How to Draw A Cute Cactus – Free Step-by-Step Drawing Page

Today’s post features one of the quieter stars from my book How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff—a lovable little cactus with a big personality and an even bigger smile. While this book is packed with mermaids, unicorns, magical creatures, and dessert-shaped characters, I always like to include a few surprises. And what’s more surprising than finding a cute, spiky cactus right in the middle of a glittery, magical world?

In this post, I’m giving you a free page straight from the book that shows you how to draw a cute cactus in six simple steps. This little plant has a cheerful face, tons of personality, and of course—plenty of cactus needles to complete the look. Whether your kid loves nature, cute characters, or just learning how to draw new things, this page is a fun one to try.

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About the Book: How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff

This book is one of my most popular drawing books, especially with kids who love characters that are bright, whimsical, and full of charm. Every page features an original character designed and drawn by me—Kevin Coulston—and each one is broken down into six easy-to-follow drawing steps.

Inside the book, you’ll find:

  • Mermaids in all kinds of poses and expressions
  • Smiling unicorns with candy-colored manes
  • Food characters like a cupcake, a slice of pizza, or a happy watermelon
  • And yes—even things like a happy cactus

The book is designed for kids ages 5 and up, but I’ve had plenty of younger and older artists enjoy it too. The format is simple, approachable, and fun. And best of all? The drawings actually teach you something. Your kids will walk away knowing how to draw a cute cactus, an adorable honey bee, or a pretty unicorn—without ever feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

3 ways to draw Mermaids, Unicorns and Other Cute Stuff: How to Draw, Trace Then Color and Draw by Grid books

Featured Freebie: Cute Cactus Drawing Page

Today’s freebie page walks you through how to draw a cute cactus in just six steps. The cactus sits upright with little stubby arms, a face full of joy, and spikes that give it just enough texture without making it look scary.

Here’s what I love about this one:

  • The character is simple, but still full of life
  • Kids can easily customize it by adding a pot, flowers, or sunglasses
  • It teaches basic shape-building and repetition (great practice!)
  • And it’s just plain fun to draw

Like every page in the book, this one starts with basic shapes. Step-by-step, kids will add detail and personality until they’ve drawn the full character on their own. It’s satisfying, confidence-building, and the kind of activity that makes drawing feel like a success—not a struggle.

Free Activity Page (save and print):

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Why I Include Characters Like This

I know the title of the book promises mermaids and unicorns—and don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of those—but I always try to sprinkle in a few unexpected characters that still fit the “cute stuff” category. Drawing a cactus gives kids something fresh to try. It’s not covered in sparkles or wings, but it has its own charm—and it opens the door to even more creativity.

Sometimes the best characters are the ones that surprise you. A smiling cactus is funny, unusual, and gives kids a chance to stretch their imagination. That’s one of the biggest reasons I wanted to give away the cactus page today. Once kids know how to draw a cute cactus, it’s only a matter of time before they start designing their own spiky plant buddies.

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All Characters Are Hand-Drawn

Every character in this book—and in every drawing book I create—is hand-drawn by me. I don’t use clipart or software shortcuts. I design each character from the ground up, focusing on what kids will enjoy drawing and what they’ll be proud to complete.

When I create a book like How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff, I’m thinking about how each character can build drawing confidence. That’s why I start with simple forms and work toward complete, polished characters. Every step is intentional. Every line has a purpose.

Even the cactus.

Why This Drawing Style Works

The six-step format I use across all my books is something I’ve refined over dozens of titles and thousands of characters. It’s effective because it focuses on learning through doing—by breaking down a drawing into small, manageable steps, kids are able to see their progress unfold right in front of them.

It’s not just about copying shapes—it’s about understanding how drawings are built. The cute cactus you’re learning today might just seem like a fun character, but it also teaches proportion, symmetry, expression, and texture. That’s a lot packed into one spiky little plant.

And once your kid has figured out how to draw a cute cactus, they’ll start applying that confidence to other characters in the book—and even to ones they invent on their own.

70+ FirstArtBooks drawing books: robots, dinosaurs, monsters, aliens, unicorns, princesses and animals

More Than Just Mermaids and Unicorns

Yes, the book has mermaids. Yes, it has unicorns. But it also has the kind of characters that kids don’t expect—and that’s part of the fun. A big part of my job as a cartoonist and art book creator is to keep kids curious and engaged. That means offering more than just the obvious.

Whether it’s a smiling slice of watermelon, a giggly animal, or a cheerful cactus covered in needles, each character adds something unique to the drawing journey. It’s not just about learning to draw—it’s about building an artistic vocabulary.

This book is a great fit for kids who like all things cute, colorful, and a little bit quirky. And if your young artist is the kind of kid who puts faces on their fruit or imagines their houseplants talking back, they’re going to love it here.

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Final Thoughts

Drawing should be fun. That’s always been my approach. I design every book to make the process feel playful and creative—and to give kids a sense of accomplishment on every page.

The cactus page I’m sharing today is a great place to start. It’s simple, it’s silly, and it shows exactly what makes this book so special. When a kid can sit down and learn how to draw a cute cactus in just a few minutes, that’s a big win. And that’s what I aim for in every book I make.

So go ahead—download the page, grab some pencils, and get drawing. The cactus is waiting.

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