Drawing a cartoon personification of death holding a scythe can be a fun way to create an amusing or lighthearted illustration.
With some basic drawing skills and a bit of practice, anyone can learn how to draw this classic image.
In this tutorial how to draw a cartoon death, I will walk through the steps of drawing cartoon death step-by-step.
How to Draw a Cartoon Death – A Step by Step Guide
The grim reaper, otherwise known as the personification of death, is a common character in cartoons and other media.
Typically depicted as a skeleton dressed in a hooded black robe and holding a scythe, cartoon death has an air of dark humor about him.
Learning how to draw a cartoon death with his signature scythe can open up opportunities for creating unique and engaging art.
In the following sections, we will outline the steps for drawing cartoon death in a simple, easy-to-follow way.
With basic sketching skills and a little patience, you can master this fun cartoon character.
Let’s get started!

Step 1: Draw a Basic Shape
The first step in our guide on how to draw a cartoon death by drawing an oval shape in the center of your paper. This will be the head of the cartoon death.
Draw a long, curved line extending from each side of the head to create the robe of the cartoon death. The lines should curve downward and slightly inward at the bottom.
Extend the lines further down to create the body of the cartoon death. Make the body narrow and elongated.

Step 2: Draw the Hands
Draw two arms extending from the sides of the body.
At the end of one arm, draw a small oval shape for the hand holding the scythe.

Step 3: Draw the Hood
Draw a long, curved line extending from each side of the head to create the hood or robe of the cartoon death.
The lines should curve downward and slightly inward at the bottom.

Step 4: Sketch the Scythe
The fourth step in our guide on how to draw a cartoon death by drawing a straight line start from the midpoint of the handle and extend outward for the handle of the scythe.
Now, draw two horizontal lines that intersect the vertical line at a right angle. These lines will define the top and bottom of the handle.
The blade of the Death hold scythe is the most important and defining feature.
Begin by creating the curved shape of the blade using long, sweeping lines. The end of the blade should have a pointed edge.
Now, add some “teeth” on the inside curve of the blade. These teeth should be pointed and evenly spaced. Remember that the teeth should be shaped like triangles with the base of the triangle being the inside curve of the blade.

Step 5: Add the Facial Features
Draw two large oval-shaped eyes on the middle line. You can make them slightly droopy or give them a sinister look by adding curved lines at the corners.
Below the eyes, draw a small, curved line for the nose. It can be a simple curved shape or a triangle pointing downwards.
Draw a wide, curved smile below the nose. You can make it slightly asymmetrical or give it jagged edges to add a creepy touch.
Add two small, rounded teeth at the ends of the smile. You can also add additional sharp or crooked teeth if you want to emphasize the character’s spooky nature.

Step 6: Color the Drawing
Once you’re satisfied with the outline, you can add color to your cartoon death.
Dark colors like black, gray, or deep purple work well for the character’s clothing and features.
You can use lighter shades or contrasting colors for the eyes, teeth, and scythe to add some visual interest.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully learned how to draw a cartoon death.

Tips and Ideas for Drawing Cartoon Death
Here are some additional tips and ideas to expand your cartoon grim reaper drawings:
- Vary the expression – try a laughing or scowling skull face for different moods.
- Experiment with poses – show death in action, dancing, or taking a selfie!
- Add props – death driving a car, holding an hourglass, playing guitar, etc.
- Draw different versions – futuristic sci-fi death, dark sorcerer death, or death in vacation clothes.
- Place in scenes – show death popping out of a grave, haunting a haunted house, or visiting the underworld.
- Draw only sections – hand and scythe, face portrait, full robed figure from back.
- Create sequences – show death knocking down pins at a bowling alley or waving goodbye.
The possibilities are endless when personifying death as a cartoon character! Stretch your imagination and develop your own style for maximum fun and entertainment.
Conclusion
Learning how to draw a cartoon death with his scythe in hand can open up new possibilities for humorous and imaginative art.
With the simple step-by-step guide provided, anyone can learn the basics of personifying death through cartoons.
Experiment with facial expressions, poses, props, scenes, and sequences to develop your creativity.
The process of drawing cartoon death can be both fun and enlightening.
With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to easily illustrate the grim reaper in your own unique style.
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