How to Draw Animals
Drawing
animals can be fun, and it's not as hard as you may think. By following the
step-by-step instructions in this article, you can learn to draw many
different kinds of creatures. By copying these pictures, you will learn basic
drawing skills. You will be able to use those skills to draw other animals and
even other things.
Learn how to draw a cat
and other animals in this article.
Before you start drawing, there are some basic tools you will need. Make sure you have a pencil, a pencil sharpener, an eraser, a felt-tip pen, and grid paper where you'll make your drawings.
The animal sketches start with larger basic shapes like ovals, rectangles, and triangles. Draw the full shape, even if all of it will not be seen in the final drawing. You can erase the part you don't need later.
Each consecutive step adds more detail until you have the finished animal drawing. The steps are colored to show exactly what to draw when. The lines for each new step are shown in red, while the lines from previous steps are shown in gray.
The grid paper is a tool to make copying the drawings easier. While you copy the step-by-step drawings, look closely at how the lines and shapes fit on the grid, and copy them onto your grid sheet. Watch where the lines come close to the grids and where they cross over them. Match them on your grids to copy the steps.
After all the steps are drawn, use a felt-tip pen to go over the pencil lines. Only ink over the lines you need in the final drawing. After giving the felt-tip ink some time to dry so it won't smear, use an eraser to erase the pencil lines.
And there's your completed drawing!
Coloring Your Drawing
Now you are ready to color the animal drawing. Start coloring with things that are familiar to you. If you enjoy coloring with crayons, use them.
When you get more comfortable with coloring, you can try other methods like colored pencils, watercolor paints, markers, or even colored chalk. Try different techniques on the drawings to see what looks best.
When you are ready to start coloring, pick colors that best fit the animal in the drawing. Start by lightly adding the main color to the picture. Remember to keep the colors light in the beginning -- it is much easier to make a color darker than it is to make it lighter.
After the main color is finished, gently add darker colors to areas on the animal that would be in shadows or less light. Adding colors this way is called shading and helps the drawing to look more round.
After shading the animal, add lighter colors where more light would be. This is called highlighting, and it helps the figures in a drawing look more lifelike.
Look at the color pictures, and try to copy the light and dark shading of the colors. Once you fill in all the colors, your animal illustration is complete!
Whether your favorite animal is a dog, cat, kangaroo, or goldfish, we'll teach you how to draw it -- and color it -- in no time.
In four easy steps, you can turn simple oval shapes into a cheerful goldfish drawing, complete with water bubbles. We'll show you how.
Picture this friendly bear fishing next to its favorite stream, romping with other bear-friends, or just hibernating. Once you learn to draw a bear, you can draw it anywhere.
This cute drawing might just quack you up! Find out how easy it is to draw a duck.
If you like dogs, you'll love being able to draw them. We'll show you how to turn three simple shapes into man's best friend.
Drawing this big creature is no big deal when you follow our easy diagrams. From tail to trunk, learn how to draw the perfect elephant.
This project is as easy as "monkey see, monkey draw." Just use the simple steps and illustrations to make a monkey drawing.
Penguins are more popular than ever. Learn how to make a great penguin drawing that will impress your friends.
Picture this graceful dolphin swimming underwater or leaping above it. We'll show you how to make this sea creature come alive in a drawing.
You'll have no problem drawing this squeaky little critter. Find out how to draw a mouse in only four steps.
Drawing a giraffe isn't as hard as it may seem when you start with basic shapes and then add details. Find out how to draw a giraffe that looks just like the one at the zoo.
Want to learn how to make a purr-fect drawing? Just follow our directions to draw your favorite feline.
You don't have to go down-under to bring this hopping animal to life. Learn how to combine basics shapes like ovals and circles to make a kangaroo.
From a piggy's curly tail to its flat snout, we'll teach you how to draw a cute pink porker in five simple steps.
Get your green crayons, colored pencils, or markers ready for this project. Find out how to create a happy, hopping frog drawing.
The first step in drawing a sheep is creating two cloud shapes to represent its wool. We'll guide you through the rest of the steps for this drawing.
Learn how to draw the king of the jungle, complete with a majestic mane. It takes only five steps!
Sharpen your drawing skills by drawing this fine feathered friend perched on a branch.
Even if you've never seen a moose in person, you can draw one in minutes. Follow our directions to make a moose-terpiece!
Find out how to draw a rabbit, from its floppy ears to its cotton tail. We'll show you all the details to make this 14-carrot drawing.
Draw four basic shapes, add a few more, then add some details, and you have a fantastic alligator drawing. Follow these steps and illustrations.
Sharpen your drawing skills by creating a cool, desert-dwelling camel.
You need only two shapes to draw a basic octopus: an oval for the head, and curved shapes for the arms. We'll show you how to add details to complete the drawing.
This ostrich holds its head high, and so will you when you learn how to draw it. Get the step-by-step directions here.
It's easy to draw a horse, of course. Our simple directions will have you racing to the finish line.
Want to draw a cow now? We'll show you how! Draw this favorite farm animal in only five steps.
From its bushy tail to its teeth, learn how to draw a squirrel by adding details to geometric shapes.
Don't be chicken to try this art project. It's easy, once you know what shapes to create first. We'll teach you how to make a great chicken drawing.
Use your artistic skills and our directions to draw a turtle in a snap.
A striped tiger makes a striking drawing. Learn how to draw this animal, start to finish, in four simple steps.
Ready to draw your first animal? Let's start with a popular pet, the goldfish. The step-by-step directions begin on the next page.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Goldfish
A goldfish is a popular pet for people of all ages. You can draw one and imagine it swimming happily in its fish bowl or in a pond.

