How to Draw a Shocked Expression (Easy Steps for Kids)
Draw this shocked expression in 6 easy steps with a pencil and eraser. It takes about 15 minutes and works for ages 5 and up. Print the free step-by-step page below. The page comes from Kevin Coulston’s book How to Draw: Goofy Faces.
- Step-by-step drawing
- Ages 5+
- Grades K–2
- Easy
- About 15 min
You’ll need
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper, or the printed page
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
You’ll practice
- Breaking a drawing into simple shapes
- Following steps in order
- Adding your own details
How to Draw A Shocked Expression: Free Page from 'How to Draw: Goofy Faces'
If you've ever wanted to learn how to draw a shocked expression, you're in for a treat. Today's post features a free step-by-step drawing activity page straight from my book, How to Draw: Goofy Faces. It's a fun and silly face that captures a moment of total surprise—eyes wide, mouth open, eyebrows raised. Whether your kid is just learning to draw or already filling notebooks with doodles, this is a great character to practice with.
Free Drawing Page: The Shocked and Scared Guy
The free page I'm sharing today shows you how to draw a shocked expression in just six simple steps. The character is a wide-eyed guy who looks like he's just seen a ghost or heard some shocking news. His mouth is hanging open, his eyes are bulging, and his whole face screams "Oh no!"
The beauty of this page is that it's completely hand drawn by me—no AI, no filters, just real pencil-to-paper sketching. It's part of what makes my art books stand out. I wanted kids to feel like they were learning from a real artist, not a computer.
If you're practicing facial expressions or just want a goofy project to keep the kids entertained, this page is a perfect place to start. Print it out, grab a pencil, and follow along. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to create a character that looks so full of emotion.
About the Book: 'How to Draw: Goofy Faces'
The free shocked expression page comes from my book How to Draw: Goofy Faces, one of the more expressive titles in my drawing book lineup. This book is all about capturing emotion through exaggerated facial expressions. You’ll learn how to draw a shocked expression, but also angry, confused, grumpy, excited, and sleepy faces. Each face is drawn in six easy-to-follow steps.
Kids love this book because it gives them permission to be silly and creative. And parents love it because it’s educational. Drawing expressive faces builds observational skills, emotional intelligence, and storytelling abilities. Whether your child is an aspiring cartoonist or just looking for a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon, this book offers hours of creative play.
And yes, all 50 faces in this book are hand drawn by me. I sketch each one from scratch and make sure the steps are kid-friendly, clear, and fun.
Why Shocked Expressions Are So Fun to Draw
When kids ask me how to draw a shocked expression, I always tell them it’s all in the eyes and mouth. These two features carry most of the emotion. For this character, the eyes are huge and round, the eyebrows are raised high, and the mouth forms a big, open bean shape.
It’s an exaggerated look, but that’s the point. Cartoon drawing is all about taking things over the top so the emotion comes through loud and clear. And once kids get the hang of this expression, they start to notice shocked faces in their favorite cartoons and comics. That connection helps them become better visual storytellers.
Part of a Bigger Series of Art Books for Kids
How to Draw: Goofy Faces is just one book in my larger Art Books for Kids series. If your child enjoys this style of step-by-step drawing, there’s a whole collection to explore. I have books on drawing animals, monsters, unicorns, mermaids, robots, dinosaurs, food characters, and so much more.
View All 75+ Art Books for Kids
And for every theme, there’s often a matching Trace Then Color or Draw by Grid version too. That way, kids at different skill levels can enjoy the same fun characters with slightly different approaches.
So if your child is excited about learning how to draw a shocked expression, there's a good chance they’ll love diving into the whole series.
Grab the Free Page and Get Drawing
Don’t forget to download and print the free drawing activity page. It’s a great introduction to how to draw a shocked expression and gives you a peek inside the How to Draw: Goofy Faces book.
This shocked guy has become a fan favorite among kids (and parents) for a reason. He’s funny, simple to draw, and full of personality. Plus, once kids master this expression, they often go on to create their own characters with surprised, scared, or amazed looks.
So go ahead—print the page, sharpen those pencils, and see how much fun it can be to draw your own shocked expression!
Free Activity Page (save and print):
Final Thoughts
Learning how to draw a shocked expression is a great way for kids to stretch their creativity and try something new. It’s also a gateway into the broader world of character design and cartooning. With just a few simple lines, they can make a face come alive with emotion.
