How to Draw an Apatosaurus (Easy Step by Step)
An apatosaurus is a gentle plant-eater with a very long neck and a long tail, which makes it a great first dinosaur to draw. This one is built from simple shapes: a rounded head, a tall neck, a big hill-shaped body, and three short, chunky legs.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw an apatosaurus step by step
How to Draw an Apatosaurus · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Head and neck
Draw a rounded head at the top left, like a bean. From the bottom of the head, draw a long line down for the front of the neck. Then start at the back of the head and draw a second line straight down for the back of the neck.
Step 2: Back and tail
Start where the back of the neck ends and draw a big hill that curves up and then slopes down to the right. Let the line sweep out to a pointed tail tip.
Step 3: Tail underside and back leg
Start at the tail tip and curve the line back under the tail. Then draw it down into a short, stubby back leg with a rounded foot.
Step 4: Front leg
At the bottom of the front of the neck, draw a short, chunky leg shaped like a small box with rounded corners. Close the bottom with a soft curve for the foot.
Step 5: Belly curve
Next to the front leg, draw a small curve along the bottom. It starts at the foot of the front leg and begins the belly line.
Step 6: Middle leg
Between the front leg and the back leg, draw a short, chunky leg that hangs down from the belly. Join it to the belly curve at the bottom.
Step 7: Eye and face
Draw a small round dot for the eye on the head and fill it in solid. Near the front of the face, add two tiny dots for nostrils and a short little curve for a smile.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your apatosaurus? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a T. rex or how to draw a triceratops next.
Tips for drawing an apatosaurus
- Draw the neck lines slowly and keep them smooth. If your hand wobbles, lightly sketch the neck with a pencil first and trace over it.
- Keep the legs short and wide, like little boots. Tall thin legs would make the body look too heavy.
- Add the eye and face last. Put the nostril dots and the little smile near the front of the head so the face looks happy.
Free apatosaurus coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this apatosaurus 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 apatosaurus drawing
Try soft greens or blues for the skin and a lighter color for the belly. For a creative twist, give your apatosaurus polka dots or rainbow stripes down the neck.
Apatosaurus fun fact for kids
The name Apatosaurus means "deceptive lizard." It lived about 150 million years ago, and it ate plants.
Questions about drawing an apatosaurus
What shapes do I need to draw an apatosaurus?
You need a rounded bean shape for the head, two long lines for the neck, a big hill for the back that ends in a pointed tail, and a few short boxes with rounded corners for the legs.
How do I make my apatosaurus look cuter?
Add a round eye and a tiny smile. Short chubby legs and a pointed tail tip also make it look friendly.
How do I draw the long neck without it looking wobbly?
Go slowly and draw each neck line in one smooth curve. You can also sketch the neck lightly in pencil first and then trace over it.
