doodlea.day

Tuesday, September 29

How to draw...

Start with the top’s broad rim and pointed body, then stack a small knob and curved pattern bands along the same centerline. Three bold triangles and paired motion marks make the toy read as spinning. This 20-minute marker lesson practices curved stripes on a rounded form and leaving a clean shine gap. Change the color order to make it your own.

20 minEasy
Start doodling
Handmade felt-tip marker drawing of one colorful spinning top with an elliptical coral top, yellow round knob, yellow shaft with dark teal sides, teal body bands, three navy downward triangles with yellow gaps, one white oval shine on the upper-right band, two motion curves on each side, a broken oval shadow, uneven black ink edges, and visible marker streaks
Finished doodle About 20 minutes

Felt-tip marker mode

Let's draw a spinning top

Treat this as one playful practice round: sketch the idea loosely, simplify the shapes, then commit with confident marker outlines and bright fills.

  1. 01
    Shape the spinning body stage for how to draw a colorful cartoon spinning top

    Shape the spinning body

    Draw one wide, slightly tilted oval across the upper body. From its left and right ends, curve both sides inward to meet at a short point below the center.

    Marker tip: Ghost the tilted oval once before inking; the point should sit below its center.

  2. 02
    Cap the center shaft stage for how to draw a colorful cartoon spinning top

    Cap the center shaft

    Attach a narrow upright shaft to the oval center and cap it with one small round knob. Keep the knob directly above the pointed tip.

    Marker tip: Compare knob and tip on the same vertical line so the toy can balance.

  3. 03
    Wrap two curved bands stage for how to draw a colorful cartoon spinning top

    Wrap two curved bands

    Follow the body curve to draw one band just below the rim and a second band above the point. Let both bands bend with the tilted oval.

    Marker tip: Bend both stripes with the oval instead of drawing straight rules across the curved body.

  4. 04
    Mark the patterned middle stage for how to draw a colorful cartoon spinning top

    Mark the patterned middle

    Between the two curved bands, draw exactly three downward triangles and fill them dark. Leave the paper gaps between them, then outline one oval shine reserve at the upper-right edge of the top band.

    Marker tip: Count three navy triangles and keep their yellow gaps open; stop the shine oval inside the upper band.

  5. 05
    Show the spin stage for how to draw a colorful cartoon spinning top

    Show the spin

    Outside each side of the top, sweep one long and one short open motion curve. Place one broken oval shadow beneath the tip, keeping a white gap between tip and shadow.

    Marker tip: Sweep each motion line with one relaxed wrist movement and leave the shadow detached from the tip.

  6. 06
    Handmade felt-tip marker drawing of one colorful spinning top with an elliptical coral top, yellow round knob, yellow shaft with dark teal sides, teal body bands, three navy downward triangles with yellow gaps, one white oval shine on the upper-right band, two motion curves on each side, a broken oval shadow, uneven black ink edges, and visible marker streaks

    Color the spinning top

    Fill the established top coral, the upper and lower body teal, the three dark triangles navy, and the gaps between them golden yellow. Color the round knob yellow and the shaft yellow with dark teal sides; leave the outlined band shine white and preserve both pairs of motion curves and the broken shadow.

    Marker tip: Color from the outer edges inward and stop before the streaks flatten into a digital-looking fill.