Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw an Elephant (Asian Elephant). Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this magnificent animal!

Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:

• Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
• Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
• Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials

This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RELATED TUTORIALS

To draw this elephant step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.

Materials You'll Need Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pencils (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)	Kneaded Eraser	Drawing Paper

Step 1: Sketch the Guidelines

• The Head: Start by drawing a circle as a guide for the head. You don't have to draw a perfect circle, but if you're having trouble drawing one, just trace the outer edge of a coin, a bottle cap, or anything else with a circular edge. Above the circle, make a small mark to extend the top of the head. Asian elephants have pretty big heads, so this guide will give it a bit more height. Connect the small mark to the circle using curved lines to create a wide arc shape. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake.
• Construction Guides: Inside the head, draw a curved horizontal line for a construction guide. Draw this line close to the center of the circle. Add a long vertical line across both shapes for another construction guide. Draw this vertical line closer to the right than the center of the circle.
• The Trunk Guide: Add the guideline for the trunk by first making a couple of small marks on the bottom edge of the circle. Extend the mark on the right down and to the right to create the edge of the trunk. At the bottom, curve the line downward slightly. Now extend the mark on the left downward to create the other edge of the trunk. Make the shape of the trunk thinner at the bottom than at the top.
• The Ears: Draw an angled line on the left side of the head as a guide for the ear. Don't make this shape too big because Asian elephants actually have smaller ears than African elephants. Add another angled line on the right side as a guide for the other ear.
• The Body: Draw a circular shape farther to the left as a guide for the front part of the body. First make a few small marks to indicate the sides of the shape, and then connect the marks using curved lines to finish the shape. Don't overlap the previous guides as you draw this shape. The elephant is going to be walking forward, so a big portion of the front part of the body is being blocked by the head. Draw a long curved line farther to the left that's similar to a circle for the back portion of the body.
• The Legs and Tail: Below the front part of the body, draw two long vertical lines as guides for the front leg. Tilt this shape slightly. Pay attention to the length of the leg; it should be about the same as the height for the front part of the body. Close off the shape at the bottom using a small oval. Add a couple of short lines at the top for the visible section of the other front leg. Below the back portion of the body, draw a couple more long lines as guides for the hind leg. Close off the shape at the bottom and make this leg shorter because it's farther back. Draw a short line to the left as a guide for the tail. This completes the structural guidelines!

Step 2: Add the Facial Details

• The Eyes: Inside the head, lightly sketch two small circles for the eyes. Place the eyes on top of the horizontal construction guide and on either side of the vertical guide. Pay attention to how small the eyes are in relation to the head. When you get the sizes and positions of the eyes right, darken the shapes. As you darken them, make the sides pointier for the corners of the eye. Make the eye on the right a bit thinner because the head is slightly turned. Inside the eyes, draw tiny dots for the pupils.
• The Facial Wrinkles: Draw a couple of curved lines around the eyes for creases on the skin. Draw a few more lines at the top to create more wrinkles. Higher up, draw a couple of curved lines to create the brows over the eyes. Add a few more lines to emphasize the structure of the eyes.
• The Ears: Darken the shape on the left to create the first ear. Follow the basic path of the guides, but make the shape wavy at the bottom. Draw a long vertical line to create the inner edge of the ear and add a few more lines at the top to give the base of the ear structure. Darken the shape on the right side of the head for the other ear.
• The Tusks: On the left side of the trunk, draw a thin shape for the first tusk. You can make the tusk longer if you'd like. At the bottom, draw an angled line for the tip of the tusk that's pointing up. Draw another long thin shape on the right side of the trunk for the other tusk. This tusk is facing more to the right, so make the tip thin and pointy. Add a curved line above the shape on the left for the base of the tusk.
• The Rest of the Head: Darken the arc at the top to create the top part of the head. Curve the middle part of the top of the head slightly downward. Add a curved line on the left side for the jaw. You can overlap the shape of the ear as you draw the left side of the head.

