50 Animal Drawing Ideas to Use for Your Sketchbook
Animal drawings can range from simple to complex, and they’re always fun to make, whether you want to draw lizards, cats, or dogs. We hope these easy animal drawing ideas can inspire both veteran and beginner artists to make art, whether for practice or fun. If you love animals, we think you’ll love this drawing […]
50 Easy Animal Drawing Ideas
Here are some easy animal drawing ideas for both adults and kids!
1) Rabbit
Photo courtesy of: Jacque Hunt We’re starting our collection of cute animal drawing ideas with these two pictures of a bunny rabbit! These sketches show the bunny grooming its back and cradling its face in its paws. Since this drawing shows the rabbit from an unusual angle, it may be too complex for newer artists. That’s alright because you can focus on getting the shape down first.
2) Cat
Photo courtesy of: dailycatdrawings This lovely black-and-white cat is something that you can easily draw. The outline of the cat has solid sketch lines that you can follow and a few whiskers that give the cat a sharp and distinct silhouette. This cat is easy to draw because the artist didn’t include their paws. Cat paws may look simple, but they’re quite difficult to draw properly! Kids can create a quick cat sketch by making 2 circles: 1 for your kitten’s head and another for its body. Or you could do some research first by watching cat videos.
3) Dog
Photo courtesy of: dragoart The dog is one of the best drawing ideas for kids because dogs are cute and friendly. Since there are also different types of dogs, like labradors and poodles, you can make several sketches from this idea. This simple dog drawing has bright eyes designed to make you fall in love, just like a real dog. And don’t worry if your dog sketch isn’t realistic yet. Practice is the key, and soon your dog sketches will be proper art!
4) Horse
Photo courtesy of: line-d-sign
The proud horse is a great creature to draw, but they’re slightly different from the other creatures we’ve mentioned so far. Horse legs fold differently, so drawing them can be a challenge.
If you’re a beginner artist who thinks this idea is too complex, work toward it! Draw a horse’s head or face first before a full horse.
Start with these small steps first before drawing a complete horse.
5) Bear
Photo courtesy of: jaejohns A bear is a seemingly-cute animal, but only when you’re drawing them! We hope you don’t approach a bear out in nature. As we can see from the helpful original artist, making a bear drawing begins with a sketch of a circle. Beginners shouldn’t be too hung-up on making a perfect circle for your bear. Since your bear needs fur, you’ll need to start shading it, but this is the most difficult step. If your pencil isn’t up to the task, try drawing with the best iPad to finish your art.
6) Elephant
Photo courtesy of: Cecilia Porkolt Similar to horses, an elephant has different legs that may be challenging to draw. One thing we like to teach is the importance of sketching! A beginner can create an elephant drawing by starting with a rough sketch: use thick lines for the legs, and link them together in the middle for the body. No elephant is complete without their trunk, so add that to drawing if you’re making a front-view elephant. Add the ears and some lines on the trunk, and there’s your elephant!
7) Wolf
Photo courtesy of: samanthasbell This next drawing idea isn’t quite a cute animal, but that depends on who you ask. If you weren’t aware, wolves hunt in packs and have many other tricks to ensure their survival. One helpful trick is to draw this animal from the side, either sitting on its haunches or standing up and howling upward.
8) Koala
Photo courtesy of: SillyStell This next idea is a cute animal from Australia that we hope kids will love drawing. The general shape of this sketch is a circle on top of an oval, so the head is the first step to drawing this. Draw a simple circle to start your koala art, then two more circles for its ears. If you’re stuck on your koala’s claws, draw a few triangles for simple claws.
9) Penguin
Photo courtesy of: Mama Penguin Drawing a cute penguin is a perfect and fun way to practice your drawing skills, thanks to its simple shapes. To learn how to create penguin art, start with a big oval for the main body. Draw a little triangle for its beak and 2 dots for its eyes.
10) Tiger
Photo courtesy of: Cool Drawing Idea This big striped cat is our next drawing idea, and it’s something quick that kids can create on a lazy afternoon. Similar to other cats like a lion, you can sketch a simple tiger with a circle, then work on the edges of the fur to make it pointier and more ragged. A helpful tip for a tiger’s facial patterns is to ensure they’re even.
