How to Draw a Giraffe (Easy Step by Step)
A giraffe is a fun animal to draw because it is mostly long lines and round spots. You build it from a rounded head, a long neck, a big body, four chunky legs and a handful of ovals for the spots. Once you know the order, it comes together quickly.
- Easy
- 12 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 giraffe step by step
How to Draw a Giraffe · 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: Top of the head
Draw a curved line like a hill for the top of the head, then bring it around the front and finish with a little chin line. Leave the back of the head open for now.
Step 3: Neck, back and legs
Start at the back of the head and draw a long line down the neck, then curve it around a rounded back and straight down for the back leg. Draw a second line from under the chin, down the front of the neck and chest, and straight down to the ground for the front leg.
Step 4: Middle legs and hooves
Draw two more legs between the first two. Each one is an upside-down U with straight sides. Then add a short line across the bottom of every leg to make the hooves.
Step 5: The ear
Draw a leaf shape that points out to the side, attached at the back of the head where the neck begins.
Step 6: Horns, eye and smile
Draw two short sticks on top of the head and put a small circle on the end of each. Add a dot for the eye and a little curved smile near the front of the face.
Step 7: The tail
Start at the back of the body and draw a short curved line that hangs down. Finish it with a small pointy oval at the end.
Step 8: Spots on the body
Draw four wobbly ovals of different sizes across the body. They do not have to be perfect, because real spots are all different.
Step 9: Neck spots
Draw two small ovals on the neck, one just below the other and touching. Add a short curved line above them for one more mark on the neck.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your giraffe? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a lion or how to draw a bee next.
Tips for drawing a giraffe
- Draw the neck lines slowly so the neck stays long and smooth instead of wobbly.
- Make the four legs about the same length and line up the bottoms of the hooves, so your giraffe stands steady.
- Draw the spots as uneven ovals in different sizes, and leave a little space between them so they do not touch the outline.
Free giraffe coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this giraffe 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 giraffe drawing
Color the body a warm yellow or orange and fill the spots with brown. For a creative twist, try a rainbow giraffe with a different color for every spot.
Giraffe fun fact for kids
A giraffe has seven bones in its neck, the same number as a human. Each giraffe neck bone is just much longer.
Questions about drawing a giraffe
What shapes do I need to draw a giraffe?
You need a rounded shape for the head, a big rounded body, long curved lines for the neck and upside-down U shapes for the legs. The spots and the tips of the horns are small ovals and circles.
How do I make my giraffe look cuter?
Add a round dot for the eye and a happy curved smile. Spots of different sizes also give your giraffe lots of personality.
How do I draw a giraffe's long neck?
Draw one line from the back of the head, down the neck and around the back. Then draw a second line from under the chin down the front of the neck and chest. Take your time so the lines stay smooth.
