How to Draw a Shark (Easy Step by Step)
This friendly shark is fun to draw because it is built from a few simple shapes: a big oval body, a tall pointy fin, and a crescent-moon tail. Add a dot eye, a wide smile and three gill lines, and it looks ready to swim off the page.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a shark step by step
How to Draw a Shark · 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: Body and tail notch
Start at the left with a short curved line that dips down into a little V notch. From the notch, draw a big curve up and over the top and around the right side, then back along the bottom until you are about halfway across. Leave a gap on the bottom left.
Step 3: The tail
At the top left, draw a long curved line down to a pointed bottom tip, like a crescent moon. Then curve back up to the notch and draw a short line along the bottom of the body to start closing the gap.
Step 4: The top fin
On top of the body, draw a small, tall, pointy fin that looks like a narrow triangle. Start on the back, go up to the point, and come back down to the back.
Step 5: The belly fin
Under the belly, draw a curved fin that points down and to the left, like a leaf. Start in the gap on the bottom of the body and end where the body line starts again.
Step 6: The eye
Near the front of the head, up high, draw a small round dot for the eye. Fill it in until it is dark.
Step 7: The wide smile
Low on the head, draw a wide smile that goes down from one side, wiggles along the bottom and goes back up on the other side. It looks like a bumpy bowl.
Step 8: Gills and teeth
Behind the eye, draw three short curved lines side by side for the gills. Then add little rounded teeth along the bottom of the smile.
Step 9: The belly line
Low on the body, near the belly fin, draw one short, gently curved line pointing toward the tail. It adds a little shape to the belly.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your shark? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw an octopus or how to draw a whale next.
Tips for drawing a shark
- Draw the body big and a little longer than it is tall, so there is plenty of room for the fins and face.
- The tail is the trickiest part. Think of a crescent moon with a pointy tip, and start it from the notch on the body.
- Draw the teeth last and keep them small and round, hanging along the bottom of the smile.
Free shark coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this shark 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 shark drawing
Color the top of the shark gray or blue and leave the belly lighter. For a creative twist, give your shark rainbow stripes or draw a bright coral reef around it.
Shark fun fact for kids
Sharks have skeletons made of cartilage, the same bendy material in your nose and ears, instead of hard bone.
Questions about drawing a shark
What shapes do I need to draw a shark?
You need a big oval for the body, a narrow triangle for the top fin, a leaf shape for the belly fin, and a crescent moon shape for the tail. A small dot makes the eye and curved lines make the smile and gills.
How do I make my shark look friendly?
Draw a wide smile and a round dot eye. Keep the teeth small and place the eye high up near the front of the head.
How do I draw a shark tail?
Start at the notch on the left of the body and draw a long curve out to a pointy tip, like a crescent moon. Then curve back to the notch to close the tail.
