How to Draw Red Panda Step by Step (18 Easy Steps)
Step 1: Draw the Head Circle
Draw a large circle near the top of your paper, a little to the right of center. This will be the red panda’s head. Leave plenty of space below it for the body and tail.
Step 2: Add the Body
From the lower left side of the head, draw a curved line that swings down and around to make a round, bean-shaped body. Bring the line back up so it ends on the right side, just under the head. Our red panda is sitting, so the body should look soft and chubby.
Step 3: Draw the Fluffy Cheeks
Red pandas have big, fluffy cheeks. Draw a few spiky, zig-zag tufts of fur on both sides of the head. Then connect them with a curved line under the circle to make the chin. This makes the face wider at the bottom, which is the secret to a cute red panda.
Step 4: Draw the First Front Leg
Draw two long lines going down from the chest. Close them at the bottom with a round shape for the paw. The leg can overlap the body a little.
Step 5: Draw the Second Front Leg
Add the second front leg on the right side. Make it slightly shorter and thinner than the first one, so it looks like it’s a little farther away.
Step 6: Clean Up the Head
Now erase the bottom part of the circle that sits inside the cheeks. The head and the fluffy cheeks should become one smooth shape. Also erase any lines where the legs cross over the body.
Step 7: Draw the Big Tail
A red panda’s tail is long, thick, and fluffy, almost as long as its body. Start at the back on the left side and draw the tail curling around the front of the body, ending on the right in a rounded tip. Add a short curved line on the body to show the back leg.
Step 8: Add the Tail Rings
Draw curved lines across the tail to make about 7 or 8 rings. Curve each line in the same direction as the tail, so the tail looks round instead of flat.
Step 9: Draw the Toes
Add three or four small ovals at the bottom of each front paw. These are the toes.
Step 10: Draw the Eyes
Draw two round eyes in the middle of the face and fill them in with black. Leave a good gap between them. Eyes placed low and wide apart make any animal drawing look cuter.
Step 11: Add the Eyebrow Patches
Draw two small curved patches above the eyes. Real red pandas have white fur in this spot, and it gives them their curious, surprised look.
Step 12: Draw the Ears
Add two large, pointed ears on top of the head, one on each side. Round the tips just a little.
Step 13: Draw the Inner Ears
Draw a smaller shape inside each ear. Later, you’ll color this part white or light cream.
Step 14: Draw the Nose and Mouth
Draw a small, rounded triangle for the nose between and slightly below the eyes. Under it, draw a little smile that looks like a soft “w”.
Step 15: Draw the Muzzle
Draw a furry outline around the nose and mouth. Let it rise up into a point between the eyes. This is the white muzzle that makes a red panda’s face so easy to recognize.
Step 16: Add the Cheek Markings
On each cheek, below the eyes, draw a furry tear-drop shape. Red pandas have white markings here and reddish “tear marks” running down from their eyes.
Step 17: Add Fur Details
Draw a few short, zig-zag strokes on the forehead, chest, and front leg to suggest fur. Add a small white highlight in each eye and on the nose. Don’t overdo it; a few strokes are enough.
Step 18: Trace the Final Outline
Go over your best lines with a black marker or a darker pencil. Once the ink is dry, erase any leftover pencil lines. Your red panda drawing is finished and ready to color!
How to Color Your Red Panda
Want your red panda to look like the real animal? Use these colors:
| Part | Color |
|---|---|
| Head, back, and body | Rusty red-orange |
| Muzzle, eyebrow patches, cheek markings, ear edges | White or light cream |
| Legs, paws, and belly | Dark brown or black |
| Tear marks under the eyes | Darker red-brown |
| Tail | Red-orange, with every other ring a darker red-brown |
| Eyes and nose | Black, with a white highlight |
Coloring tips:
- Color the white areas first (or leave them blank), so the red doesn’t smudge into them.
- Use light pressure for the first layer of red-orange, then add a second layer near the edges to give the fur some depth.
- For the tail rings, press harder with the same crayon to get a darker shade. You don’t need a second color.
Tips for Drawing a Cute Red Panda
- Big head, small body. A head that’s almost as big as the body instantly makes your drawing cute.
- Wide cheeks. Make the face wider at the bottom than at the top. Red pandas have chubby, fluffy cheeks.
- Eyes in the middle. Place the eyes in the middle of the face, not near the top, with a space between them.
- A tail as long as the body. The big, ringed tail is the red panda’s signature, so don’t make it too thin.
- Zig-zag lines for fur. Use short jagged lines on the cheeks and chest instead of smooth ones to show fluffy fur.
- Light lines first. Sketch lightly, and only press hard on the final outline.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Drawing the tail too skinny. A thin tail makes the red panda look like a raccoon or a cat. Keep it thick and fluffy.
- Forgetting the face markings. The white muzzle, eyebrow patches, and cheek marks are what make it look like a red panda. Without them, it can look like a fox.
- Straight tail rings. Straight lines make the tail look flat. Curve every ring around the tail.
- Erasing too early. Wait until the final outline is done before erasing your guide lines.
- Pressing too hard at the start. Dark sketch lines are hard to erase and leave marks on the paper.
Fun Facts About Red Pandas
Learning a little about the animal can help you draw it better. Here are some fun facts:
- They had the name “panda” first. Red pandas were given the name “panda” in the 1820s, decades before the giant panda was described in the West.
- They’re not bears or raccoons. Red pandas belong to their own animal family, called Ailuridae.
- They live in the mountains. Red pandas live in the forests of the Himalayas and nearby mountains in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China.
- They mostly eat bamboo. A special wrist bone works like an extra thumb, helping them hold bamboo stems.
- Their tail is a blanket. In cold weather, red pandas curl up and wrap their fluffy tail around themselves to stay warm.
- They are endangered. Red pandas are listed as Endangered by the IUCN because of habitat loss and poaching. You can learn more from Red Panda Network.
- “Firefox” is one of their nicknames.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a red panda easy to draw?
Yes. When you break it into simple shapes, like a circle for the head and a bean shape for the body, a red panda is one of the easier animals to draw. This 18-step guide is made for kids and beginners.
How do you draw a red panda face?
Start with a circle, add fluffy cheeks on both sides, then draw two round eyes in the middle of the face. Add white eyebrow patches above the eyes, a rounded triangle nose, a small smile, a furry muzzle, and tear-drop markings on the cheeks. Steps 10 to 16 above show the face in detail.
What colors do I need to color a red panda?
You only need four colors: red-orange for the body, dark brown or black for the legs and belly, white for the face markings and ear edges, and black for the eyes and nose. A darker red-brown for the tail rings is a nice extra.
How long does it take to draw a red panda?
Most people finish this drawing in about 20 minutes. Coloring takes another 10 to 15 minutes.
Is a red panda a bear or a raccoon?
Neither. Even though it shares a name with the giant panda and has a ringed tail like a raccoon, the red panda belongs to its own family, Ailuridae.
Can I print this red panda tutorial?
Yes. You can download the free printable PDF and coloring page above. No sign-up is needed.
Share Your Red Panda Drawing!
We’d love to see your red panda. Share your drawing in the comments below, or tag us on [Instagram / Pinterest].