11) Deer
Photo courtesy of: Maggie Penney We’re moving from predator ideas to another cute creature, the deer! Deer are hooved creatures that shed their antlers regularly. Learning to draw is fun, but learning about the animal you’re drawing is just as great. Deer have long faces, so if you’re making a front-view sketch, draw their snout hanging low. The next step is to get their antlers right. Deer need even antlers. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your art; give your deer huge curled antlers if you want!
12) Rat
Photo courtesy of: Shauna Next in our curated ideas is the rat, which is cute, depending on who you ask! The first step to drawing this simple rat is to sketch an oblong for its body, then a smaller oval for its head. The next step is to sketch its long, thin tail. Finish off your sketch with some extensions to the body for its paws.
13) Raccoon
Photo courtesy of: Yencatx The raccoon may seem like a mischievous creature, but they’re helpful and can be cute…sometimes. We love this fluffy raccoon drawing because its paws look so soft. Prepare to color your raccoon drawing beige and gray, and don’t forget to add their signature black masks and fluffy tails as the final step!
14) Fox
Photo courtesy of: Numsiri This next drawing idea is another fluffy creature: the classic orange fox. There are pure white arctic foxes too, so if you don’t want to color your art, call it an arctic fox! This fox drawing is soft and chubby-looking and looks very sleepy and relaxed. Perfectly cute and easy to draw!
15) Hedgehog
Photo courtesy of: yasmin garcia Here are some quick step-by-step instructions on how to make a hedgehog drawing. This hedgehog drawing is easy to learn and teach since it starts with a series of circles. We love this hedgehog art because it’s simple, and the steps are easy to follow. Remember to color the quills on your drawing!
16) Lion
Photo courtesy of: MuraART We had the peaceful elephant earlier, but now it’s time for a great hunter; The noble lion! You can almost hear this lion roaring thanks to the dynamic nature of this drawing. This lion drawing is complex, so we recommend practicing more before you attempt to recreate this drawing.
17) Giraffe
Photo courtesy of: Lee J. Ames This next drawing is a creature from the same habitat as the lion: the long-necked giraffe! This is a set of lovely and clear step-by-step instructions on how to draw a giraffe. The tricky part of drawing these creatures is getting their unique markings just right. Notice the long fringe of hair running down their necks? You can quickly sketch those with a few zigzag lines.
18) Koi Fish
Photo courtesy of: diyhaustiere Next, we’ve got step-by-step instructions on how to create a koi fish drawing. Start this drawing by sketching a line like a curved hair with two ovals for the base of its tail and its head. One of a koi fish’s most distinct features is its whiskers, so cap off your art by drawing your koi’s whiskers and wispy tail.
19) Komodo Dragon
Photo courtesy of: colornimbus Our next drawing is the Komodo dragon, a large and scaly lizard native to Indonesia. This drawing is fairly complex, so we recommend it to more experienced artists. A Komodo dragon has scaly clawed feet and a forked tongue, which can be tricky details to draw. Take a second look over your art to ensure it has the correct details!
20) Alpaca
Photo courtesy of: VeyZArt These next drawings are alpacas, small four-legged mammals from South America. These sketches show different kinds of alpacas, from well-trimmed to overgrown. Take care to draw toes on your alpaca, not hooves. Unlike horses and elephants, alpacas have 2 toes on their feet.
21) Cow
Photo courtesy of: Hedvig H-S Cows! You know them, love them, and now it’s time to draw them. This set of cow drawings is a little more cartoony, but they’re a good exercise in expressions. Try drawing different patterns on your cows to give them more depth.
22) Chicken
Photo courtesy of: Gwennafran The humble chicken is a good drawing exercise for beginners because you can create one with a few general shapes. This collection of rough studies is great for kids and newer artists because it shows the chicken from different angles.
23) Boar
Photo courtesy of: Frozenspots Boars are the ancestors of the modern pig, and pigs can turn back into boars if released into the wild. If you know how to draw a pig, drawing boars should be a piece of cake! To start a boar drawing, sketch a circle for their head and pinpoint the location of their eyes. Remember to add lots of bristly hair and tusks to complete your drawing.
24) Ferret
Photo courtesy of: Favian Ferrets are furry hunters and are well known for having long and slinky bodies. As you can see from this drawing, that also helps when trying to draw them. If you’re drawing a ferret, give it a long body and lots of furs. Like raccoons, some ferrets have masks so that you can add that to your drawing too.
