Free original lessons
Funny Alien Drawing: Antenna and Eye Variations
Learn to draw a funny alien with body-shape options, antenna variants, and eye-placement grids. Build original characters using a simple convention and checkable steps.
Free lesson
Four exercises
Worked answers
Object Drawing Lessons
This lesson teaches a repeatable method for drawing funny alien characters. You will choose a body shape, add antennae, and vary eye placement using a clear convention: drawing height H is measured from the baseline to the top guide, with the midline halfway up H. The goal is expressive, original characters, not realistic anatomy. All measurements are simple and checkable, and any numerical values are hypothetical examples you can adjust to your actual paper and tools.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
Body-Shape Options and the Height Convention
Start with a body shape chosen from three simple options: a rounded pear, a tall oval, or a squat bean. Each shape is drawn inside a bounding box you define on your paper. For consistency, define a body height H: the baseline is the bottom of the body, and the midline is halfway up the body at H/2. Separately, define a top guide above the body for antennae; the antenna zone is the region from the body top up to that top guide. Treat the midline as a guide, not a strict rule. For example, if H is 40 mm, the midline sits at 20 mm above the baseline. These numbers are hypothetical; measure your own paper and choose values that fit.
Draw the body so its widest point sits near the midline. This keeps the character balanced and leaves room for antennae above and feet below. Use light pencil lines first, then darken the outline once you are satisfied. The body fills the full body height H from baseline to body top; the antenna zone sits above the body top up to your top guide, and feet sit at the baseline.
- Mark your baseline and midline on the paper using a ruler; label the body height H you chose.
- Draw a bounding box for the body that spans from the baseline to the body top, giving body height H.
- Sketch one body shape inside the box: pear, tall oval, or squat bean.
- Check that the widest point is near the midline and adjust with light erasing.
Antenna Variants and Attachment Points
Antennae make the alien funny and recognizable. Choose from four variants: single bent wire, double loops, three short spikes, or a curly spring. Attach antennae at the top of the body, spaced evenly. If the body width at the top is 30 mm, place attachment points at 10 mm and 20 mm from the left edge for two antennae. These values are hypothetical examples; measure your own body width and divide it into equal parts.
Keep antennae within the antenna zone: the region above the body top up to your top guide, so they do not crowd the eyes. Draw them with a consistent line weight and add small circles or dots at the tips for personality. Vary the bend direction to suggest mood: upward for alert, drooping for sleepy, and zigzag for silly.
- Measure the top width of your body and mark two or three evenly spaced attachment points.
- Choose one antenna variant and sketch it lightly from each attachment point.
- Keep antennae inside the antenna zone above the body top; adjust length if needed.
- Add tip details such as dots or small circles, then darken the final lines.
Eye-Placement Grid and Expression
Use a simple eye-placement grid to vary expressions. The face area is the upper half of the body, from the midline up to the body top. Divide that face area into a 3 by 3 grid: three columns and three rows. Place eyes in different cells to create funny looks. For example, one large eye in the center cell, two small eyes in the top-left and top-right cells, or three eyes in a diagonal line. The grid is a guide; you may shift eyes slightly for a natural look.
Eye size and shape change the mood. Round eyes suggest surprise, half-closed eyes suggest boredom, and mismatched sizes suggest silliness. Draw pupils as small circles or dots, and leave a tiny highlight if you like. Keep the eyes within the face area you marked on the body so the character reads clearly.
- Lightly draw a 3 by 3 grid over the face area of your body.
- Choose an eye pattern: single center, two symmetric, or three diagonal.
- Draw each eye with a consistent outline and add pupils.
- Check that eyes sit within the face area and follow the chosen grid cells; adjust spacing.
Adding Funny Details and Final Check
Add a mouth, small feet, and optional accessories such as a tiny hat or a scarf. Keep details simple and avoid realistic anatomy. A wide smile, a tiny frown, or a wavy line all work. Feet can be two small ovals at the baseline, spaced evenly under the body.
