How to Draw a Chameleon (Easy Step by Step)
A chameleon is a cheerful animal to draw because it is built from simple shapes: a rounded dome head, an oval body, and a tail that curls like a snail shell. Add a few dots and two stubby legs, and it comes to life sitting on its branch.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 10 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a chameleon step by step
How to Draw a Chameleon · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The rounded head
Draw a rounded dome shape for the head, like a helmet or a guitar pick. Start with a point at the top, run the left side almost straight down, then curve around the right and finish with a gentle curve along the bottom.
Step 3: Body and curly tail
Next to the head, draw a big oval for the body that tucks in behind the head. Then draw the tail from the back of the body, curling out and around into a swirl like a snail shell. Close the bottom of the body with a gentle curved line.
Step 4: Two stubby legs
Under the belly, draw two short legs. Start each one at the bottom of the body and go straight down. The left one is just a slanted line near the tail, and the other one curves into a flat little foot.
Step 5: The branch
Draw a long, flat rounded rectangle underneath the feet, like a stick. Let the feet touch the top of it so your chameleon sits on the branch.
Step 6: A big round eye
On the head, draw a circle for the eye. Put a small solid dot in the middle of it so your chameleon looks around.
Step 7: A little smile
Near the bottom of the head, draw a short curved line that bends up at the end. It makes a friendly smile.
Step 8: Spots on the body
Dot five spots on the body: three in a row on top and two a little lower. They don't have to line up perfectly.
Step 9: Toe and leg marks
Add two short lines between the legs where they meet the belly, and a tiny line at the bottom of each foot. They show where the toes and legs bend.
Step 10: A leaf on the branch
On the right side of the branch, draw a small pointed oval for a leaf. Add one slanted line down the middle for the vein.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your chameleon? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a platypus or how to draw a goose next.
Tips for drawing a chameleon
- The curly tail is the trickiest part. Start at the back of the body and draw a big, loose curve, then keep spiraling inward and stop when it feels tight.
- Draw the head first and let the body slide in behind it. The body line should stop where it touches the head, so the head looks like it is in front.
- Draw the legs short and straight with flat feet. If the feet rest right on the branch line, your chameleon will look steady and not floaty.
Free chameleon coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this chameleon 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 chameleon drawing
Try bright greens and yellows for the body, with a different color for each spot. For a creative twist, make your chameleon change color: give it a rainbow of stripes as if it is blending into a candy-colored jungle. The leaf can be a fresh green.
Chameleon fun fact for kids
A chameleon can move each of its eyes in a different direction, so it can look at two things at once. Its tongue is also very long and shoots out fast to catch bugs.
Questions about drawing a chameleon
What shapes do I need to draw a chameleon?
You need a rounded dome for the head, a big oval for the body, a spiral for the tail, and two short legs. A long rounded rectangle makes the branch, and circles and dots finish the eye and spots.
How do I draw a chameleon's curly tail?
Start at the back of the body and draw a big curve down and around, then keep spiraling into the middle. Go slowly and practice on scrap paper first, like drawing a snail shell.
How do I make my chameleon look cuter?
Make the eye big and round with a small dot in the middle, and give it a little upward smile. Chubby legs and a bold spiral tail also make it extra friendly.
