How to Draw a Pirate Crab (Easy Step by Step)
A crab in a pirate hat with an eye patch is hard to resist. It is built from simple shapes: a big rounded body, a wide hat, and two claws that look like the letter C. Once you can draw those, the rest is leaf-shaped legs, little feet, dots, and tiny smiles.
- 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 pirate crab step by step
How to Draw a Pirate Crab · 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 round body
Draw a big rounded shape like a gumdrop, wider at the bottom. Start near the top on the left, curve down and around the bottom, and finish near the top on the right, leaving the top open.
Step 3: The pirate hat
Draw a wide hat sitting on top of the body. Make a big bump for the top, then let it flare out into a brim with rounded ends that sticks out past both sides, with a gently curved line along the bottom.
Step 4: Big claws
On each side of the body, draw a curved arm that ends in a claw shaped like a letter C with a notch in the middle. Make both claws about the same size.
Step 5: Side legs
Below each claw, draw a pointy leaf shape sticking out from the side of the body. Then add a second, smaller leaf shape lower down on each side.
Step 6: Little feet
At the bottom of the body, draw two small rounded feet that look like tiny upside-down U shapes, one on the left and one on the right.
Step 7: Eye and eye patch
Draw one round dot for the crab's eye on the left. On the right, draw a half-round patch, then add a thin string that goes from the patch up and to the left across the body.
Step 8: Two tiny smiles
Under the eye, draw a tiny wavy smile. Then draw another tiny wavy smile on the front of the hat.
Step 9: Hat face eyes
On the hat, draw two round dots for eyes, one on each side of the little smile, with space between them.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your pirate crab? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a dolphin or how to draw a shark next.
Tips for drawing a pirate crab
- Draw the body first and leave the top open, then draw the hat over it. That way the hat brim naturally sits in front of the body.
- The claws are the trickiest part. Draw a curved arm that ends in a C, then add a small notch so it looks like a pinching claw.
- Draw the side legs as pointy leaf shapes and keep each pair about the same size so the crab looks balanced.
Free pirate crab coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this pirate crab 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 pirate crab drawing
Try a bright red or orange crab with a black hat and a gold edge on the brim. You could also color the hat like a pirate flag or add a tiny treasure map in the background.
Pirate crab fun fact for kids
Most crabs walk sideways. Crabs have ten legs, and the front two are claws that they use to grab and pinch.
Questions about drawing a pirate crab
What shapes do I need to draw a pirate crab?
You need a big rounded gumdrop shape for the body, a wide curved shape for the hat, and C shapes for the claws. Leaf shapes, small dots, and short wavy lines finish the legs and faces.
How do I make my pirate crab look cuter?
Keep the eyes as simple round dots and add tiny wavy smiles. Make the body extra round and chubby.
How do I draw the eye patch?
Draw a half circle with a flat top, then color it in solid. Add a thin line from the patch up and to the left across the body to show the string.