Step 3: Define the Legs and Body

• The Front Legs: Darken the long thin shape under the front part of the body to create the front leg. Extend the top of the leg higher up so that it's inside the body. Make the shape more curved at the bottom to create a joint. Add a couple of small arcs along the bottom to create the nails. Not all the nails on the foot will be visible from this angle. Darken the lines on the right for the visible part of the other front leg. At the bottom, draw a short angled line for the visible part of the other front foot.
• The Hind Legs: Darken the shape on the left side to create the hind leg. The same way, extend the top of the leg higher up on the body and make the top of the leg slightly wider than the bottom. At the bottom, draw a few curved shapes to create a joint. Add a few small arcs along the bottom of the foot for the nails. Darken the line to the right for the small portion of the other hind leg that's visible.
• The Rest of the Body: Darken the outer edges of the other guides to create the rest of the body. Draw a long curved line between the front and hind leg to create the underside of the body. Draw a couple of curved lines below the tusk for the chest.

Step 4: Finishing Up the Sketch

• The Tail: Draw the shape of the tail along the path of the guide on the left side. At the bottom, draw a couple of curved lines for the hair on the tip of the tail.
• The Trunk: Darken the shape under the head to create the trunk. Make the lines a bit more curved than the guides as you darken the shape. At the bottom, draw a couple of small circles for the nostrils on the tip of the trunk.

Step 5: Clean Up Your Sketch

Now, erase the initial guidelines using a thin click eraser or a kneaded eraser, then go over your final structural lines one more time.

Step 6: Begin Shading

To bring your elephant drawing to life, apply realistic shading values and wrinkled skin details using these techniques.

• Realistic Shading and Skin Volume: Apply a smooth medium value across the entire body, leaving a few key areas blank for high-contrast highlights. Then add slightly darker values to create distinct shadows, giving the figure dimension and volume. Push down harder or switch to a softer graphite grade like 2B or 4B.
• Protecting your work: Place a piece of scrap paper under your hand as you shade to prevent smudging your finished work.

• Skin Creases and Wrinkles: Use a series of curved lines along the trunk and body that travel in the direction of natural skin creases to produce a rough, authentic texture. 
• Contrasting Light and Dark: Use dark values to emphasize deep folds. Use a thin click eraser to lift away graphite along the upper surfaces to create crisp highlights.
• Environmental Details: Finish the scene by sketching a series of short, quick strokes beneath the feet to create a realistic dirt path.

Keep shading and fine-tuning your skin details until you are perfectly happy with your complete drawing!

Buy My Step-by-Step Art Books on Amazon!

If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.

Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!

This is an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.

And to learn how to draw cartoons, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

RELATED TUTORIALS

Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a Labrador Retriever Dog (Head Detail). Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this popular dog breed!

Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:

• Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
• Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
• Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials

This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RELATED TUTORIALS

To draw this dog step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.

Materials You'll Need Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pencils (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)	Kneaded Eraser	Drawing Paper

 

Step 1: Draw the Head Guide

Begin by drawing a circle as a guide for the head. Sketch lightly at first so it is easy to erase if you make a mistake.

TO DRAW A CIRCLE: Make a few small marks to indicate the circle's height. Make a couple more small marks on the sides to indicate the width. Then connect the small marks using smooth, curved lines to finish the circle. If you have trouble drawing one, you can trace the outer edge of a cup or a bowl.

Step 2: Add Construction Guides

Inside the circle, add the internal structural lines that will help determine the layout of the facial features.

• Horizontal Line: Draw a long horizontal line across the circle, placing it slightly higher than the center. Curve it slightly so that it conforms to the round shape of the circle. The tilt of this line determines the tilt of the head.
• Vertical Line: Draw a curved vertical line at the top of the head for another construction guide. Place this line close to the left edge of the initial circle.

Step 3: Sketch the Muzzle Guide

Draw a big oval on the left side of the head as a guide for the dog's muzzle.

• Sizing and Placement: The oval should be quite large in relation to the head, with a big part of it extending past the left side of the main circle.
• Orientation: Tilt the oval slightly so that it follows the same angle as the horizontal construction guide inside the head. You can use the small marks method here as well to build the shape.

Step 4: Place the Jaw and Ear

Establish the structural boundaries for the bottom jaw and the prominent ear on the right side of the head.

• Lower Jaw Line: At the bottom of the muzzle, draw a short line that connects the oval back to the head circle to define the lower part of the jaw.
• Ear Framework: On the right side of the head, draw a big triangle as a guide for the ear. Start by drawing a vertical line close to the right edge of the big circle. Then, draw a large angled line—similar to a greater-than sign (>)—to complete the triangular shape. Ensure this ear guide is very big in relation to the head.

