How to Draw a Marionette Puppet (Easy Step by Step)
A marionette is a puppet that moves on strings, and it is easy to draw. This one is built from a circle, an egg shape, a few small curves, and some straight lines. The bar and strings on top make it look like it is really hanging in the air.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a marionette puppet step by step
How to Draw a Marionette Puppet · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The round head
Draw a circle a little wider than it is tall, near the middle of the page. This is the puppet's head, so leave room above it for the bar and strings.
Step 3: The egg-shaped body
Under the head, draw a rounded egg shape that is a little narrower than the head. Let the top of the egg touch the bottom of the head.
Step 4: Two small ears
On each side of the head, draw two tiny curved lines, one above the other, like a little curl. Make both sides match in size and height.
Step 5: Arms and hands
Draw two short arms that slant down and out from the top sides of the body. Each arm is two lines that end at a round circle for a hand.
Step 6: Legs and feet
Draw two short legs going down from the bottom of the body, each made of two nearly straight lines. At the bottom of each leg, add a wide oval for a foot.
Step 7: A happy face
Make two solid dots for eyes, side by side in the middle of the head. Under them, draw a small curved smile like a little bowl.
Step 8: The control bar
High above the head, draw a long, flat rectangle. This is the handle the puppeteer holds to move the puppet.
Step 9: The strings
Draw a short straight line from the middle of the bar down to the top of the head, and a short one going up from the middle of the bar. Then draw a long straight line from each end of the bar down to each hand.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your marionette puppet? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a rocket or how to draw a shooting star next.
Tips for drawing a marionette puppet
- Draw the strings last with a ruler or a steady hand, so they stay straight and meet the hands and the bar neatly.
- The hands are circles, so draw them lightly first. Then add the arm lines so the arms connect to the circles.
- Start the head and body with light guide ovals, then trace over them once the size looks right.
Free marionette puppet coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this marionette puppet coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your marionette puppet drawing
Try a red or blue body, a peach or light brown head, and bright feet. For a creative twist, give the puppet a rainbow bar and strings in different colors.
Marionette puppet fun fact for kids
Marionettes are puppets moved by strings tied to a wooden control bar, and people have performed with them for hundreds of years. The puppeteer tilts the bar to make the puppet walk, wave, and bow.
Questions about drawing a marionette puppet
What shapes do I need to draw a marionette puppet?
You need a circle for the head, an egg shape for the body, and circles and ovals for the hands and feet. Then add straight lines for the arms, legs, and strings.
How do I make the strings look straight?
Use the edge of a ruler or a book to draw them. You can also draw them slowly in one move, from the bar down to the hand.
How do I make my puppet look cuter?
Make the eyes round dots and give the puppet a small, curvy smile. Matching ears on both sides and round hands also make the puppet look friendly.
