exaggerate these lines for an extra playful look.
Step 3: Adding Cartoon Features and Expressions
Drawing the Face
One of the best ways to bring your cartoon broom to life is by adding a face. You can draw large, round eyes in the middle of the handle or near the base where it meets the bristles. For a cheerful look, position the eyes close together and add pupils slightly off-center to give your broom character.
Adding a Mouth
Underneath the eyes, draw a simple, smiling mouth. You can make the mouth as small or as large as you want, depending on the expression you want for your broom. A simple smile will make your broom look friendly, while an open mouth with a tongue can give it an excited appearance.
Step 4: Inking Your Cartoon Broom
Outline the Handle and Bristles
Take your fine-liner pen or black marker and go over the pencil lines of the handle and bristles. Make sure to use smooth, continuous lines for the handle to give it a polished look. When inking the bristles, try adding slight variations in line thickness to make them look natural.
Inking the Face and Details
Trace over the eyes, mouth, and any other facial details you’ve added. If your broom has any “accessories” like a bow, hat, or extra lines for wood grain, outline those as well. This will make all of the details stand out and help keep the cartoon style bold.
Erase Pencil Lines
Once the ink is dry, gently erase any remaining pencil lines. This step will give your cartoon broom a clean, professional appearance.
Step 5: Adding Color to Your Cartoon Broom
Choosing Colors
Traditional brooms usually have a brown handle and tan or yellow bristles. But since this is a cartoon, feel free to get creative! You could make the handle bright red or green for a unique twist.
Coloring the Handle
Start by shading in the handle with your chosen color. If you’re using colored pencils, try pressing slightly harder on one side of the handle to create a subtle shadow, which adds depth. Markers or crayons work well for solid, vibrant colors.
Coloring the Bristles
Use a different color for the bristles, usually a light brown or yellow. To make the bristles look dimensional, you can blend two shades—use a darker shade at the base and gradually lighten toward the tips.
Adding Highlights
Use a white colored pencil or gel pen to add highlights along the handle and bristles. Highlights make the broom appear glossy and help give it a fun, cartoonish charm.
Step 6: Adding Unique and Fun Elements
Experimenting with Accessories
Give your cartoon broom a bit of personality by adding accessories. You could add a small bow around the handle, a hat on top, or even glasses. These extra touches make the broom look like a character.
Creating Different Expressions
Try drawing the same broom with different facial expressions, such as surprised, sleepy, or even a little mischievous. Changing the size of the eyes, adding eyebrows, or adjusting the mouth can create a whole new look.
Drawing a Broom in Motion
To make the broom look like it’s sweeping or flying, angle the handle and add small motion lines around the bristles. This can give your broom a dynamic, animated feel.
Tips for Avoiding Common Cartoon Drawing Mistakes
Keeping Proportions Consistent
When drawing cartoons, exaggerating proportions is common, but try to keep the handle, bristles, and face balanced. Making one part too large or small can make the drawing feel unbalanced.
Practicing Smooth Lines
For a clean, cartoon look, practice drawing smooth, continuous lines. This is especially helpful when drawing the handle and bristles, as it makes the drawing look polished.
Coloring Within the Lines
Coloring carefully will give your cartoon broom a professional finish. If you accidentally color outside the lines, use a white gel pen or eraser to correct it.
Practice Exercises for Improving Cartooning Skills
To get more comfortable drawing cartoon brooms, try these practice exercises:
Draw Brooms with Different Handles
Practice drawing handles in different shapes and sizes, such as short and stubby or long and thin. This will help you experiment with various cartoon styles.
Create a Broom Character Family
Draw a group of cartoon brooms with different colors, sizes, and expressions. This exercise is a great way to develop characters and storytelling within your artwork.
Practice Expressions on the Broom
Draw the broom’s face with different expressions on a separate sheet of paper. Play with happy, sad, surprised, or angry faces to give you ideas for future cartoon projects.
Bringing Your Cartoon Broom to Life in a Scene
If you want to take your broom drawing to the next level, try placing it in a scene. Draw your broom alongside other cartoon objects like a dustpan, bucket, or even a playful pile of dust. This setting can help tell a story and add context to your artwork.
Adding a simple background like a tiled floor or a small room corner can make your cartoon broom look like it’s part of a bigger picture. Motion lines, small action symbols like stars, or smiley dust particles can also enhance the overall scene and give it a fun, lively feel.
Conclusion
Drawing a cartoon broom is a delightful and accessible way to experiment with cartooning techniques. This guide gives you a solid foundation for capturing a broom’s simple shape and transforming it into a fun, personable character. Remember to enjoy the process, and don’t worry about achieving perfection—cartooning is all about expressing creativity, experimenting with shapes, and adding a bit of humor.
The more you practice drawing everyday objects as cartoons, the easier it becomes to visualize and draw other items in fun, playful ways. So, whether this is your first cartoon drawing or just another piece to add to your portfolio, creating a cartoon broom will bring your artistic abilities to life. Happy drawing!
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