How to Draw an Elk (Easy Step by Step)
The elk is a gentle, tall animal with giant antlers that make it fun to draw. This drawing is built from simple shapes: a rounded head, long curved lines for the body, skinny legs, and big curved fingers for the antlers. Once you can draw those shapes, you can draw the whole elk.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw an elk step by step
How to Draw an Elk · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Head and neck
Draw a rounded head with a curved line for the chin and a leaf-shaped ear sticking out on each side. Then draw one long curved line from the right side of the head sloping down and out to the right for the back of the neck.
Step 2: Body outline
Draw a long wavy line down from the left side of the neck, straight down toward the ground, for the front of the chest. Then draw a line down from the end of the back, with a tiny curl at the top for the tail, and stop at the same height as the first line.
Step 3: The legs
Draw four skinny legs at the bottom of the body, using pairs of straight lines that go down toward the ground. Make the two on the right a little slanted so they look like back legs.
Step 4: The hooves
Add a small, flat, rounded shape at the bottom of each leg for a hoof. Fill each hoof in so it looks solid.
Step 5: Big antlers
Draw a long curve starting at the top of each ear and sweeping up and out, like a big letter C. Finish each curve with a wide, rounded finger shape at the tip, and add a small rounded branch beside it.
Step 6: Small antler points
Draw one short, rounded point on each side, growing up from the head and tucking in below the big antlers, like a little thumb.
Step 7: Eyes and nose
Draw two small dots for the eyes, one on each side of the face. Add a tiny upright oval in the middle, below the eyes, for the nose.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your elk? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing an elk
- Draw the two antlers one after the other, matching one side to the other, so they stay about the same size and height.
- The legs are the trickiest part. Keep them thin and straight so the elk looks tall and graceful, and let the back legs slant a little.
- Draw lightly at first. If a line looks wrong, erase just that part and try again, since the rest of the elk will stay the same.
Free elk coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this elk 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 elk drawing
Try warm browns and tans for the body, with a lighter tan for the antlers and dark brown for the hooves. For a creative twist, color the antlers in rainbow stripes or add snowflakes around the elk.
Elk fun fact for kids
Male elk are called bulls, and they shed their antlers every year and grow a new set.
Questions about drawing an elk
What shapes do I need to draw an elk?
You need a rounded head with two leaf-shaped ears, long curved lines for the neck and body, thin straight lines for the legs, and curved finger shapes for the antlers. Two dots and a tiny oval finish the face.
How do I make my elk look cuter?
Put the eyes wide apart and keep the antlers round and soft at the ends. Small, rounded hooves help too.
How do I draw elk antlers?
Start at the top of each ear and draw a long curve going up and outward. Add a rounded finger shape at the tip and a small branch beside it, then repeat on the other side.
