How to Draw an Elephant: Easy Step-by-Step for Kids
How to draw an elephant in 7 easy steps
An elephant looks tricky, but this one is really just one big friendly outline: a round head, a long trunk that curls up at the end, a huge back and four chunky legs, all drawn in a single trip around the page. After that it is only fun little extras: the ear, the tail, the eye and a tusk.
Follow the seven 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 an elephant, step by step
1Draw the whole elephant: head, big back, four legs, and the long trunk
Start with the big outline, all in one go: round head on the left, over the big back, down and around all four chunky legs, then up the chest and down the long trunk with a little curl at the tip. Take your time, this is the whole elephant!
2Draw the big floppy ear
Draw the big floppy ear on the side of the head, like a giant leaf hanging down.
3Add the tail with a fluffy tuft
Add the tail on the back end: a curvy line with a small zigzag tuft at the tip.
4Draw a little round eye
Draw a little round eye above the trunk, so your elephant can see where it is going.
5Draw the little tusk along the trunk
Add a small curved tusk right along the trunk.
6Add a toenail on the front foot
Draw a rounded toenail on the front foot.
7Add a toenail on the other front foot
Add a matching toenail on the other front foot. Your elephant is ready to stomp!
Time to color!
Classic elephant gray with a darker gray ear looks great, and keep the tusk and toenails white. Feeling silly? Pink and purple elephants are always welcome too.
In the live version, coloring is tap-to-fill: pick a color, tap a part, done.
Frequently asked questions
- Can young kids draw this elephant?
- Yes. It is made for ages 4 to 8. The first line is long, but it is one slow, steady trip around the elephant, and everything after that is small and easy. Younger kids may want a grown-up nearby for the big outline.
- What if the lines come out wobbly?
- Wobbly is perfect. Real elephants are wrinkly anyway! In the app, DrawAlong checks each stroke gently and accepts anything close, so kids keep their confidence while their hands learn the shapes.
- What do we need to get started?
- On paper, just a pencil and crayons. Online, the tutorial works free in any browser on a tablet, phone or computer, and drawing with a finger or stylus right on the screen works great.
Draw this elephant live, right now
DrawAlong guides every line on screen, cheers your child on, and the picture always comes out great.
Try it free →