Meet the Grumpy Cyclops
If you’ve been following along with my drawing books for a while, you already know I have a soft spot for the weird, the quirky, and the oddly expressive. So today, I’m excited to share a free page from my book Draw by Grid: Grumpy Faces, and this one is all about how to draw a grumpy cyclops.
This guy is a classic case of cranky mythological monster. He’s got one giant eyeball, a single horn smack in the middle of his head, and an expression that says he is not having a good day. Whether he missed his morning coffee or someone woke him up too early, drawing this grumpy cyclops is an awesome mix of fun and personality.
And the best part? You don’t have to be a pro to draw him. Like the rest of the book, he’s built on a simple grid system that breaks down the process into easy-to-follow steps. All you need is a pencil, some focus, and a sense of humor.
What Is “Draw by Grid: Grumpy Faces”?
Draw by Grid: Grumpy Faces is part of my Draw by Grid series, which uses a beginner-friendly drawing method that helps kids (and adults!) get comfortable with drawing proportional, expressive characters—one square at a time. This particular book features a full collection of hilarious, expressive, totally grumpy characters for you to draw.
From irritated women to disgruntled men, unimpressed creatures, and yes, grumpy cyclopses, the whole book is loaded with personality and weird little facial expressions that make drawing way more fun than just practicing circles and lines. The grid technique helps with placement, spacing, and proportion, so by the time you’re done, you’ll not only be drawing better—you’ll also be creating characters with real emotion and attitude.
Why Grumpy Characters?
You might be wondering why I’d dedicate an entire book to grumpy faces. The short answer is: they’re fun to draw.
Drawing expressions like frustration, boredom, anger, or sarcasm can really stretch a young artist’s creativity. When you’re learning how to bring a character to life on the page, facial expressions are everything. Drawing a grumpy cyclops gives you a chance to practice exaggerating features—like furrowed brows, slanted eyes, or a frown that takes up half a face—while still keeping things cute and cartoonish.
I also love that these characters open the door for storytelling. Every face in the book has a bit of a story behind it. What made the cyclops so grumpy? Why does that grumpy wizard look so annoyed? Kids start asking those questions and before you know it, they’re making up entire worlds around the faces they’re drawing.
Free Page: Draw A Grumpy Cyclops
Included in this post is a free page straight from the book—your very own grumpy cyclops to draw! The page features a grid-based layout with a completed version of the character on one side and a blank grid on the other side, so you can replicate the drawing one square at a time.
This method builds confidence and helps kids slow down and observe what they’re actually drawing. They’ll learn to look at shapes, lines, and spacing while still having a blast creating a character that looks like he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
Take your time, go square by square, and draw a grumpy cyclops of your own to be proud of.
Free Activity Pages (save and print):
Part of the Draw by Grid Series
Draw by Grid: Grumpy Faces is just one title in my Draw by Grid series. Every book in the series is built on the same idea: that anyone can draw, and that drawing is a skill you get better at by practicing. The grid method makes it less intimidating and way more fun.
Other books in the series explore animals, dinosaurs, cute characters, and more, but this one focuses specifically on expressions. And expressions are key to creating characters that really come to life.
If your kids love to draw but sometimes get frustrated when their drawings don’t turn out the way they imagine, this series is made for them. It slows things down, removes the pressure, and makes every drawing feel achievable.
Why Kids Love to Draw Grumpy Faces
Here’s what I’ve learned after creating over 70 drawing books and watching tons of kids go through them: grumpy characters are always a hit.
They’re silly, they’re fun to imagine, and they give kids a chance to explore how to Draw A Grumpy Cyclops or other characters with big personalities. The exaggeration makes it easier to see what’s going on in a drawing—why certain lines create a certain expression—and it gives young artists a chance to play with those ideas in a safe, funny, creative space.
Plus, grumpy characters are hilarious. Let’s be honest—drawing someone in a bad mood is kind of funny. Especially when that someone is a one-eyed horned cyclops who looks like he just stepped out of a Saturday morning cartoon.
Final Thoughts
If your kids are into cartoon characters, facial expressions, or just love being goofy while they draw, Draw by Grid: Grumpy Faces is a great way to practice and play at the same time. The method is simple, the art is original (all hand-drawn by me!), and the characters are full of life—even if that life includes a little attitude.
The character featured in this “draw a grumpy cyclops” exercise is just one of 50 characters in the book, so if your kids enjoy drawing him, there’s plenty more waiting for them. Every page is a chance to explore a new face, a new expression, and maybe even a new story.
Download the freebie, get drawing, and don’t forget to have fun—even if your cyclops is in a bad mood.
Kevin Coulston is an accomplished cartoonist, animator, and writer. He is the author and illustrator of over 70 (and still counting) children’s drawing books available here on FirstArtBooks.com. Kevin has also authored numerous kid-friendly comic book series, including “Dylan McVillain: A Super Villain with the Best Intentions” and “The Adventures of a 4th Grade Space Captain,” along with the Children’s Picture Book series “Alexis and the T-Rexes.”