Step 5: Add the Neck

Under the head structure, draw a couple of curved lines as guides for the neck. Make sure the shape of the neck is framed pretty wide. Place the right-hand neck line directly next to the base of the ear guide. This completes the construction guidelines, and you are ready to begin the final drawing details.

Step 6: Place the Eyes

Inside the head structure, lightly sketch two small circles for the eyes. Place them directly on top of the horizontal construction guide, with one eye sitting on either side of the vertical guide line. The eyes should sit very close to the top boundary of the muzzle shape. Due to the three-quarter perspective of the turned head, make the eye on the left side slightly smaller and thinner than the eye on the right.

Step 7: Detail the Right Eye

Once you are happy with the eye shapes, darken the lines to lock in the final features.

• Outer Corner: As you darken the eye on the right, draw an angled line on its right edge that looks similar to a greater-than sign (>). Close off the shape on the left side by darkening the initial circle to create a sharp, triangular look.
• Inner Corner & Creases: Draw a couple of short lines on the bottom left side for the inner corner of the eye, pointing down and to the left toward the muzzle. Add a couple of curved lines around the eye for skin creases, making the line at the top slightly higher and more curved to define the brow.

Step 8: Detail the Left Eye

Move to the eye on the left side. Because of the way the head is turned, much of this eye is hidden. Darken the narrow shape and add a couple of structural lines to give it definition while keeping it thin. On its left side, draw another curved line to represent the profile boundary of the face, following the natural curvature of the eye.

Step 9: Add Pupils and Highlights

Bring life to the eyes by adding highlights and pupils inside the circles.

• Right Eye: Draw a tiny circle off to the side to create a small catchlight or highlight. In the middle of the eye, draw a slightly bigger circle for the pupil. Shade in the pupil darkly, being careful not to overlap or paint over the tiny highlight circle.
• Left Eye: Follow the same process for the turned eye on the left. Because of the perspective, keep it simple by drawing a small shape and shading it in to represent the pupil without overcomplicating the details.

Step 10: Draw the Nose Pad

Inside the muzzle area, lightly sketch a large oval for the nose, placing it right on the top-left edge of the muzzle guide. Once the size and position look right, darken the shape. Curve the lines inward slightly as you darken the sides of the oval. Add a short line near the top to separate the top plane from the front plane of the nose. Inside, draw two small circular shapes and shade them in for the nostrils, making the left one slightly thinner. Finish the nose by drawing a vertical crease line between the nostrils and darkening the bottom edge so it is slightly pointier than the initial oval.

Step 11: Sketch the Mouth Split

Directly below the nose, draw a line that curves out to the right to define the first part of the mouth split. This line should extend slightly farther out than the original muzzle oval, ending roughly beneath the vertical alignment of the right eye. Sketch another curved line just under the nose to establish the front part of the muzzle and opposite side of the lips, followed by a light line further down to mark out the lower jaw.

Step 12: Refine the Drooping Lips

Labrador Retrievers have loose, slightly drooping skin around their mouth. Draw a couple of curved lines on the right side of the mouth to capture this drooping lip detail. When the shapes look accurate, darken the lines. Include a small, curved shape on the right side to indicate the visible gum line where the lip sags down. Darken the short line on the left side for the visible portion of the chin, and add another small curved line near the middle to show the loose skin on the far side of the jaw.

Step 13: Define the Bridge of the Nose

Draw a long line extending upward from the top of the nose pad back to the inner corner of the left eye to outline the upper bridge of the muzzle. Add a short, intentional notch line next to the eye to clearly separate the nasal bridge from the forehead structure.

Step 14: Contour the Ear

Use the large triangular guide on the right side to shape the floppy ear. Follow the general path of your guide lines, but break up the rigid lines into natural, organic curves. Add a few quick, angled strokes at the top to create a furry texture along the base. Incorporate a few long, curved creases down the ear flap to suggest folds, and fill the interior of the ear with extra short strokes to give the folds a realistic, fuzzy texture.

Step 15: Outline the Skull and Neck Folds

Use the remaining structural guidelines to finalize the outer boundaries of the head and neck.

• Skull & Far Ear: Darken the top portion of the main head circle, adding subtle waves to define the bone structure of the skull. At the very top, add a couple of small angled strokes to represent the tips of fur from the ear on the far side of the head.
• Neck Skin: Follow the lower neck guidelines with loose, overlapping curved lines to emphasize the heavy, sagging skin common around a retriever's throat. Add a few minor angled marks inside the head perimeter to build up underlying muscle definition.