25) Octopus
Photo courtesy of: Gordana Novakov An Octopus is another sea creature drawing you kids and beginners can try sketching. The most important part is ensuring your octopus drawing has eight tentacles. If you haven’t practiced drawing octopus suckers, you can leave the tentacles blank. Return to them later when your art has improved!
26) Starfish
Photo courtesy of: Carolina Pergolesi A starfish is a perfect drawing for kids because it’s simple, but you can add lots of flair to your drawing. Our sample drawing has a nice central pattern that gives the starfish a 3-dimensional look. You can add a dotted or scaled pattern to your starfish or spines for different species of starfish.
27) Rhino
Photo courtesy of: HadriArt and Photography This detailed set of sketches depicts several rhinos in a grassy area, trotting along either alone or with a friend. Some rhino species have one long horn, but the rhinos in this drawing have two. Our sample drawing shows a black rhino because they don’t have visible armor plates like the Indian rhino. However, your drawing can mix and match horns and armor!
28) Panda
Photo courtesy of: Charcoals This quick guide has step-by-step instructions on drawing a panda. Start with a rough outline for its body, head, and paws, then slowly add more definition. The main difference between a brown bear and a panda in its markings, so remember to give your drawing a black mask and shaded ears.
29) Whale
Photo courtesy of: Emma This pair of sketches shows a large whale from 2 different angles. If you want a more realistic whale like this drawing, add more detail to their eyes and flippers. You can also add barnacles to their throats and spot on their hide. We recommend drawing a blue whale so you can cover a whole page with your art!
30) Ant
Photo courtesy of: drawcentral Drawing an ant is actually pretty easy! Start with 3 circles for the head, middle, and abdomen, then add 3 pairs of legs per side. To make the legs a bit easier, draw them as 2 segments each, with one short section coming from the body and a longer section that supports them.
31) Panther
Photo courtesy of: Nathalia This next drawing is the panther, another big cat. Since there are so many different types of cats, it’s nice to use them all as drawing ideas. Drawing this big cat is complex, as you can see from the sample drawing. Shading it is even more so!
32) Ladybug
Photo courtesy of: Amanda Ladybugs are mostly red insects that are simple to draw, thanks to their round bodies. They have 6 legs and can fly. If you want to challenge yourself, draw a ladybug mid-flight, with the wings extending from underneath their shells.
33) Kangaroo
Photo courtesy of: Christelle Sanchez Kangaroos are two-legged creatures with long tails and long snouts. This drawing emphasizes their legs, one of a kangaroo’s most distinct features. A kangaroo’s tail helps stabilize it, so ensure your drawing’s tail reaches the ground for a more realistic artwork.
34) Hippo
Photo courtesy of: Constanza Mansilla Arroyo Hippos are large, 4-legged creatures native to Africa. These semi-aquatic creatures have huge heads, and they’re very heavy. This drawing’s artist has captured the hippo’s signature head by making it the focus of their art. This cute drawing has large eyes and a short, stubby body.
35) Bee
Photo courtesy of: Bridget Corrigan The honeybee is another helpful animal that makes for a fun drawing. The side-facing eye on this sample drawing is quite large and helpfully marks the head region. Draw the bee’s middle (thorax) and abdomen section first, then add its legs, wings, and fur.
36) Great White Shark
Photo courtesy of: MadliArt The great white is another large fish that you can try drawing. These sample sketches have good shading to mark the shark’s top and underside. When drawing a shark, don’t forget its signature dorsal fin and large, toothy mouth. This image also shows sharks from different views, so you can try changing your drawing’s angle.
37) Vulture
Photo courtesy of: Aaron Blaise Our next sample features a very expressive vulture drawn in a more cartoony style. We love how expressive the artist’s work is and how friendly it makes the subject look. Note the drawing’s long, almost bald neck and scruff of white feathers that leads into the shoulders. It’s a good marker for your drawing.
38) Badger
Photo courtesy of: Tiziana Ciaghi These badger doodles are drawn in a very sketchy style which may be difficult for beginner artists to imitate. We recommend drawing the badger from the side. Focus on their round bodies, masks, and long snouts. Your drawing doesn’t need to be perfect, especially if you’re still practicing.
