How to Draw a Coral Reef (Easy Step by Step)
A coral reef is a busy underwater neighborhood, and this drawing packs it into a few easy shapes. You will draw a smiling fish from a lemon shape and a triangle, then build the reef from wavy lines, tall tubes and a half circle. It is a great picture for practicing steady lines and noticing shapes.
- Medium
- 20 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 coral reef step by step
How to Draw a Coral Reef · 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 fish body
Draw a lemon shape lying on its side, like a leaf with two softly pointed ends. Make it a nice plump size.
Step 3: Tail, fin and smile
At the right end of the body, draw a triangle for the tail. Add a small bump on top for the fin, then draw a little curved smile low on the body, near the left.
Step 4: The fish eye
Near the left end of the body, above the smile, draw a small round dot and fill it in for the eye.
Step 5: Sea floor and seaweed
Near the bottom of the page, draw a long wiggly line from one side to the other. Then start at the left end of it and draw a tall, squiggly line going up, like a wavy snake standing on its tail.
Step 6: Second seaweed
Right beside the first seaweed, start at the ground and draw another tall squiggly line going up. Make this one a little taller than the first.
Step 7: Tube corals
On the right side, draw three tall tubes standing side by side on the ground, with the middle one the tallest. Add a flat oval on top of each tube to make its opening.
Step 8: The dome
On the left, next to the seaweed, draw a half circle like a rainbow with both ends touching the ground.
Step 9: Bumpy coral inside
Inside the dome, draw a lumpy, bumpy shape like a small cloud, sitting on the ground. Its wiggly top curves up and down.
Step 10: Branching coral
On the far right, next to the tubes, draw a shape like a mitten with fingers. Start with a thick stem on the ground, then split it into rounded fingers reaching upward.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your coral reef? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a dolphin or how to draw a shark next.
Tips for drawing a coral reef
- Draw the fish body lightly first, so you can fix the pointy ends before you press hard.
- For the wavy seaweed, think of a row of tiny hills and valleys, and keep your hand moving slowly upward.
- Draw the tube corals one at a time, starting with the tallest one in the middle, so the lines do not run into each other.
Free coral reef coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this coral reef 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 coral reef drawing
Try an orange fish, green seaweed, and pink and purple corals with a sandy yellow floor. For a creative twist, add bubbles floating up from the fish and some blue water around everything.
Coral reef fun fact for kids
Coral looks like a plant or a rock, but it is actually made of tiny animals called polyps that live together in big groups.
Questions about drawing a coral reef
What shapes do I need to draw a coral reef?
You need a lemon shape, a triangle, a few tubes, a half circle and some wavy lines. Together they make the fish, the tube corals, the dome and the seaweed.
How do I make my fish look cuter?
Make the eye a nice round dot and draw a small curved smile low on the body. A slightly round tummy also helps.
How do I draw seaweed that looks wavy?
Draw a line that curves left, then right, then left again as you move up the page. Keep the curves about the same size for a smooth wave.