Learn how to draw this goldfish.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.
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Step 3: Add curved lines for the scales on the side. Draw lines for the details on the fins.
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Congratulations! Your goldfish drawing is complete. If you don't like your finished drawing, you can practice drawing it again until you get it just right. Learn how to draw a completely different kind of animal -- a bear -- in the next section.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Bear
Drawing this friendly brown bear is a great way to improve your drawing skills.
![]() Learn how to draw this bear. |
In this section, we’ll show you how to draw the above bear. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.
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Step 1: Sketch an oval for the body. Add a circle for the head and three ovals or circles for the ears and snout.
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Step 4: Trace the pencil lines you want to keep with a felt-tip pen, and erase any extra lines.
Now that your bear drawing is finished, bring it to life by coloring it. Next, we'll show you how to draw an animal that loves the water. Continue to the next page to get step-by-step instructions for drawing a duck.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Duck
Learn how to draw this playful duck and then place it in any scene you like -- waddling along with its siblings, swimming in a lake, and more. It's easy when you start with basic shapes.

Learn how to draw this duck.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.
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Step 1: Draw a curved teardrop shape for the body and a flattened circle shape for the head. Add curved lines for the neck, connecting the head to the body.
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Step 2: Draw a smaller teardrop shape inside the body for the wing. Add two shapes for the top and bottom of the beak. Draw an oval for the upper leg and long shapes for the lower legs. For each foot, draw half an oval attached to the leg with webbing across the front.
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Step 3: Draw circles for the eyes and ovals for the pupils. Add a triangle inside the beak for the tongue. Finish the sketch with curved lines for feather, nose, and foot details.
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Step 4: Use a felt-tip pen to trace over the lines you want to keep, and erase the extra pencil lines. Adding white dots to the eyes makes them look wet and more alive.
You've finished your duck drawing! Feel free to practice drawing it again to perfect your skills. In the next section, we'll show you how to draw one of the most popular pets around -- a dog.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Dog
Man's best friend is often the subject of artwork. Learn how you can turn basic shapes into your favorite canine character.
![]() Learn how to draw this dog. |
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.
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Step 1: Draw a kidney-bean shape for the body. Add ovals for the head and snout.
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Step 2: On the dog's near side, draw the shapes for one front leg and one back leg, and add ovals for the paws.
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Step 3: Draw curved shapes for the ears. Connect the head to the body with curved lines, and add more curved lines for the tail. Draw the shapes for the two legs on the other side, and add ovals for the paws.
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Step 4: Draw ovals for the eyes, pupils, and nose. Add spots on the dog's body. Put in more curved lines for details of the mouth, the toes, and the hair on the dog's head.
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Step
5: Trace the pencil lines you want to keep with a felt-tip pen, and erase any
extra lines.
If you're happy with your finished drawing, the next step is to color it. If you're not happy with your drawing, practice drawing it again until you perfect it.
Want to draw a larger, more majestic animal? The next section has instructions for drawing an elephant.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw an Elephant
With its distinctive trunk and tusks -- not to mention its impressive size -- an elephant is a great addition to the cast of creatures you can learn to sketch.
![]() Learn how to draw this elephant. |
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.





You did it! Step back and look at your finished drawing. Then color it with crayons, colored pencils, markers, or even paint.
Next, we'll show you how to sketch a real swinger. Step-by-step instructions for drawing a monkey start on the next page.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Monkey
Monkeys swing through the trees with ease using their strong hands, feet, and tail. Find out how to sketch this jungle acrobat.
![]() Learn how to draw this monkey. |
In this section, we’ll show you how to draw the above monkey. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.





