30 Easy Monkey Drawings Anyone Can Do

Swapping the circle for a tall oval gives a slightly older, cheekier monkey. The longer head changes the whole feel. It is just as easy to draw.

Step 1 draw a tall oval for the head. Step 2 add a heart patch and ears at the middle sides. Step 3 place the eyes higher up so the muzzle sits in the lower third.

Set the eyes above the halfway line so the muzzle has room below.

Don’t center the face patch; keep it in the lower half of the oval.

The pose everyone pictures — a monkey dangling from one arm. It is dynamic but still easy. It adds instant personality.

Step 1 draw the head and face. Step 2 add a bean body and one arm reaching straight up. Step 3 add the other arm, two legs, a curling tail, and a branch line above the hand.

Draw the branch line above the gripping hand so it has something to hold.

Don’t bend the hanging arm; a straight reach reads as gripping.

A seated monkey is calm and complete with barely any extra work. It turns the face into a whole animal. It is a reliable easy pose.

Step 1 draw the head and face. Step 2 add a rounded bean body below. Step 3 add short arms in the lap, two feet, and a tail curling to one side.

Keep the hands and feet simple mittens at this size.

Don’t add fingers and toes; mittens keep it easy and clean.

A monkey walking on all fours is a natural, easy pose. The four-point stance is stable and simple. It shows the monkey on the move.

Step 1 draw a gently curved horizontal spine. Step 2 add the head at the front and hips at the back. Step 3 add two front and two back legs in a mid-step stagger and a raised curling tail.

Stagger the legs so one pair is forward and one back for a walking look.

Don’t line all four legs up straight; a stagger shows motion.

A monkey climbing a trunk makes a quick little scene. The vertical trunk gives it context. It feels active and natural.

Step 1 draw two vertical lines for a tree trunk. Step 2 add a monkey gripping the trunk with arms and legs reaching up. Step 3 turn the head to look out and trail the tail down.

Bend the limbs as if grabbing the bark on each side of the trunk.

Don’t float the monkey off the trunk; press its hands onto the bark.

A monkey eating is a characterful pose that is still simple. Both hands to the mouth curls the body in. It tells a tiny story.

Step 1 draw a seated monkey leaning forward. Step 2 bring both hands up to the mouth with a piece of fruit. Step 3 tuck the head toward the hands and curl the tail.

Lean the whole body toward the food to focus the pose.

Don’t sit it upright; leaning in makes the eating read.

This monkey makes the curling tail the star. The big loose spiral is fun to draw. It shows off the most monkey-like feature.

Pro tipDraw the tail in one confident stroke and taper it thinner at the tip.

Step 1 draw a simple sitting monkey. Step 2 sweep one long line out from the lower body. Step 3 spiral the end into a big loose curl and taper the tip.

AvoidDon’t draw the tail straight or even-width; the tapered curl is the point.

A monkey peeking over an edge is playful and shows only the fun part. The hidden body keeps it simple. It reads as curious and sneaky.

Pro tipShow only the eyes and up so it clearly reads as peeking.

Step 1 draw a horizontal edge line. Step 2 add the top of a monkey head and two ears above it. Step 3 add two hands gripping the edge and dot eyes peeking over.

AvoidDon’t draw the whole body; hiding it below the line is the joke.

Three little monkeys together make a cheerful group. Staggering them looks natural. It fills a page fast.

Step 1 draw three simple monkeys at different heights. Step 2 turn them toward each other. Step 3 link them with a shared branch or overlapping tails.

Stagger the three heights so the group looks natural.

Don’t line them up level; height variation looks better.

A monkey holding a balloon is cheerful and simple. The balloon is one oval on a string. It gives a happy, celebratory feel.

Pro tipLet the string curve a little so the balloon feels like it is floating.

Step 1 draw a standing monkey. Step 2 raise one hand holding a string. Step 3 draw an oval balloon at the top of the string with a little knot.

AvoidDon’t draw a straight stiff string; a gentle curve looks lighter.

A monkey from behind is a clever, easy variation that skips the face. The curled tail becomes the star. It is unexpected and fun.

Step 1 draw a rounded back and head from behind. Step 2 add the edges of two ears poking out at the sides. Step 3 add two legs, arms peeking out, and a big curled tail.

Show just the edges of the ears so it still reads as a monkey.

Don’t draw a face; the back view is the whole idea.

A monkey holding a little heart is sweet and story-like. The heart gives it purpose. It is adorable for cards.

Pro tipTilt the head toward the heart for a fond, gentle look.

Step 1 draw a sitting monkey. Step 2 bring both hands together in front. Step 3 draw a small heart resting in the hands and tilt the head toward it.

AvoidDon’t add more than one heart; a single held heart is sweetest.

An extra-long looping tail is fun to draw and very monkey. The winding line fills the page. It shows off the tail’s flexibility.

Pro tipLet the long tail loop naturally rather than zig-zagging.

Step 1 draw a small simple monkey. Step 2 sweep a long tail line that loops and winds across the space. Step 3 taper it and add a curl at the very end.

AvoidDon’t make the tail thick the whole way; taper it toward the tip.

A monkey blowing a kiss is sweet and playful. A little heart floating from the mouth tells the story. It is charming for love notes.

Pro tipFloat the heart just off the hand so it looks like it is being blown.

Step 1 draw a smiling monkey face. Step 2 bring one hand up near the mouth. Step 3 add a tiny heart floating from the hand and a puckered mouth.

AvoidDon’t draw a wide grin; a small pucker suits blowing a kiss.

A monkey sticking its tongue out is the cheekiest, funniest face and a perfect closer. The one small tongue adds loads of attitude. It is playful and easy.

Step 1 draw a monkey face with the eyes half-closed or winking. Step 2 add an open mouth on the muzzle patch. Step 3 draw a small tongue poking out and out to one side.

Angle the tongue to one side for extra cheekiness.

Don’t draw a big tongue; a small poked-out one is funnier.