Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Koi" video after each step to draw at your own pace.




For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: Draw a circle as a guide for the koi fish's body. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. Leave enough room on the sides for the tail and the head.

Step 2: Draw an arc on the left side of the circle as a guide for the koi's head. The length of the arc should be about the same as the width of the circle.

Step 3: Draw another arc on the right side of the circle as a guide for the back part of the koi fish's body. This arc should be a tiny bit longer and narrower than the first one.

Step 4: Draw a triangle-like shape on the right side as a guide for the koi's tail. To draw the tail, first draw a long line on the side, then connect the line to the body using smaller diagonal lines.

Step 5: Draw three small lines on the bottom left side as a guide for the koi's pectoral fin.