Before finishing, check your drawing against the rubric: body shape is clear, antennae are attached and stay within the antenna zone above the body top, eyes follow a grid pattern within the upper-half face area, and the character looks funny rather than realistic. Use the body height and midline convention to confirm proportions. If something looks crowded, erase and redraw lightly.
- Add a mouth shape that matches the eye expression.
- Draw two small feet at the baseline, evenly spaced.
- Optionally add one simple accessory, keeping it small.
- Review against the rubric and darken final lines.
Worked example
Draw a funny alien using a tall oval body, two curly antennae, and two eyes placed in the top-left and top-right grid cells. Use a top guide at 60 mm, with the baseline at 0 mm. The body should occupy the bottom 40 mm, so body height H = 40 mm and the midline is at 20 mm.
Worked answer
Mark baseline at 0 mm and body top at 40 mm, so body height H = 40 mm and midline at 20 mm. Draw a bounding box from 0 mm to 40 mm. Sketch a tall oval inside, widest near 20 mm. Attach two curly antennae at the top of the oval, spaced evenly, and keep them in the antenna zone between 40 mm and 60 mm (top guide at 60 mm). The face area is the upper half of the body, 20–40 mm. Draw a 3 by 3 grid over it: rows about 20–26.7 mm, 26.7–33.3 mm, and 33.3–40 mm. Place one eye in the top-left cell and one in the top-right cell, each about 6 mm wide and centered in its top-row cell (centers near 23.3 mm). Add a wide smile and two small feet at the baseline. Check that antennae stay in the antenna zone and eyes stay within the face area and their chosen grid cells.
Four practice exercises
Exercise 1
Draw a funny alien with a squat bean body, three short spike antennae, and a single large eye in the center grid cell. Use a top guide at 50 mm with the baseline at 0 mm. The body occupies the bottom 30 mm, so body height H = 30 mm and the midline is at 15 mm.
Show answer and check
A squat bean body drawn from 0 mm to 30 mm, widest near 15 mm; body height H = 30 mm and midline at 15 mm. Three spike antennae attached evenly at the top of the body, kept in the antenna zone between 30 mm and 50 mm (top guide at 50 mm). The face area is the upper half of the body, 15–30 mm. Lightly divide it into a 3 by 3 grid: rows about 15–20 mm, 20–25 mm, and 25–30 mm. Place one large eye centered in the middle grid cell, with its center near 22.5 mm and its extent within 20–25 mm. A simple mouth and two small feet at the baseline.
Why: The body stays in the lower portion, leaving the top third for antennae. The single center eye uses the grid's middle cell, which keeps the face balanced and funny.
Check: Measure that antennae tips are below 50 mm and above 30 mm. Confirm the eye center is near 22.5 mm, within the middle grid row (20–25 mm). Check that the body's widest point is near 15 mm.
Exercise 2
Draw a funny alien with a rounded pear body, two loop antennae, and two eyes in the middle-left and middle-right grid cells. Use a top guide at 70 mm with the baseline at 0 mm. The body occupies the bottom 45 mm, so body height H = 45 mm and the midline is at 22.5 mm.
Show answer and check
A rounded pear body from 0 mm to 45 mm, widest near 22.5 mm; body height H = 45 mm and midline at 22.5 mm. Two loop antennae attached at the top, spaced evenly, kept in the antenna zone between 45 mm and 70 mm (top guide at 70 mm). The face area is the upper half of the body, 22.5–45 mm. Lightly divide it into a 3 by 3 grid: rows about 22.5–30 mm, 30–37.5 mm, and 37.5–45 mm. Place two eyes in the middle-left and middle-right cells, each centered in its cell (centers near 33.75 mm). A small smile and two feet at the baseline.
Why: The pear body gives a friendly shape. Loop antennae add humor, and the middle-row eyes create a wide, surprised look.
Check: Verify antennae stay above 45 mm and below 70 mm. Check eye centers are near 33.75 mm, within the middle grid row (30–37.5 mm). Confirm the body's widest point is near 22.5 mm.
