How to Draw a Kraken (Easy Step by Step)
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A kraken is a giant sea monster from old sailor stories, and this one is friendly. It is built from a big circle for the head, two curly tentacles, a tiny sailboat, and a few wavy lines for the sea. Even beginners can finish it, because most of the lines are simple curves and dots.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a kraken step by step
How to Draw a Kraken · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The round head
Draw a big round circle in the middle of your page, starting at the bottom left and going up and around to the bottom right. Leave a small gap at the bottom.
Step 3: The left tentacle
To the left of the head, draw two long wobbly lines that rise side by side. At the top, curl them over into a swirl, like a big question mark.
Step 4: The right tentacle
Start at the right side of the head and draw a curved line that sweeps up and to the right. Finish the top with a little curl that hooks over.
Step 5: Eyes and smile
Draw two big round dots for eyes in the middle of the head. Under them, draw a happy curved smile like a little bowl.
Step 6: Suckers
Draw a row of round dots down the left tentacle, one under the other. Add dots down the right tentacle too, and make them all about the same size.
Step 7: A tiny sailboat
By the right tentacle, draw a tall straight line for the mast. Add a tall sail beside it and a short flat line under it for the boat.
Step 8: Waves at the water line
Draw a long wavy line across the page that crosses the bottom of the head and tentacles. It looks like the kraken is rising out of the sea.
Step 9: Waves below
Under the first wave, draw two more wavy lines, the second one a bit shorter than the one above. Add as many bumps as you like.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your kraken? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a kitsune or how to draw a sea serpent next.
Tips for drawing a kraken
- Draw the head circle first and keep it light. The tentacles sit on either side of it, so a good circle makes everything else easier.
- The curls at the top of the tentacles are the trickiest part. Start with a loose letter J, then add a little hook at the end instead of trying to draw a perfect spiral.
- Wave lines look best when you draw them in one smooth motion. Move your whole hand, not just your fingers, and let the bumps be uneven.
Free kraken coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this kraken coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your kraken drawing
Try purple or teal for the kraken, with bright pink or yellow for the dots on the tentacles, and blue-green water. For a creative twist, give the kraken a tiny captain's hat and color the sailboat's sail red.
Kraken fun fact for kids
The word kraken comes from Norwegian, and sailors in Scandinavia told stories about it hundreds of years ago. In those tales it was a huge sea creature that could pull ships under the waves.
Questions about drawing a kraken
What shapes do I need to draw a kraken?
You need one big circle for the head, long curved lines for the tentacles, small dots for the eyes and suckers, and wavy lines for the water. Straight lines make the little sailboat.
How do I make my kraken look friendlier?
Draw two big round eyes and a wide, curved smile under them. Making the eyes large and the smile wide gives a happy look.
How do I draw tentacles that look curly?
Draw long lines that curve upward, then finish the top with a curl that hooks over. On the left tentacle, keep the two lines about the same distance apart.
