How to Sketch a Cartoon Lightbulb

Did you know researchers find that drawing and sketching correlates strongly with peoples’ achievements in math and reading skills? If you are good at, or like drawing, there is a high probability you’re good at math and/or other technical sciences. Today, I am going to explain how to draw detailed, cartoon lightbulb to give your brain some exercise.

Supplies

The supplies needed for this a piece of white scratch paper, and a pen or pencil.

Step 1: Step 1: Draw a Circle

Draw a circle in the middle of the piece of paper. After that, trace the circle multiple times around to give it some character and a more detailed look. Make the circle around 2.5 inches in diameter.

Step 2: Step 2: Draw a Rectangle Under the Circle

Directly under the circle, draw a rectangle with the long way being vertical. Trace the rectangle a couple of times, except the bottom, horizontal line, to give it more detail. The rectangle should be roughly an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half long, and roughly an inch wide.

Step 3: Step 3: Draw a Half Circle Under the Rectangle

At the bottom, horizontal, line of the rectangle, draw a half circle facing downward that is centered between the two vertical lines of the rectangle. Make sure the half circle doesn't touch either vertical side of the rectangle, and that it's centered. The half circle shouldn't stick out too far, about an eighth of an inch.

Step 4: Step 4: Draw Thin Ovals Over the Rectangle

Using the rectangle as a guide, draw in some thin, horizontal ovals that stretch slightly past the rectangle horizontally from the top of the rectangle all the way down to the bottom. The ovals should be around an eighth of an inch thick. Make sure each oval gets drawn past the vertical sides of the rectangle just a little bit on both sides. On the last oval at the bottom, round off the oval so it joins and connects the bottom horizontal line of the rectangle.

Step 5: Step 5: Draw the Wire of the Lightbulb

To draw the wire of the lightbulb in the middle, start a line a little offset to the left from the center where the bottom of the circle and the rectangle meet. Bring the line up a little less than half way up the circle and then curve it a little to the left, then curve it up and over to the right to make a half circle, and loop it around so you can do the exact same thing you just did, but the opposite way so you “mirror” it.

Step 6: Step 6: Draw Reflection Detail

In the upper right of the circle, make a quarter inch long “jellybean” oval that lines up with the curve of the circle to show some reflection detail. The oval should be a jelly bean shape. After that, draw a small circle underneath the jelly bean oval that matches the width of the oval, and trace around it once or twice to add additional detail.

Step 7: Last Step: Add Detail to Show Brightness

Around the outside of the lightbulb, draw some thin lines going outward with a little over an eighth of an inch space between the start of the line, and the circle. Make the lines about a quarter inch long. This will show that the lightbulb has some brightness.