Exercise 3
Draw a funny alien with a tall oval body, one bent wire antenna, and three eyes placed diagonally from top-left to bottom-right grid cells. Use a top guide at 80 mm with the baseline at 0 mm. The body occupies the bottom 50 mm, so body height H = 50 mm and the midline is at 25 mm.
Show answer and check
A tall oval body from 0 mm to 50 mm, widest near 25 mm; body height H = 50 mm and midline at 25 mm. One bent wire antenna attached at the top center, kept in the antenna zone between 50 mm and 80 mm (top guide at 80 mm). The face area is the upper half of the body, 25–50 mm. Lightly divide it into a 3 by 3 grid: rows about 25–33.3 mm, 33.3–41.7 mm, and 41.7–50 mm. Place three eyes in the top-left, center, and bottom-right cells, each centered in its cell (centers near 29.2 mm, 37.5 mm, and 45.8 mm). A wavy mouth and two feet at the baseline.
Why: A single antenna keeps the top simple, while three diagonal eyes create a silly, asymmetric expression that still follows the grid.
Check: Measure the antenna tip is between 50 mm and 80 mm. Confirm each eye center falls within its grid cell in the face area 25–50 mm: top-left near 29.2 mm, center near 37.5 mm, bottom-right near 45.8 mm. Check the body's widest point is near 25 mm.
Exercise 4
Draw a funny alien with a squat bean body, two curly antennae, and two eyes in the top-center and bottom-center grid cells. Use a top guide at 60 mm with the baseline at 0 mm. The body occupies the bottom 35 mm, so body height H = 35 mm and the midline is at 17.5 mm.
Show answer and check
A squat bean body from 0 mm to 35 mm, widest near 17.5 mm; body height H = 35 mm and midline at 17.5 mm. Two curly antennae attached at the top, spaced evenly, kept in the antenna zone between 35 mm and 60 mm (top guide at 60 mm). The face area is the upper half of the body, 17.5–35 mm. Lightly divide it into a 3 by 3 grid: rows about 17.5–23.3 mm, 23.3–29.2 mm, and 29.2–35 mm. Place one eye in the top-center cell (center near 20.4 mm) and one in the bottom-center cell (center near 32.1 mm). Add a tiny frown and two feet at the baseline.
Why: Stacked center eyes create a funny, slightly confused look. The squat body and curly antennae keep the character playful.
Check: Check antennae stay above 35 mm and below 60 mm. Confirm the top-center eye center is near 20.4 mm and the bottom-center eye center is near 32.1 mm, each within its grid row and within the face area 17.5–35 mm. Verify the body's widest point is near 17.5 mm.
Common mistakes
- Drawing antennae too long and outside the antenna zone above the body top. Mark your top guide and trim antennae to fit; keep tips inside the antenna zone.
- Placing eyes randomly without a grid, causing a crowded face. Lightly draw the 3 by 3 grid and choose one cell pattern before drawing eyes.
- Making the body too wide so it touches the edges of the bounding box. Leave a small margin inside the box and keep the widest point near the midline.
- Using heavy pencil lines before the layout is checked. Sketch lightly first, check proportions, then darken only the final lines.
Self-check rubric
- Body shape is one of the three options and is clearly drawn within the bounding box.
- Antennae are attached at evenly spaced points and stay within the antenna zone above the body top.
- Eyes follow a recognizable grid pattern and sit within the face area and their chosen grid cells.
- The character reads as funny and original, not realistic anatomy.
- Line work is clean enough that the character's features are easy to identify.
Questions and answers
Do I have to use the exact height H values given?
No. The values are hypothetical examples. Measure your own paper and choose a height H that fits your drawing area, then keep it consistent.
Can I use more than three eyes?
Yes, as long as the eyes follow a clear pattern on the grid and stay within the face area you marked on the body.
What if my antennae look uneven?
Check the attachment points first; they should be evenly spaced. Then compare lengths and bend directions. Small differences can add character, but large ones may look accidental.
Is a realistic alien allowed?
This lesson focuses on funny, constructed characters. Realistic anatomy is outside the boundary; keep shapes simple and expressive.