Kawaii is a Japanese word often translated as "cute." Kawaii-style art, with round shapes, big eyes and tiny smiles, has become hugely popular with kids around the world.
What makes a character kawaii?
- Round, simple shapes
- Big eyes, often with highlights
- Tiny mouths and noses
- Rosy cheeks
- Soft, friendly expressions
Coloring ideas
Pastel palettes
Soft pink, mint, lavender, baby blue and lemon. Use light pressure. See choosing colors that go together.
Rosy cheeks
Light pink or red circles, colored softly.
Sparkly eyes
Leave two white dots in each eye, one big and one small. See adding highlights.
Cute patterns
Hearts, stars and small dots on backgrounds or clothes.
Cute everything
Kawaii style turns anything cute: animals, food, clouds and even monsters.
- Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals for adorable animals
- Trace Then Color: Mermaids, Unicorns and Other Cute Stuff for magical cute stuff
- Trace Then Color: Cartoon Food Monsters for snacks with faces
Draw your own cute character
- Draw a simple round shape.
- Add two big eyes low on the face.
- Add a tiny smile and two rosy cheeks.
- Color it pastel.
Kawaii coloring is great for calm time. Simple shapes and soft colors are relaxing.
Questions parents ask
Is kawaii only for young kids?
No. Many tweens, teens and adults love kawaii art.
What tools work best?
Colored pencils for soft pastels, markers for bold cute colors, gel pens for sparkle.
Is kawaii coloring easy?
Yes. Round shapes and big areas make it beginner-friendly.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
