How to draw Bulbasaur

Step-by-step tutorial of Bulbasaur from Pokémon, showcasing its green spotted skin and leafy bulb, ideal for beginner Pokémon artists.
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Grow Your Art Skills with Bulbasaur: A Pokémon Drawing Guide
Calling all Pokémon trainers and artists! Let’s dive into the world of Pokémon and draw Bulbasaur, the adorable Grass/Poison-type starter that’s won hearts since the Kanto days. With its big, expressive eyes, spotted green skin, and that ever-growing bulb on its back, Bulbasaur is the perfect mix of cute and cool. This tutorial will walk you through sketching Bulbasaur in a standing pose, looking ready for a sunny adventure or a quick nap in the grass. Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time or you’re a seasoned Pokémon fan, this guide is here to help you create a vibrant, lovable Bulbasaur. Grab your supplies, and let’s plant some creativity!
Why Bulbasaur’s a Budding Star
Bulbasaur is more than just a starter—it’s a symbol of growth, resilience, and friendship. Its gentle, loyal personality shines through in every episode, whether it’s protecting its trainer or whipping out vines to save the day. That bulb on its back? It’s a living plant that gets bigger and stronger as Bulbasaur grows, making it a unique blend of animal and nature. Did you know Bulbasaur’s design might be inspired by a mix of frogs and extinct reptiles, like dicynodonts? That prehistoric vibe gives it an extra layer of cool (LiveScience). Its simple shapes and bold colors make it a fantastic choice for artists looking to have fun and learn.
Bulbasaur’s Recent Sprout
As of April 2025, Bulbasaur’s still blooming in the Pokémon world. It recently starred in a Pokémon Sleep event, where trainers could befriend Grass-types like Bulbasaur during a spring-themed research week (Pokémon Sleep News). Fans also went wild for its appearance in Pokémon Horizons: The Series, where a Bulbasaur teamed up with Liko’s Sprigatito in a heart-melting episode about teamwork. Plus, a new Bulbasaur-themed plush dropped in Pokémon Centers, complete with a tiny flower crown, proving its enduring cuteness (Pokémon Center). Now’s the perfect moment to sketch this classic starter!
What You’ll Need to Start
To bring Bulbasaur’s charm to your sketchbook, gather these tools:
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Pencil and eraser: Great for rough drafts and fine-tuning.
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Drawing paper: Smooth for crisp lines and colors.
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Colored pencils or markers: To nail Bulbasaur’s green skin, red eyes, and leafy bulb.
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Bulbasaur reference: Check Bulbapedia – Bulbasaur for spot-on details.
Let’s Draw Bulbasaur Step by Step
Step 1: Build the Standing Pose
Imagine Bulbasaur standing tall, ready to explore a meadow. Lightly sketch a large, rounded oval for its head—make it a bit bigger than the body to lean into its cute proportions. Add a smaller, squat oval for the body, tilted slightly to suggest a comfy stance. Draw four short, thick legs, spread out like a frog’s, and a stubby tail curving up. This rough outline sets up your Bulbasaur standing pose sketch, giving it that chunky, grounded vibe.
Step 2: Shape Its Lovable Face
Bulbasaur’s face is pure magic. Draw two huge, red eyes with shiny white highlights, making them wide and curious to capture its friendly spirit. Add a broad, U-shaped mouth with a tiny smile, and two small nostrils for extra charm. Sketch two pointy ears on top, angled outward for a perky look. This step locks in Bulbasaur’s Pokémon starter adorability, making it instantly lovable.
Step 3: Create the Signature Bulb
The bulb is Bulbasaur’s crown jewel. Draw a big, rounded shape on its back, slightly off-center to add personality. Add curved lines to show its leafy layers, like a budding plant, and a tiny sprout poking out the top. Keep the bulb proportionate—not too huge, but definitely prominent—to highlight its Grass-type roots. Fun fact: in the Pokémon lore, the bulb pulses with light when Bulbasaur’s healthy, a detail you can play with later (Pokémon Anime).
Step 4: Detail the Body and Spots
Refine Bulbasaur’s body, keeping it plump and smooth. Add irregular, darker green spots across its sides, legs, and back, clustering them randomly for that classic Pokémon pattern. Sketch its legs with chunky, clawed toes, giving them a sturdy, frog-like feel. The tail should be short, thick, and slightly curved, adding to its dino-plant hybrid charm. This step brings Bulbasaur’s unique design to life.
Step 5: Add Texture and Quirks
Sprinkle in details to make Bulbasaur pop. Draw faint, scale-like lines on its skin, especially around the spots, to suggest texture. Refine the bulb’s layers with subtle ridges, making it look alive. Add two tiny fangs peeking from its mouth for a hint of spunk. Clean up any overlapping lines to create a sharp, cohesive outline ready for inking.
Step 6: Ink with Energy
Trace your sketch with a fine-tip pen or darker pencil to solidify the design. Highlight the roundness of Bulbasaur’s body, the jagged edges of its spots, and the leafy curves of the bulb. Add small touches like the glint in its eyes or the texture of its claws to give your drawing a polished edge. This step makes your Bulbasaur artwork feel vibrant and professional.
Step 7: Color with Nature’s Glow
Time to make Bulbasaur shine! Use a bright, lime green for its skin, with darker green for the spots. Color the bulb a lighter green, blending in yellow at the sprout for a fresh, growing look. Its eyes should be a bold red with white highlights, and its inner mouth a soft pink. Add gentle shading under the bulb and legs to anchor its stance. Blend colors carefully to capture Bulbasaur’s lively Pokémon palette, bringing it to life.
Tips to Boost Your Bulbasaur Sketch
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Channel its spirit: Rewatch Ash’s Bulbasaur in Pokémon: The Original Series to catch its stubborn yet loyal vibe, like when it refused to evolve to stay true to itself.
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Mix up the mood: Try a cheeky wink or a sleepy yawn to give Bulbasaur extra personality.
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Add a setting: Sketch a forest or garden background to tie into its Grass-type nature.
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Connect with fans: Share your art with #BulbasaurArt or #PokémonArt to join the trainer community.
Why This Guide Blooms
This tutorial is your key to unlocking Bulbasaur’s charm. It’s packed with clear steps, fun tips, and a whole lot of love for this iconic Pokémon. From pencil sketches to bright colors, it’s designed to make drawing a joy, whether you’re a newbie or a Pokémon pro. So, let’s sprout some creativity and draw the starter that’s been growing with us since 1996!