How to Draw an Octopus: Easy Octopus Drawing for Kids
How to draw an octopus in 12 easy steps
An octopus looks fancy with all those arms, but the secret is simple: one big round head and then eight wiggly arms added two at a time. Because every arm gets its own step, this is a surprisingly easy octopus drawing for kids, and counting to eight along the way is half the fun.
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 an octopus, step by step
1Draw a big round ball for the head
Start with a big round ball for the head. Almost the whole octopus lives inside this one friendly circle.
2Draw a short arm reaching out on the left, curling up at the tip
Draw a short arm reaching out on the left, curling up at the tip like it is waving hello.
3Draw a matching short arm reaching out on the right
Draw a matching short arm reaching out on the right. That is two arms, six to go!
4Add a wavy arm swooping down to the left
Add a wavy arm swooping down to the left, ending in a little curl. Octopus arms love to wiggle.
5Add a matching arm swooping down to the right
Add a matching arm swooping down to the right, so both sides look the same.
6Draw a longer arm hanging down on the left, with a curl
Draw a longer arm hanging down on the left, with a curl at the bottom. Count them up, that is five!
7Draw its twin hanging down on the right
Draw its twin hanging down on the right. Six arms and your octopus is nearly ready to swim.
8Draw a long arm hanging under the head, curling out
Draw a long arm hanging straight under the head, curling out at the end.
9Draw the last long arm beside it. That makes eight!
Draw the last long arm right beside it. That makes eight, a full set of octopus arms!
10Draw a big round left eye
Draw a big round left eye up on the head.
11Draw a big round right eye
Draw a big round right eye to match, so your octopus can peek out of its cave.
12Add a happy smile. Hello, octopus!
Add a happy smile between the eyes. Hello, octopus!
Time to color!
Try a bright purple octopus with lilac suckers on the arms, white eyes and dark pupils, then color a deep blue ocean around it with a few air bubbles!
In the live version, coloring is tap-to-fill: pick a color, tap a part, done.
Frequently asked questions
- How do kids keep track of all eight octopus arms?
- The arms come in pairs, two short waving arms, two swoopy side arms, two long hanging arms and two under the head. Counting out loud as each pair appears keeps it easy, and in DrawAlong every arm is its own guided step so nobody loses count.
- Is an octopus too hard for a five year old?
- No, it just takes a little patience. Each arm is one wiggly line, and wiggly lines are exactly what young kids draw best. The stroke checking is gentle, so an extra bump or bend in an arm still counts.
- What colors are real octopuses?
- Real octopuses can change color, from reddish brown to white to spotty patterns. That means there is no wrong answer, so a pink, purple or rainbow octopus is completely fair, and kids love hearing that the real animal cheats at coloring too.
Draw this octopus live, right now
DrawAlong guides every line on screen, cheers your child on, and the picture always comes out great.
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