How to Draw a Mom and Baby Otter (Easy Step by Step)
A mom otter cuddling her baby is a sweet scene, and it is built from simple shapes. Mom is a big bean, the baby has a round head and a bumpy little body, and the tail is a pointed leaf. Once you can draw these shapes, you can make a whole otter family.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a mom and baby otter step by step
How to Draw a Mom and Baby Otter · 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: Mom's body outline
Draw a big, tilted bean shape for mom otter. Start with her round head at the top left, then sweep a long curve down and around to the right for her back and belly. Add a tiny bump at the nose on the left and a tiny bump for the ear at the top.
Step 3: The tail
At the bottom right of mom's body, draw a pointed leaf shape for the tail. Start where the belly curves in and let the tail point down and to the right.
Step 4: Mom's arms
In the middle of mom's tummy, draw two short lines, one above the other, that meet at the right end like a sideways V. These are her arms, ready to hold the baby.
Step 5: Baby's head
Above mom's arms, draw a curved line shaped like the top and left side of a circle. This is the baby's round head, so leave the bottom open for now.
Step 6: Baby's flipper and body
Draw a small leaf shape to the right of the baby's head for a flipper. Then draw a wavy, bumpy line from the baby's head down and across mom's tummy to her side for the baby's body and little feet.
Step 7: Mom's face
On mom's head, draw two small round dots for eyes. Add a small rounded triangle for the nose between them and a little curved smile right under the nose. Add a tiny mark at the top of her head for the ear.
Step 8: Baby's face
On the baby's head, add two tiny dots for eyes. Draw a very small smile between and just below them.
Step 9: Tail dots
Add two tiny dots near the tip of the tail. Make them very small.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your mom and baby otter? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing a mom and baby otter
- Draw mom's big bean shape first and keep it light. Everything else sits on top of it, so it is worth getting the tilt right.
- The baby is the trickiest part because it overlaps mom. Draw the baby's head as a curve on top of mom's tummy, then let the body line run down to mom's side.
- Keep the faces small and simple. Two dots, a nose and a smile are enough on mom, and the baby's face should be smaller than mom's.
Free mom and baby otter coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this mom and baby otter 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 mom and baby otter drawing
Try warm browns for the fur and a lighter tan for the faces. For a creative twist, color the background like blue ocean water.
Mom and baby otter fun fact for kids
Sea otters often float on their backs, and a mother otter holds her pup on her chest while she floats. Sea otters also sometimes wrap themselves in kelp so they do not drift away while they rest.
Questions about drawing a mom and baby otter
What shapes do I need to draw a mom and baby otter?
You need a big bean shape for mom, a round curve for the baby's head, a bumpy line for the baby's body, a small leaf for the baby's flipper, and a pointed leaf shape for the tail. Dots and small curves make the faces.
How do I make my otters look cuter?
Keep the eyes as small round dots and the smile small and curved. A tiny face on the baby makes it look extra sweet.
How do I draw the baby so it looks like it is in mom's arms?
Draw mom's two arm lines on her tummy first, then draw the baby's head and body just above and over them. Overlapping the shapes makes it look like a cuddle.