Congratulations! You've learned how to draw a monkey in just a few steps. You can make your drawing even better with practice.
The next animal drawing begins with two simple oval shapes. Read on for detailed directions for drawing a penguin.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Penguin
Penguins have so much personality that they've been featured in several popular movies and cartoons. You can make your own penguin drawing in just five simple steps.

Learn how to draw this penguin.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.





Now that your penguin drawing is complete, you can either color it or draw it again for more practice. Want to learn how to draw another aquatic animal? We'll teach you how to draw a dolphin in the next section of this article.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Dolphin
Dolphins are intelligent mammals that delight crowds with fantastic jumps and tricks. Draw your own dolphin and imagine it gracefully swimming in the water or bounding above it.

Learn how to draw this dolphin.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.




Your dolphin drawing is done and ready to color! Dolphins and other animals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In the next section, we'll teach you which shapes to use to draw a tiny mouse.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Mouse
Although a mouse is small, drawing it can still be a challenge. Fortunately, these instructions make it easy to sketch this squeaky, cheese-loving animal.

Learn how to draw this mouse.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.




Don't worry if your mouse drawing isn't perfect. You can practice drawing it again and again to hone your drawing skills. Now that you've learned to draw a tiny animal, in the next section we'll show you how to draw a very large one, a giraffe.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Giraffe
Chomping leaves as it towers over the trees, the giraffe is one of the most popular animals at the zoo. Learn how to draw this gentle giant.
![]() Learn how to draw this giraffe. |
In this section, we’ll show you how to draw the above giraffe. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.



Step 4: Draw an oval for the ear and each nostril. Put in lines for mouth, hoof, and tail details.

Step 5: Draw the giraffe's spots on the body, neck, and legs.

Step back and admire your finished drawing. If you want to improve it, try drawing it again.
A giraffes isn't a household pet, but cats most certainly are. Continue to the next section for directions on how to draw this more common indoor animal.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Cat
Practice drawing this cool cat to purr-fect your drawing skills.

Learn how to draw this cat.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.





Now your cat drawing is complete and ready to color!
Cats might not come to mind when you think of Australia, but kangaroos most likely do. We'll show you how to draw this pouched marsupial in the next section.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Kangaroo
Kangaroos carry their young in a pouch and have powerful hind legs for jumping. Even if you've never seen a kangaroo in person, you can easily draw one of your own.

Learn how to draw this kangaroo.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.





That's it! You've finished the kangaroo drawing. You can either color it now or try drawing it again for more practice.
Want to learn how to draw more animals? You're in luck, because this article has many more drawings to teach you. Next, we'll show you how to draw a pig, complete with a curly tail and a large snout.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Pig
Most people recognize a pig by its snout and curly tail. In this section you can learn how to create those features on your own pig drawing. Add in a cow, horse and chicken drawing to create your own farm scene.

Learn how to draw this pig.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.





Are you happy with your drawing? If not, try drawing it again. Otherwise, get your coloring tools and bring your pig to life. The next animal drawing we'll show you is a real croaker. Read on for the details.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Frog
Picture this frog jumping from its lilypad or sitting still, waiting to capture a passing fly for lunch. Once you learn how to draw it, you can draw it again and again.

Learn how to draw this frog.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.




Congratulations! You've learned how to draw a frog. Ready to learn how to draw another animal? Simple directions for drawing a sheep are in the next section.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Sheep
This easy project shows you what shapes to use to draw a sheep's woolly coat. Three quick steps later, your sheep drawing is done!

Learn how to draw this sheep.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.



Step 3: Draw ovals for the eyes and nose. Add a small cloud shape for the tail. Add in two more ovals for the ears. Sketch in curved lines for the mouth, eyelashes, hooves, and detail in the wool.

Next, color your sheep drawing as shown in the first illustration above. Or, practice drawing it again if you like. The king of the jungle is up next. Learn how to draw a majestic lion in the next section of this article.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:
- How to Draw
- How to Draw Construction Vehicles
- How to Draw People
- How to Draw Dinosaurs
- How to Draw Flowers and Plants
- How to Draw Faces
- How to Draw Cartoons
How to Draw a Lion
This big cat, with its distinctive mane and tail, is an impressive drawing to add to your repertoire.

Learn how to draw this lion.
Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.





If your drawing didn't turn out well, no problem -- just practice drawing it again until you get it right. Then you'll be ready to color it and display it proudly.
There are many more animals you can learn to sketch. In the next section, find out how to draw a parrot on a perch.
Want to expand your drawing skills? See:






















