To draw an elephant, you can follow these step-by-step instructions:
- Draw the Body
Start with a large oval shape for the elephant's body. Use light pencil strokes to mark the top, bottom, and sides, then connect these marks with a smooth curved line to form the oval. This will be the main bulk of the elephant
- Add the Head and Trunk
To the left of the body oval, draw a rounded head shape. Extend the trunk downward from the head, curving it slightly and ending in a "V" shape. Connect the trunk back to the body with a cheek curve
- Draw the Legs
Sketch the legs starting with the large back leg by drawing two lines down from the rear of the body oval and connecting them with a curved line at the bottom. Repeat for the front leg, then erase overlapping lines inside the legs. Add the other two legs partially visible behind the front ones, making them slightly shorter to show perspective
- Add the Ears
Draw a large curved ear overlapping the head and part of the body. The ear should be big, especially for African elephants. On the other side, draw a smaller curve to represent the other ear partially visible
- Draw the Tusks
Near the top of the trunk, draw a "U" shape for the base of the tusk, then extend a large curved tusk that loops down and back up with a rounded point. Add a smaller tusk on the other side
- Add Details
Draw a small eye near the ear, add wrinkles on the trunk and around the eye, and sketch the toenails on the legs. Include a tail at the back of the body. You can also add a ground line to place the elephant in a setting
- Refine and Shade
Erase any unnecessary guidelines and refine the shapes. Add shading and texture to give the elephant a more realistic look
This approach breaks down the elephant into simple shapes and gradually adds detail, making it easier to draw even for beginners
. For a visual guide, there are helpful video tutorials available that demonstrate this process step-by-step
