How to Draw a Triceratops (Easy Step by Step)
This friendly triceratops sits up like a cuddly toy, with a big fluffy frill and three pointy horns. It is built from simple shapes: circles, ovals and a few triangles. That makes it a great first dinosaur for young artists.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a triceratops step by step
How to Draw a Triceratops · 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: Round head bottom
Draw a big U-shaped curve for the bottom of the face, a little wider than it is tall. Leave the top open, because the horns and frill will go there.
Step 3: Face and body start
Add two dots for eyes, two tiny dots for the nose and a little smile. Then draw two short curves just under the chin and a wavy line lower down, to mark where the body will go.
Step 4: Legs and feet
Draw a tall oval on each side for the front legs. Then add a flat oval at the bottom of each leg for a foot, with a small curve joining the feet in the middle.
Step 5: Belly curve
In the middle of the body, draw an upside-down U for the round belly. Its two ends stop near the feet.
Step 6: Two big horns
On top of the head, draw two tall pointy shapes that lean a little outward. Close the bottom of each horn with a short curved line.
Step 7: Nose horn and snout
Draw a small triangle in the middle of the face for the nose horn. Right below it, draw a wide oval around the nose and smile for the snout.
Step 8: The fluffy frill
Draw a curved line across the top of the head between the two horns. Then draw a big bumpy cloud shape that goes up and around the head, with lots of little scallops, and curls in at each side.
Step 9: Frill dots
Add two small dots on the frill above the head, one on each side of the middle.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your triceratops? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a stegosaurus or how to draw a brachiosaurus next.
Tips for drawing a triceratops
- Draw the head curve first and leave the top open. The horns and frill have more room to fit around it.
- The frill is the trickiest part. Make a row of small bumps, like a cloud, instead of one long wobbly line.
- Keep the two horns about the same height and tilt them outward a bit. Looking at both while you draw helps them match.
Free triceratops coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this triceratops 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 triceratops drawing
Try green or soft brown for the body, with an orange or yellow frill and cream horns. For a creative twist, give the frill a rainbow pattern or fill it with polka dots.
Triceratops fun fact for kids
Triceratops means 'three-horned face.' It had two long horns above its eyes and one shorter horn on its nose. It lived in North America and ate plants.
Questions about drawing a triceratops
What shapes do I need to draw a triceratops?
You need a circle-like curve for the head, ovals for the legs, feet, belly and snout, and triangle-like shapes for the horns. The frill is a bumpy cloud shape around the head.
How do I make my triceratops look cuter?
Keep the eyes as simple round dots and add a small smile, like in the guide. Round horns and a fluffy, bumpy frill add to the cuddly look.
How do I draw the frill?
Start with a curved line across the top of the head between the horns. Then draw lots of small bumps around the head in one line, going slowly and letting each bump touch the next.
