How to draw the Grinch: Step-by-step guide for beginners
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Hello, Doodleers! Today we’re venturing up to Mount Crumpit to draw one of the most iconic holiday characters of all time—the Grinch himself. With his long fuzzy limbs, crooked smirk, and permanently unimpressed glare, the Grinch is a blast to draw because every line adds attitude.
This tutorial is perfect for beginners, kids, and anyone who wants to bring a little mischievous holiday energy into their sketchbook. Grab your pencil, warm up your doodling hand, and let's get grinchy.
Quick Tip: Always start your drawing lightly with a pencil—this way, you can easily erase any little mistakes, and your final artwork will look clean, neat, and totally awesome!
Step 1
Start with two ovals. The top one should be sideways and the bottom one should be up and down.
Step 2
Add a rounded cap on top of the upper oval and a little rounded triangle for his nose. Add another sideways oval on top of the lower one and add two lines dangling from the bottom.
Step 3
Add two circles for his eyes and a downturned curve for his Grinchy mouth. Connect the head to his shoulders with two curvy lines. Add two long lines from his shoulders for his arms, one with a circle at the other end (for his fist). Add two more dangly lines at the bottom.
Step 4
Add his little quaf of hair on top of his head as well as his trademark eyebrows. Add a little circle to his nose for some shine. Add another line to each arm to fill out its shape. Add a downturned thumb to his fist and start shaping up his Santa hat. Finally, add two little floppy sock shapes for his feet.
Step 5
Add the remaining details like his forehead wrinkles, the tuft of hair around his shoulders, his fingers on both hands, the remainder of his Santa hat, and lots of little hairs.
Step 6
Carefully erase all the initial pencil guidelines, leaving a clean, inked drawing of The Grinch ready to be colored!
Step 7
Grab that Grinchy green color and fill him in. Don’t forget his yellow eyes to give him that menacing look. Use a dark green for his nose. Then color in his cheery Santa hat. And there you have it!
At DoofyDoodles, we love leaning into a character’s personality, and few characters have more attitude than the Grinch. Try exaggerating his frown, making his eyebrows even sharper, or giving him an even fluffier, scruffier silhouette. The more expressive your Grinch, the better.
When you’re done, try drawing him in different moods—grumpy, surprised, secretly happy, or caught mid-scheme. Or give him props: a stolen ornament, Max’s antler, or even a giant sack of Christmas loot. This is a character built for playful variations.
Related Questions about The Grinch
Why doesn’t my Grinch look like the one from the movie?
There are many versions of the Grinch—book, 1966 animation, Jim Carrey, Illumination—so yours doesn’t need to match perfectly. Add your own style and exaggerate features you enjoy drawing.
What’s the easiest part of drawing the Grinch?
His basic shapes are surprisingly simple—his personality comes from small details like eyebrows, posture, and mouth shape. Beginners usually nail the silhouette quickly.
Can I make a cute version of the Grinch instead of a grumpy one?
Absolutely. Try softer eyes, a small smile, or a tiny version of him holding an ornament. Character reinvention is half the fun.
Can I draw the Grinch digitally?
Yes! Digital tools make it easy to create fuzzy edges, smooth shading, and expressive facial tweaks that bring out his personality.
Fun Facts about The Grinch
He wasn’t always green – In Dr. Seuss’s original book, the Grinch is black and white (with red eyes). His green color came from the 1966 animated special.
His heart really does grow – The “three sizes” line isn’t just a joke—it’s become one of the most famous visual metaphors in children’s literature.
Inspired by real feelings – Dr. Seuss said he wrote the story after realizing he felt unusually grumpy during the holidays one year.
The Grinch lives above Whoville – His Mount Crumpit home symbolizes isolation… and gives him a perfect vantage point for holiday-stealing schemes.
He has had multiple redesigns – Every new adaptation (animated, live-action, CG) reimagines his body shape, fur texture, and expressions while keeping his core personality intact.
Here at DoofyDoodles, we believe everyone can enjoy doodling their favorite characters. Keep practicing, stay silly, and explore our Goodies page for more fantastic drawing guides and doodling adventures!
