How to Draw a Musk Ox (Easy Step by Step)
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The musk ox is fun to draw because it is mostly big, simple shapes with a shaggy, fluffy look. You will start with a round face, add a long hairy body with a zigzag hem, then finish with a cloud-like mane and curved horns. The zigzag fur at the bottom is the part kids usually love most.
- Easy
- 12 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 musk ox step by step
How to Draw a Musk Ox · 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 round face
Draw an oval for the face near the top of your page, like an egg. Leave a tiny gap at the top, because the hair will cover it later.
Step 3: The shaggy body
Start at the gap at the top of the face and draw a curve out and down each side, like a tent. At the bottom of each side, make a little zigzag point so the hair looks ragged.
Step 4: The wavy fringe
Between the two zigzag corners, draw a row of pointy zigzags along the bottom, like a little mountain range. Connect them to the zigzags you already drew.
Step 5: Hair over the head
Draw a wide arch over the top of the face, like a rainbow. Let each end come down the side of the body and flick out a little at the tip.
Step 6: The fluffy top mane
Above the arch, draw a bumpy cloud shape with lots of little waves. It should sit like a puffy hat on the head.
Step 7: Center part
Draw a straight line from the top of the mane down to the top of the face. Add a tiny bump where it meets the face.
Step 8: Horns, eyes and smile
Draw a curved horn on each side of the head that swoops down and then flicks up at the tip. Add two small dots for eyes and a little curved smile under them.
Step 9: The nose
Draw a small rounded oval in the middle of the face, between the eyes and the smile. It is a soft bean shape.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your musk ox? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a Samoyed or how to draw a snow monkey in a hot spring next.
Tips for drawing a musk ox
- Draw the face oval first and keep it light, so the hair and body can wrap around it.
- For the zigzag fringe, make a row of mountain peaks and try to keep them about the same height. It is fine if they are a little wobbly, because real fur is messy too.
- Make the two horns match by starting both at the same height on each side. Then curve them down and up in the same way.
Free musk ox coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this musk ox 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 musk ox drawing
Try dark brown and chocolate for the fur, with cream or tan horns and a soft gray nose. For a creative twist, give your musk ox a snowy background with falling snowflakes.
Musk ox fun fact for kids
A musk ox has a soft undercoat of wool called qiviut under its long, shaggy outer hair. This helps it stay warm in the cold Arctic.
Questions about drawing a musk ox
What shapes do I need to draw a musk ox?
You need an oval for the face, a long tent-like shape for the hairy body, and a bumpy cloud shape for the mane. The horns are two simple curves, and the fringe is a row of zigzags.
How do I make my musk ox look cuter?
Keep the eyes as small dots with space between them, and add a little smile under the nose. A fluffier, bumpier mane also makes it look extra cuddly.
What is the hardest part of drawing a musk ox?
The wavy mane and zigzag fringe can feel tricky. Go slowly, draw one bump or peak at a time, and remember that wobbly lines make the fur look real.
