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

Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

Written step-by-step video tutorial:

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 near the middle of the page as a guide for the piranha's body. First draw four small marks to indicate the height and width of the circle, then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. But the circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. If you do want to draw a perfect circle, trace the outer rim of a cup, a lid or any other object with a circular edge.

Step 2: Draw an arc that is narrow at the tip on the left side of the circle as a guide for the piranha's head. First make a small mark to the left of the circle, then connect the mark to the circle using curved lines.

Step 3: Draw another arc on the right side of the circle to complete the guide for the piranha's body. This arc should be somewhat shorter. Then end result of the combined shapes should be similar to an eye.

Step 4: Draw the guide for the tail, or caudal fin, by first drawing a vertical line to the right of the body. Finish the guide for the piranha's caudal fin by connectng the vertical line to the body using a couple of diagonal lines.

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.