Step 16: Erase the Guidelines

Take a thin eraser—such as a click-pen eraser—and carefully clean up your drawing by removing the horizontal, vertical, and overlapping structural guidelines. It is fine if some faint remnants are left behind, but removing the guides from the spaces between your final lines ensures a professional finish. Once erased, take your pencil and re-darken any final details that may have been accidentally lightened.

Step 17: Lay Down Base Shading

Begin adding tone to your portrait to establish depth, volume, and three-dimensional form. Apply a light, even layer of medium-value shading across the head. Start softly, gradually increasing your pencil pressure or swapping to softer graphite grades like 4B or 6B to create deeper core shadows. Keep a scrap piece of paper tucked under your hand while you work to prevent smudging your clean lines.

Step 18: Shade the Features and Whiskers

Add contrast by deepening the tones around the main facial features. Shade the eyes with a soft, light value, making sure to leave the tiny highlight circles bright white. Lightly draw tidy rows of small dots below the nose to create the whisker pads. Next, apply a very rich, dark value to the gums and across the entire nose pad, leaving a clean, unshaded strip running along the top ridge of the nose to simulate a soft light reflection.

Step 19: Render the Coat Texture

Build up a realistic coat appearance by slowly applying darker values across the head. Use short, rhythmic pencil strokes that flow in the exact direction of natural fur growth. To create convincing highlights on the coat, leave the topmost surfaces of the head and muzzle completely blank. Pay close attention to how light and shadow alter the shapes of the fur folds. If you have a pet dog at home, feel free to use them as a live reference for how the coat lays!

Step 20: Do Your Final Pass and Add Contrast

To finalize your drawing, go over your primary outlines one last time using a rich, dark value to create a sharp, graphic pop. Scatter a few more fine, short hatch lines across the face to enhance the fur texture. If you like, you can lightly shade a soft, low-contrast tone around the outer edges of the dog to create a simple background vignette that makes your drawing stand out. Shading takes patience, so take your time and keep rendering until you are fully happy with your finished Labrador Retriever!

Buy My Step-by-Step Art Books on Amazon!

If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.

Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!

This is an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.

And to learn how to draw cartoons, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

RELATED TUTORIALS

Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw an Alligator. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this prehistoric reptile!

Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:

• Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
• Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
• Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials

This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RELATED TUTORIALS

To draw this alligator step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.

Materials You'll Need Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pencils (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)	Kneaded Eraser	Drawing Paper

x

Step 1: Draw the Main Body and Head Guidelines

Sketch the basic structural circles and proportions to establish the alligator's body guidelines. Sketch lightly at first so it is easy to erase if you make a mistake.

Proportional Body Circles

• Front Body Guide: Draw a circle for the front part of the body. Make small marks for the height and width, then connect them with curved lines. You can trace a coin, bottle cap, or another circular edge if needed.
• Rear Body Guide: To the left, draw another circle for the back portion of the body. Make this circle slightly smaller, and do not place them too close together since alligators have long bodies.

Head and Jaw Guides

• Head Circle: On the right side, draw a smaller circle for the head, making it about two-thirds the size of the first front body circle. Add a sloping construction line across it.
• Top Jaw Guide: Draw a small rectangular shape on the right side of the head circle. Make it wide at the base and thin at the tip.
• Lower Jaw Guide: Directly below the top rectangular guide, sketch a matching rectangular shape for the lower jaw.

Step 2: Connect the Head and Body, and Add Limbs

Connect your structural circles together and create the orientation of the alligator's legs and tail sections.

Neck, Torso, and Tail Framework

• Neck Lines: Connect the head circle to the front body circle using two short lines. Make sure the bottom line has a distinct curve.
• Torso Outline: Connect the two large body circles together using a pair of curved horizontal lines to finalize the main torso.
• Tail Outline: Draw two sloping lines extending outward to the left side from the rear body circle to outline the visible portion of the tail.

Leg and Joint Guidelines

• Front Legs: Below the neck, draw a short angled line for the first front leg. Under the main body circle, draw a longer angled line that bends a few times to mark the joints of the stepping leg.
• Hind Legs: Under the left body circle, sketch an angled line shaped like a letter Z. Farther left, draw a shorter angled line for the visible section of the other hind leg.

