Master Mo Willems' Piggie Drawing Tutorial: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Embarking on a delightful journey into the world of children's literature, you might be familiar with the charming characters of Mo Willems. Piggie, the ever-optimistic and expressive character from Willems' popular Elephant & Piggie series, is a favorite among readers. If you've ever wanted to capture Piggie's essence on paper, you've come to the right place. Let's explore how to draw Piggie, step by step, with tips inspired by Mo Willems' unique style.

Mo Willems, a renowned author and illustrator, has a distinctive drawing style that's both simple and expressive. His characters, including Piggie, are outlined in thick, bold lines, with minimal details and exaggerated features. This style, often referred to as minimalist or simplified cartooning, is perfect for beginners and children. So, let's dive in and learn how to draw Piggie using Willems' style.

Understanding Piggie's Design

Piggie, or Geraldine as she's sometimes called, is a pink elephant with a distinctive, curved trunk, large, round eyes, and a smile that can stretch from ear to ear. Her body is often depicted with exaggerated, blobby shapes, and she has four short legs. Understanding these key features is the first step in learning how to draw Piggie.

Mo Willems often places Piggie in dynamic poses, emphasizing her mood and actions. This is a great opportunity to practice drawing action and expression, even in a simplified style. So, let's start by drawing Piggie's basic shape and then build from there.

The Basic Shape and Pose

Start by drawing an egg-like shape for Piggie's body. Place this shape on a larger, curvier line to create the outline of her body. The curvier line should be at the bottom of the egg shape, as this will form Piggie's belly and feet. The top part of the egg shape will become her back and head.

Next, sketch a large, curved line for Piggie's trunk. This line should start at the bottom of the egg shape, curve upwards, and then slope down to the left or right. The end of the line should be thickened to create Piggie's snout. Remember, Willems' lines are bold and purposeful, so don't be afraid to exaggerate.

Adding Details and Expression

Now that you have the basic shape and trunk, it's time to add Piggie's iconic features. Start with her eyes, drawing two large circles in the upper part of the egg shape. Within these circles, draw smaller, black circles for the pupils. These eyes should be large and expressive, taking up a significant portion of Piggie's head.

Next, draw a large, curved line for Piggie's smile. This line should start at the bottom of one eye, curve downwards, and then up to the bottom of the other eye. The line should be much wider than Piggie's snout, as Willems often exaggerates the size of Piggie's smile. To add different expressions, you can change the shape and size of this line.

Drawing Piggie's Unique Features

Piggie has several unique features that set her apart from other elephants. Understanding how to draw these features can help you perfect your Piggie drawing.

Piggie's most distinctive feature is her cape, which she often wears around her neck. This cape is usually drawn as a large, curvy line that drapes over Piggie's shoulders and down her back. The cape can be drawn in various colors, depending on the scene or your preference.

Piggie's Propellers

In some stories, Piggie wears propeller hats or has propeller-like appendages on her body. These props are typically drawn as four circles or ovals that connect to a central point. The circles can vary in size and shape, but they should all be connected at one end. To attach these propellers to Piggie, simply draw them on top of her head or at the base of one of her legs.

For instance, when Piggie wears her gift-wrapped propeller hat in "The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!", the hat is positioned at a slight angle on her head to resemble a propeller plane's prop. This adds a touch of humor and whimsy to the illustration, reflecting Willems' playful style.

Action and Motion

Piggie is often depicted in action-packed poses, whether she's dancing, swimming, or flying. To draw Piggie in motion, start by drawing the basic shape and trunk as described earlier. Then, exaggerate her legs and arms to emphasize the action. For example, if Piggie is dancing, draw her legs in various poses, with some in the air and some on the ground.

To add motion lines, draw short, wavy lines around Piggie's body. These lines should be thicker and more exaggerated than the main lines of her body. The placement of these lines can also help emphasize the direction of motion. Remember, less is more with Willems' style, so use motion lines sparingly and purposefully.

Mastering the Mo Willems Style

Drawing Piggie in the Mo Willems style requires practice and an understanding of Willems' unique cartooning techniques. Luckily, Willems has shared many of his drawing secrets in books and online tutorials. In "The Author's Almanac: A Mo Willems treasury of things", Willems provides a step-by-step guide to drawing some of his characters, including Piggie.

Additionally, try drawing along with Willems' video demonstrations or practice exercises found on his official website or various online art tutorials. The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll become with Willems' bold, expressive lines.

Inkinson, Willems' signature red crayon, captures the vibrant, bold lines of his characters. While you don't need to use a red crayon to draw Piggie, experimenting with different media and tools can help you understand Willems' technique better. Try drawing Piggie using a bold, colored marker or even a digital drawing tablet to experience the playfulness of Willems' style.

Embrace the joy of drawing with Mo Willems and learn from his unique perspective on picture books and children's literature. With persistence and practice, you'll soon be creating your own delightful Piggie drawings in the spirit of Willems' beloved characters. So grab your favorite art supplies, and let the drawing adventure begin!