If you enjoy this free page, consider checking out the full How to Draw: Goofy Faces book. And while you're at it, browse the rest of my Art Books for Kids series for even more fun, kid-tested titles.
And remember: all of my books feature original, hand-drawn art. No shortcuts, no AI—just authentic drawing made with kids in mind.
Thanks for stopping by, and happy drawing!
Draw it 3 ways
Every FirstArtBooks theme comes in three formats. Trace it, draw it step by step, or copy it square by square: the more ways kids draw a character, the better they know it.
- How to Draw
Draw it step by stepYou’re on this pageSee all How to Draw books - Trace Then Color
Trace Then Color A Grumpy Cartoon FaceSame theme · Ages 3+See all Trace Then Color books - Draw by Grid
Draw by Grid: A Goofy FaceSame theme · Ages 7+See all Draw by Grid books
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw a photo frame with a name underneath.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
Their best friend says they are…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your shocked expression a name and a job. What makes it happy, and what makes it grumpy? Write two or three sentences.
Directed drawing and writing worksheets for this lesson: Shocked Face Directed Drawing and Writing Worksheet, with a kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd–3rd grade writing page.
Print a draw-and-write sheet: a box for the drawing and lines for the story. Primary lines (K–2) · Regular lines (grades 2–5)
Want to make it a whole story? Try the comic story starter or fold a mini-book in Story Studio.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- The eyes sit too high on the head.
- On a real head, the eyes are halfway down. Draw a light line across the middle and put the eyes on it.
- The expression is hard to read.
- Eyebrows do most of the work. Tilt them down in the middle for angry, up in the middle for worried.
- The ears are in the wrong place.
- The tops of the ears line up with the eyes, and the bottoms line up with the nose.
- Pressing hard from the very first step.
- Use light, sketchy lines first. You can erase them easily and go over the lines you keep at the end.
More in 10 common drawing mistakes kids make.
Talk about it
For the grown-up: ask one or two of these while your child draws. There are no wrong answers.
- How is this face feeling? What could have happened to make it feel that way?
- Can you make that face too? Which part of your face changes most?
- What shapes can you find in your drawing?
- What would you change if you drew it again tomorrow?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this drawing lesson
What age is this shocked expression drawing lesson for?
Ages 5 and up (about grades K to 2). Younger kids can follow along with a grown-up, one step at a time.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes. Kids who add their own details or a background often keep going longer.
What supplies do you need?
Pencil and eraser; paper, or the printed page; crayons, markers or colored pencils.
What size does it print?
US Letter (8.5 by 11 inches). Use Print this page or Download PDF above. On A4 paper, choose “Fit to page” in the print settings.
Can kids draw the shocked expression without printing the page?
Yes. Draw on any paper and copy one step at a time from the screen. Classroom mode shows one step at a time, full screen.
For teachers: grade, timing and standards
Grades K–2, about 15 minutes. Step-by-step drawing, easy level.
National Core Arts Standards (visual arts)
- VA:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: students build drawing skills by following a sequence of steps.
- VA:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work: students add their own details, expressions and color to finish the character.
See every lesson by standard, plus the math in grid drawing, on the arts standards map.
Copies: print as many as your class needs. Use classroom mode above to show one step at a time on your board. More in the teacher resources, the Funny Faces hub and our no-prep sub plans.
Get the free Christmas Drawing Pack
10 printable Christmas pages to draw, trace, color and decorate, sent with your welcome email. After that, Kevin’s newsletter brings new free pages and book news.
Take the idea into a book
Want more characters to draw, trace or color? Explore these related books and see which approach fits your next creative session.
How to Draw: Goofy Faces
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Trace Then Color: Cartoon Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 13 free face drawing lessons and pages →
Another idea to try
Free activitiesFree Burglar Coloring Page
Free Activity Page: Burglar Coloring Page to Trace and Color In this post, I’m sharing a free activity page straight from my book Trace Then Color…
Book news & eventsNew Book: Cartoon People Coloring Book for Kids
Introducing My New Cartoon People Coloring Book I’m excited to share the newest addition to my Trace Then Color series: Trace Then Color: Cartoon…
Book news & eventsNew Book: Cartoon People Drawing Book for Kids
Draw by Grid: Cartoon People Learning to draw characters is one of the most exciting parts of becoming an artist. Kids naturally love creating…