Step 3: Refine the Facial Features

Transition into the final drawing lines by defining the distinct textures and shapes of the alligator's head.

The Eye and Textured Brows

• The Eye: Sketch a small circle for the eye near the top edge of the head guide. Darken the circle, place a short vertical line inside for a slit pupil, and add crease lines below it.
• Armored Brows: Draw a long, angular, wavy line above the eye to construct a rough-textured brow. Draw another wavy line along the top of the initial circle for the brow on the opposite side.

Snout, Jaws, and Teeth Structure

• Top Jaw: Darken the top rectangular guide with curved lines. Extend the mouth line to the left, curving the tip downward until it hits the left edge of the head circle. Sketch interior structural lines.
• Lower Jaw: Darken the lower jaw guide, making it rounder. Add a long wavy line for its top edge that slopes down to the bottom right, then sketch a short curved line for the inside of the mouth and throat.
• The Teeth: Draw a series of small, varied triangular shapes along the interlocking margins of both the upper and lower jaws to populate the rows of teeth.

Step 4: Add Details to the Limbs and Main Silhouette

Flesh out the body shapes around your guidelines, adding realistic contours to the legs and the underbelly skin.

Forelimbs and Toes

• First Front Leg: Outline the front leg around the long joint guide with curved lines, blending the top portion inside the body. Add small, downward-pointing V-shaped lines at the bottom for the toes.
• Second Front Leg: Sketch around the remaining front guide on the right, keeping the tip pointy and adding short lines to delineate individual toes.

Hind Limbs and Torso Edges

• Hind Legs: Sketch around the Z-shaped line to fill out the hind leg. Build a square-like shape for the foot, separate the toes with small triangles, and add curved lines along the joints to represent thick creases. Outline the visible segment of the opposite hind leg on the far left.
• Body Contours: Darken the outer edges of the main torso guidelines. Draw a series of soft, curved lines below the head and neck to simulate sections of loose skin.

Step 5: Add Final Details

Apply the complex patterning of reptile armor and layer your pencil tones to finalize the piece with three-dimensional depth.

The Scale and Spike Grid

• Grid Alignment: Erase your hidden construction guides. Lightly sketch three long horizontal lines across the back, then cross them with vertical lines to construct a grid-like pattern over the back and neck.
• Armored Spikes: Draw a small triangular spike within each grid square on the back. Flatten the shapes into small ovals and square scales as they sit lower toward the belly, tail, and underside.

Tonal Shading and Final Highlights

• Shadow Values: With a light source originating from above, cast heavy shadows along the undersides of the head, jaws, belly, legs, and tail to build dimension.
• Coloration and Dots: Blend a medium value across the upper parts of the body for natural skin coloration, keeping scale tops lighter for highlights. Add tiny dots along the jawlines for sensory spots.
• Ground Texture: Sketch rapid, short lines and scribbles beneath the alligator's feet to create a rough, grassy environment.

Buy My Step-by-Step Art Books on Amazon!

If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.

Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!

This is an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.

And to learn how to draw cartoons, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

RELATED TUTORIALS

Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a cute chibi frog sitting on a lily pad. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this adorable amphibian character!

Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:

• Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
• Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
• Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials

This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

All the free art lessons on How2DrawAnimals.com are easy to follow; they teach you the basics while showing you how to render animals step by step. Each tutorial has a video tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow. After you're done here, try another tutorial!

RELATED TUTORIALS

To draw this chibi frog step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.

Materials You'll Need Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pencils (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)	Kneaded Eraser	Drawing Paper
Black Ink Pen (or Fine-Line Marker)	Colored Pencils (or Markers)	Markers (or Colored Pencils)

x

Step 1: Lay the Foundation with Construction Guides

Establish the scale and proportions of the frog using simple guidelines. Sketch these steps very lightly so they are easy to erase later.

Proportional Circles

• The Body Guide: Start by lightly sketching a circle to serve as the main guide for the body. An easy way to do this is to make two small pencil marks to indicate the desired height, two marks on the sides for the width, and then connect them with curved lines.
• Tracing Tip: You do not have to draw a perfect circle. But if you are having trouble drawing a circle, simply trace the outer edge of a cup, a lid, or anything else with a circular edge.

