Monkeys are cheeky, swinging, banana-loving animals that are great fun to draw, with their round faces, big ears and long curling tails. In this guide I will show you how to draw an easy monkey step by step, building a cute cartoon monkey from simple circles.

🖍️ What You Need

  • A pencil
  • An eraser
  • White paper
  • A black fine-liner
  • Brown, tan and a little pink colouring pencil

How to Draw an Easy Monkey Step by Step

  1. Draw a circle for the monkey's head.
  2. Add a rounded heart-shaped or oval face area inside the head for the lighter muzzle and forehead.
  3. Draw two big round ears, one on each side of the head.
  4. Add two big eyes, a little nose and a wide friendly smile in the face area.
  5. Draw a rounded body below the head, a bit smaller than the head for a cute look.
  6. Add two arms and two legs — make the arms nice and long for swinging.
  7. Draw a long curling tail looping out from the body.
  8. Outline in pen, erase the pencil, and colour the monkey brown with a tan face, ears and tummy.
💡 Parikshet's Tip: Give your monkey long, bendy arms and a curling tail — those are what make it look like a monkey ready to swing through the trees, rather than just any round animal.

🌟 Did You Know?

Some monkeys use their tails like an extra hand! These 'prehensile' tails are so strong and grippy that a monkey can hang from a branch by its tail alone while it picks fruit with both hands.

Ways to Make Your Monkey Cheeky

  • Give it a banana to hold or nibble.
  • Draw it hanging upside down by its tail from a branch.
  • Add a cheeky raised eyebrow or a winking eye.
  • Draw a little baby monkey clinging to its back.

🎯 Try This: Draw a Monkey in the Jungle

  1. Draw your monkey hanging from a tree branch.
  2. Add lots of big leaves and vines around it.
  3. Draw a bunch of bananas hanging nearby.
  4. Add a colourful parrot and a peeping sun in the background.