How to Draw a Crab: Easy Crab Drawing for Kids
How to draw a crab in 12 easy steps
Crabs are a beach-day favorite, and they are surprisingly simple to draw: one big wide oval, two waving pincer arms, six little walking legs and a pair of silly eyes on stalks. If you are looking for an easy crab drawing for kids, this friendly front-facing crab is a great pick.
Follow the twelve steps below on paper, or tap "Draw it live" and DrawAlong will guide each line on screen, checking every stroke as you go.
How to draw a crab, step by step
1Draw a big wide oval for the crab body
Start with the biggest shape: one big wide oval, like a stretched-out beach ball. That is the whole crab body.
2Draw a bendy arm going up with a big pincer on top
From the left side of the body, draw a bendy arm curving up, then add a big open pincer on top. Snip snip!
3Draw another arm and pincer on the other side
Do the same on the right side: another bendy arm reaching up with a matching pincer. Now your crab can wave with both claws.
4Draw a short leg on the left
Time for legs. Draw one short curved leg coming down from the left side of the body.
5Add a second leg below it
Add a second leg just below the first one, curving down the same way.
6Add one more leg on the left
Draw one more leg on the left so your crab has three on that side.
7Now draw a leg on the right
Switch sides and draw a leg curving down from the right side of the body.
8Add a second leg on the right
Add a second leg on the right, right below it.
9Add the last little leg
Draw the last little leg on the right. Count them up: six legs, ready to scuttle sideways!
10Draw a little stalk with a round eye on top
Crabs have the funniest eyes. Draw a little stalk growing up from the top of the body with a round eye sitting on top, like a lollipop.
11Draw the other eye stalk to match
Draw a matching eye stalk next to it so your crab can see the whole beach.
12Give your crab a big happy smile
Finish with a big curved smile across the middle of the body. Hello, happy crab!
Time to color!
Classic look: a bright red or orange body, pincers and legs, with white eyes on top, then add a sandy yellow beach and a splash of blue sea behind your crab!
In the live version, coloring is tap-to-fill: pick a color, tap a part, done.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a crab an easy animal for kids to draw?
- Yes! The whole crab starts from one wide oval, and everything else is short simple curves. The legs are quick single strokes, so even young kids can finish all twelve steps and end up with a crab that really looks like a crab.
- What is the trickiest part of drawing a crab?
- Usually the pincers, because they bend up and open at the top. Take it slow and think of each one as an arm wearing a big oven mitt. DrawAlong checks each stroke gently, so a lopsided pincer still counts.
- Do we need anything special to start?
- Nothing extra. DrawAlong runs right in the browser, so kids can draw with a finger or stylus on a tablet or phone. To follow along on paper, any pencil and crayons will do.
Draw this crab live, right now
DrawAlong guides every line on screen, cheers your child on, and the picture always comes out great.
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