Learn how to draw a great looking Cthulhu with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.
By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a beautiful Cthulhu.
Jump to the step-by-step instructions.
In today’s drawing tutorial, we’re going to draw a cartoon Cthulhu.
Cthulhu is a creation of horror-mystery author H.P. Lovecraft who appears in Lovecraft’s stories from the first half of the twentieth century and in thousands of derivative works including short stories and books, board games, video games, television shows, songs, and a couple of plays.
There are even a moth, a spider, a microorganism, and an extinct type of sea creature named after him!
Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.
Cthulhu is one of the Elder Gods, ancient horrors worshipped by cultists and lying in wait under the ocean to one day return.
Lovecraft described him as, "A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind."
Your cartoon Cthulhu drawing can also inspire terror and madness in people everywhere!
If you want to draw your own cartoon Cthulhu follow along with this simple step-by-step tutorial. Grab your pencil or pen, markers, crayons, or colored pencils, and a sheet of paper, and create your own tentacled Deep One. Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!
If you liked this tutorial, see also the following drawing guides: Werewolf, Zombie, and Ghost Rider.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing Cthulhu
How to Draw a Great Looking Cthulhu for Kids, Beginners, and Adults - Step 1
1. Start by drawing Cthulhu's eyes. They're close together, slanting inwards with big, angry eyebrows.
Easy Cthulhu Drawing - Step 2
2. Next, we draw the basic outline of Cthulhu's head. It's kind of a tall dome, with a couple of little bumps where ears would be. It's vaguely squid-shaped.
Easy Cthulhu Drawing - Step 3
3. We're going to add a couple of wavy lines under his eyes to give more shape to his face. Add two curves at the sides of his head, one like a loose c-shape and a backward one to give definition. Next, draw the tops of his mouth tentacles.
Easy Cthulhu Drawing - Step 4
4. To finish those tentacles, I'm going to follow the shape of the top line and just bring it gradually closer until these wavy lines meet at a point. Let’s give him another, bigger tentacle on this side.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
Easy Cthulhu Drawing - Step 5
5. Then add a matching large tentacle on the other side, curving around to a nice little loop. Now, add the tip of another tentacle behind the large one. This way you can tell he has lots more tentacles we can't see.
Easy Cthulhu Drawing - Step 6
6. Next let's add the small tentacle in the back on the other side. Then we're going to draw a fourth tentacle, this one arcing up.
Easy Cthulhu Drawing - Step 7
7. Now we finish the matching tentacles on the other side. Then the next is to start Cthulhu's wings. Start drawing your line curving up at the bump on the side of his head. End the line with a little thorn-shaped claw.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
Add More Details to Your Cthulhu Picture - Step 8
8. Starting at the claws, curve that line upwards and out to each side, so his wings are lifted high behind him. From the top of each wing, draw a second line back down, following the curve of the last one, creating the structure for his wings. At the bottom, draw an arc facing the opposite way to form the bottoms of his wings.
Complete the Outline of Your Cthulhu Drawing - Step 9
9. Starting across from the claws, draw a couple of lines curving downward. These are the webbing of the wings. Connect the tip of the wing with the ends of the ribs with curving lines, like a batwing or the edge of an umbrella.
Color Your Cthulhu Drawing
Finally, add color. Green is a great color for a horror from the deep and red eyes add that menacing touch.
For more great Fantasy drawing tutorials, see the 51 Easy Fantasy Art Projects for Kids post.
Cthulhu Drawing Tutorial - Easy & Fun Printable Pages
Join now and get immediate access to thousands of printable drawing instruction and practice pages!
Learn how to get access to thousands of printable pages!
MEMBER TROUBLESHOOTING
Still seeing ads or not being able to download the PDF?
First, check that you're logged in. You can log in on the member login page.
If you're still not able to download the PDF, the likely solution is to reload the page.
You can do this by clicking the browser reload button.
It is a circular arrow-shaped icon at the top of the browser window, typically found in the upper-left side (you can also use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+R on PC and Command+R on Mac).