To draw the Grinch, start with simple shapes, then add his sneaky face details and Santa outfit. Work lightly at first so you can erase and adjust as you go.
Head and face
- Lightly sketch a tall oval for the head, a bit wider at the cheeks and narrower at the top and bottom.
- Around the oval, add a bumpy outline to suggest tufts of fur, especially at the cheeks and chin.
- Place a small rounded triangle or oval for the nose near the middle of the face, then sketch two tilted almond shapes above it for the eyes, slightly squinted to look mischievous.
- Add heavy, curved eyebrows above the eyes that angle downward toward the center to give him his grumpy look.
- Draw his trademark crooked grin: a long curved line that dips down in the middle and curves up toward one cheek, then add a second inner curve under the nose to suggest the upper lip.
Hat and fur
- On top of his head, draw the fluffy brim of a Santa hat as a wavy, cloud-like band following the curve of his skull.
- From one side of the brim, sketch the main cone of the hat bending over to one side, ending in a small fluffy pom-pom.
- Around his neck, draw another fluffy, wavy band for the fur collar of his Santa coat.
Body, arms, and details
- From the collar, sketch a simple torso like a narrow bell shape or long oval for his body in the Santa jacket.
- Add two sleeves coming out from the shoulders, slightly bent; put a fluffy cuff at each wrist. Then sketch simple hands: long, skinny fingers with a slight curve to look sneaky.
- If you include legs, draw them thin and slightly bent with simple elf-like shoes that curl a little at the toes.
- Go back over your lines more darkly to clean up the drawing, erase guidelines, then color: green for fur and face, yellowish eyes, red hat and coat, and white fur trim.
If you share what drawing level you’re at (beginner, intermediate) and whether you want just the head or full body, a more tailored step list can be given.
