How to draw a fish, step by step
A friendly cartoon fish from one big oval, a circle and a handful of straight lines. One of the easiest animals to draw.
Draw this fish on screen →Mouse, finger or stylus. Each stroke is scored; free, no account.
You'll need
Paper and a pencil, then pens or crayons to colour in. Or nothing at all: draw it on screen and each stroke gets a score for how straight, round and smooth it is.
Steps
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Step 1: the body
Draw a wide oval for the body, a little left of centre. Make it about twice as wide as it is tall.
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Step 2: the tail
Draw the tail as a triangle of three straight lines: from the right end of the body up and back, straight down, then back to the body.
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Step 3: the fin
Draw the top fin as two straight lines: up from the top of the body to a point, then back down.
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Step 4: the eye
Draw a small circle for the eye, near the front of the body and a little above the middle.
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Step 5: the gill
Draw a straight line from top to bottom just behind the eye for the gill.
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Step 6: colour it in
Colour the body light orange and the tail and fin a darker orange. Give the eye a black pupil, add a few curved scales along the body, a small smile at the front and a trail of bubbles.
Tips
- Draw the tail lines quickly, dot to dot. They are the easiest place to practise straight strokes.
- Put the eye close to the front: it makes the fish look like it is swimming forwards.
- Change the oval to change the fish: long and thin for a minnow, almost round for a pufferfish.
Questions
How do I draw a simple fish?
Draw an oval for the body, a triangle at one end for the tail, a smaller triangle on top for the fin, a circle for the eye and a line for the gill.
How do I draw fish scales?
Draw rows of small curves, like the letter C turned on its side, overlapping each other along the body. Two or three rows are enough for a cartoon fish.
Is a fish a good first animal to draw?
Yes. It is one oval and a few straight lines, so it is a great first drawing for kids and a good way to practise steady strokes.