Defining the Layout

• The Horizontal Guide: Draw a curved horizontal line directly across the entire circle. Place this line close to the center. Don't draw it too low or too high. This line will help you place the facial features accurately later on.
• The Vertical Guide: On top of that, draw a short vertical line for another construction guide. Place this line close to the left edge of the circle. This off-center placement establishes the slight turn of the body.

Step 2: Drawing the Head & Facial Features

Now focus on the details of the face to capture the adorable look characteristic of the chibi style!

The Eyes and Brow

• The Eyes: Inside the shape, lightly sketch two large circles for the eyes. Place the eyes on top of the horizontal construction guide and on either side of the vertical guide. Do not place them too close together; frogs have eyes that are far apart. Make them nice and big, then darken the outlines once you get the sizes and positions right.
• Eye Details: Inside each eye, off to the side, draw a tiny circle for a highlight. On the bottom of each eye, draw a tiny curved line.
• The Heavy Brow: Draw a couple of curved lines above the eyes for the heavy brow ridge, keeping them right along the edge of your initial circle guide. They should be roughly the same size as the tops of the eyes.

The Mouth

• The Smile: Below the eyes, draw a curved horizontal line for the mouth, placing it below the horizontal construction guide. The outer tips of this line should be very close to the inner edges of the eyes. Notice how the middle point of the line also curves up slightly to create a cute expression.

Step 3: Sketching the Front Legs and Head Shape

With the face established, you can begin building the physical structure of the frog's front legs and head connection.

Front Legs and Head Alignment

• Front Legs: Along the bottom, draw a couple of short vertical lines for the first leg directly below the right eye, closing off the shape with a horizontal line. Draw a similar shape on the left side, placing it directly below the left eye. The legs should be wider at the top and thinner at the bottom, with the left leg slightly smaller due to the turned perspective of the body.
• Connect the Brows: Connect the brow structures using a horizontal line to firmly establish the top part of the head.

Step 4: Shaping the Round Torso and Back Limbs

Chibi animals like this frog have highly stylized, compact limbs and a plump, round posture.

Body Outline and Back Leg Elements

• The Plump Torso: Draw the rest of the body along the basic path of the original circle guide, but make the lower body a bit wider than the initial circle so that the frog looks extra round and chubby.
• The Folded Leg: On the right side at the top, draw a long curved line for the folded hind leg. This shape is sort of similar to the number 2. Then, finish the back portion of the body as a long, curved vertical line on the right side.
• The Visible Foot Guides: Most of the back legs will be hidden behind the round body. Draw a small, angled line on the lower left side and another on the right side for the visible sections of the hind feet. These lines look similar to "less than" (<) signs.

Step 5: Drawing the Lily Pad Base

Give your character a natural setting by adding a simple supporting leaf surface.

The Lily Pad Environment

• Leaf Tips: On the bottom left and right sides, draw short curved lines for the tips of the lily pad leaves.
• Completing the Leaf Shape: Connect those curved lines to the frog's body using horizontal lines. Add a couple more curved lines on the sides for extra leaf detail, and close off the entire shape at the bottom using a long, curved horizontal line.

Step 6: Inking and Clean Line Work

Solidify your final outlines and clear away all the construction guides.

Inking and Cleanup

• Trace Your Outlines: Go over your final structural lines one more time so that they stand out. Using permanent ink, a fine-liner, or a marker, slowly and carefully trace over your final shapes to avoid any accidents. Do not trace any of the initial construction guides that you won't want to keep.
• Erase Guidelines: Let the ink dry completely so it won't smudge. Once dry, take a soft eraser and clear away all the original circular construction guides and pencil marks from the paper.

Step 7: Applying Colors

Begin the coloring phase after gathering the colored pencils or markers you want to use.

Details First, Then the Base Color

• Cheeks, Spots, and Belly: Dark green spots on the back, green in the eyes, pink for cheeks, and a yellow belly make up the different color details throughout your chibi frog.
• The Frog's Skin: Then start blocking in green for the main parts of the frog's body. Be sure to leave the tiny circles inside the eyes stark white so the highlights maintain their sparkle.

Step 8: Finish Coloring the Environment

The final step completes your cute chibi artwork!

Final Coloring Details

• Color the Lily Pad: Use a different, contrasting shade of green for the lily pad leaves beneath the frog's feet to create a distinct separation between your character and the leaf it's sitting on.

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