Step one

When I draw cartoon characters, I usually start with a circle, and then draw a vertical "line of motion" that serves as the character's spine. It looks like a lollipop.

I like to keep Beanie and Weenie's heads quite big compared to the rest of them; they look cute that way! For reference, they are each around three "heads" high.

Step two

Next, I draw two squashed circles underneath to represent the chest and stomach areas. I also put marks for the shoulders and hip areas.

Step three

Add the arms and legs. I used circles to represent where the elbows, knees, and hands go. I also defined the sides of the arms and the calves.

Also notice I put guidelines in the head where the face will go. Sometimes, I indicate where the rib cage goes to help define the character's torso.

Step four

Add the face! Put the eyes along the horizontal guideline, along with a little nice and a smile on the bottom. Put the ear on one side and some cheek and eyelid intendation on the other. I also start outlining where the hair goes, and start working out the clothing.

Step five

Define the hair with several smooth, fluid strokes. I put a cowlick where Beanie's hair parts with a few spiky strands, and draw Weenie's hair in a bowl cut. I usually like to "feel out" how hair should be placed with very light strokes first.

Also continue defining the clothes and put a scribble to indicate folds in the middle.

Step six

Add freckles for Beanie, and shade in the shirt, jeans, pendant, and other areas. Keep retouching until the cartoon looks finished. Put some definition on Weenie's hairline.

Step seven

Trace the character's contour lines with a dark, ballpoint pen.

Step eight

Use a kneaded rubber eraser to take away the pencil lines, and you're left with a nice, clean piece of "line art" that's ready to be scanned.

Step nine

Scan your picture into Photoshop and use the "levels" to turn your outline to pure black and white.

After this, you can use the paint bucket to color in all the areas like a coloring book. You'll have to retouch many of the smaller areas with the paintbrush took if the color leaks through.

After that, you're all done!