How to Draw a Tug of War (Easy Step by Step)
Two round-headed kids lean toward each other and pull on a rope, and that pulling pose is what makes this drawing fun. It is built from simple shapes: big round heads, curved lines for the bodies and arms, and one short rope with twist marks. Once you can draw one kid, the second is almost a mirror image.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 11 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 tug of war step by step
How to Draw a Tug of War · 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 left head
Draw a big round shape for the left kid's head, a little wider than it is tall. Add a small bump on the left side and another small bump at the lower right.
Step 3: Ear and face
Draw a small curved C on the right side of the head for the ear, and a tiny short line on the left edge. Then add two round dots for eyes and a little smile under them.
Step 4: Back and legs
Start under the chin and draw a long curve down for the back, ending in a rounded foot. Add a second foot with a small upside-down V between the feet, and a short line above it for the front of the leg.
Step 5: The first arm
Under the chin, draw an arm that slopes down and to the right. Give it a little bend near the end, as if the hand is reaching out.
Step 6: The rope
Draw a short, thin rectangle on its side, at the end of the arm. Add short slanted lines along it for the twists, and a tiny vertical line at each end.
Step 7: The second arm
Under the first arm, draw a long wavy line that starts at the body and runs along the bottom of the rope. Let it curve down and away past the right end of the rope.
Step 8: The right head
On the right side, draw another big round head, about the same size as the first one. Add a small bump at the lower right.
Step 9: Ear and face
Draw a small curved C on the left side of this head for the ear. Then add two round dot eyes and a happy smile.
Step 10: The right arms
Draw two short arms that slope from under the chin down to the rope. One arm is above the other, and both reach the end of the rope.
Step 11: Back and legs
Draw a long curve down from the head for the back. Then draw the front of the leg with a small upside-down V between the legs, and finish with two chubby feet.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your tug of war? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a rocket or how to draw a shooting star next.
Tips for drawing a tug of war
- Draw the left kid completely first, then the right kid, and keep the two heads at the same height so they look like they face each other.
- The rope is the trickiest part. Draw a short thin rectangle first, then add the slanted twist marks one at a time, all leaning the same way.
- Let the arms slope down toward the rope from both sides so they meet in the middle.
Free tug of war coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this tug of war 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 tug of war drawing
Try a red shirt for one kid and a blue shirt for the other, and color the rope tan or brown. You can also color each rope twist a different color for a rainbow rope.
Tug of war fun fact for kids
Tug of war was once an Olympic sport. It was part of the Summer Games from 1900 to 1920, and teams pulled until one side dragged the other over a line.
Questions about drawing a tug of war
What shapes do I need to draw a tug of war?
You need two big round shapes for the heads, curved lines for the bodies and arms, and one short rectangle for the rope. Small dots and curves finish the faces.
How do I make the rope look twisted?
Draw a short thin rectangle, then add short slanted lines across it, all leaning the same way. Evenly spaced lines look best.
How do I make the kids look like they are pulling?
Slope the arms down toward the rope from both sides and draw the feet apart. This makes the kids look like they are leaning in to pull.