39) Snake
Photo courtesy of: Harle Laufeyson Following the badger, our next drawing is another simple one: the snake! A snake is simple to draw because it’s one long line. This drawing added scales and a sharp forked tongue.
40) Tree Frog
Photo courtesy of: RolPrikol Here’s a drawing of a long-legged tree frog. These sticky amphibians have large bulbous eyes and wide-toed feet. This illustration perfectly captures their eyes, feet, and legs.
41) Gorilla
Photo courtesy of: jaejohns This quick tutorial shows you how to make a side-view gorilla drawing with a few simple steps. Begin with rough circles for the gorilla’s head, upper body, and lower body. Add more circles for its joints, eyes, and a nose for the face. There’s your gorilla!
42) Squirrel
Photo courtesy of: Lee J. Ames This next guide shows another furry creature, the squirrel. The illustrator makes the process easier by using mostly curved lines for the drawing. Remember to add the small claws and paws, plus the bushy tail.
43) Zebra
Photo courtesy of: Ashley Odell This next drawing is similar to a horse but much stripier. Our sample drawing is a little complicated because of the stippling pattern, but you can use solid lines instead. Link your zebra’s stripes to its snout, and remember to add stripes to its mane too.
44) Antelope
Photo courtesy of: Chris Grant This long-horned creature is like the deer earlier but with simpler horns. This playful drawing shows antelopes galloping across the page. When drawing an antelope, make its body long but its tail short, and add a slight curve to the horns.
45) Worm
Photo courtesy of: schoolplaten This collection’s all about simple animal drawing ideas, and there’s no animal simpler than the humble worm! Step one, draw a long line with 2 round ends. Next, add equally-spaced lines across its body and 2 dot eyes to complete your cute worm!
46) Dolphin
Photo courtesy of: Sakary-chan Sawateru Dolphins are very intelligent sea creatures, and it also helps that they’re cute! To begin drawing this creature, sketch a crescent moon shape first. Then for the next step, add its tail at the bottom and top, or dorsal fin, along its back. Add its remaining fins, a little beak, and an eye; your quick dolphin drawing is complete! Animals and sea creatures are great to draw, but sometimes you need inspiration. Let creativity strike with these easy drawing ideas.
47) Hamster
Photo courtesy of: Erza Uzu This next drawing has another cute creature featuring a super fluffy hamster having a nice snack! Start with a nice round sketch for this next drawing because hamsters are naturally chubby. Break out your pink pencils and prepare to dedicate an entire page of your sketchbook to drawing these small cuddly creatures.
48) Red-Tailed Hawk
Photo courtesy of: kookybat If you’ve moved past beginner drawings, you can try to sketch this proud and fierce-looking red-tailed hawk. This creature will take more work than you may be used to, but keep at it! We recommend giving your hawk drawing a full page to capture its proud brow and sharp beak properly.
49) Seal
Photo courtesy of: Jewel Renee You can’t beat the simple seal when it comes to cute drawing ideas. We love this adorable animal because they have big expressive eyes. Before drawing a seal, ensure you know the angle from which the drawing will be. This will change whether the drawing process will be simple or complex!
50) Owl
Photo courtesy of: TheVirtualInstructor
Wrapping up this collection of easy animal drawings is the wise owl. This feathery hunter is unique among other animals and can be cute or frightening, depending on the species.
This final fun drawing may be too advanced for beginners because of the owl’s feathers and claws, so you can try drawing a simple owl with big feather tufts and expressive eyes instead.
You don’t have to aim for realistic drawings, especially if you’re honing your artistic skills. We recommend starting with shapes in both 2D and 3D.
Drawing ideas for beginners doesn’t need to be complex. Get the fundamentals down first!
Before you can start making easy animal drawings, we recommend practicing their frame and anatomy first. Animals are great things to draw, but here are some extra tips.
First, watch video clips or observe the animal you want to draw: How do they lie down in their natural habitat? Do they group up, or are they solitary?
Before you can sketch animals, get a feel for their nature first.
If you’re a novice, then the only tools you’ll need are a pencil and paper. Different types of pencils are available, like mechanical pencils, but beginners should stick with graphite.
However, if you’ve moved past pencils and want to work on digital animal drawings, we recommend getting an affordable drawing tablet.
Animal Drawing Ideas FAQs
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