Animals We Can Draw

Kindergarteners learn to draw simple animals by combining basic shapes like circles, ovals, triangles, and rectangles.

Reading is good — doing is better. Practice Animals We Can Draw as an interactive lesson.

Definition

Drawing animals means using easy shapes you already know — circles, ovals, squares, triangles, and lines — and putting them together to make a cat, fish, bird, or other animal. Every animal body is just a few simple shapes stacked or connected.

Remember the rule

Big shape first, then medium shapes, then tiny details last — always build from BIG to small!

Key words

shape: A flat figure like a circle, square, or triangle that we use as a building block when we draw.
oval: A stretched-out circle that looks like an egg — great for animal bodies.
triangle: A shape with three pointy corners — used for ears, beaks, and fish tails.
line: A mark we draw to add details like legs, whiskers, or stripes.
detail: A small extra part we add after the big shapes, like an eye, a nose, or spots.
outline: The outside edge of a shape or animal that shows where it begins and ends.
symmetry: When both sides of an animal look the same, like a butterfly's two wings.
texture: Little marks that make something look fluffy, scaly, or feathery when you draw it.

Worked examples

How do I draw a cat?

→ 1. Draw a big circle for the head. 2. Draw a bigger oval below it for the body. 3. Add two small triangles on top of the head for ears. 4. Draw four short lines at the bottom for legs. 5. Add a curved line for the tail. 6. Put two small circles for eyes, a tiny triangle for the nose, and a few straight lines for whiskers. · Start with the biggest shape first so everything else has a place to attach.

How do I draw a fish?

→ 1. Draw a big oval in the middle for the body. 2. Add a triangle pointing left on one end for the tail. 3. Draw a small circle near the right side for the eye. 4. Draw a curved line for the mouth. 5. Add a few curved lines on the body for scales if you like. · The triangle tail is the trickiest part — it should touch the flat end of the oval.

How do I draw a bird?

→ 1. Draw a medium circle for the head. 2. Draw a bigger oval below and touching the circle for the body. 3. Add a small triangle on the side of the head for the beak. 4. Draw two small ovals or bumps on the sides for wings. 5. Add two short straight lines below for legs and tiny V shapes for feet. 6. Draw a dot inside the head circle for the eye. · Bird bodies are rounder than fish bodies — use rounder ovals.

How do I draw a dog?

→ 1. Draw a large oval for the body. 2. Draw a circle on top at one end for the head. 3. Add two long droopy rectangles on the sides of the head for floppy ears. 4. Draw four short thick lines under the body for legs. 5. Add a short curved line on the opposite end from the head for the tail. 6. Draw two dots for eyes and a small oval for the nose. · Making the ears long and droopy is what makes it look like a dog instead of a cat.

How do I draw a butterfly?

→ 1. Draw a long thin oval in the middle for the body. 2. Draw two big round shapes on the upper left and upper right for the top wings. 3. Draw two smaller round shapes on the lower left and lower right for the bottom wings. 4. Add two straight lines with tiny dots at the top coming out of the head for antennae. 5. Decorate the wings with circles or wavy lines. · Both sides should match — this is symmetry, and it makes the butterfly look like it can really fly.

How do I draw a turtle?

→ 1. Draw a large oval for the shell. 2. Draw a smaller half-oval peeking out from one side for the head. 3. Add four small flat ovals around the bottom edges for flippers or legs. 4. Draw a short curved line for the tail on the opposite side from the head. 5. Add a crisscross pattern on the big oval to show the shell design. · The crisscross lines on the shell are a fun detail that makes it clearly look like a turtle.

Common mistakes

Drawing all the shapes the same size instead of making the body the biggest shape and details the smallest.
Starting with tiny details like eyes first before drawing the big body shapes — this leaves no room for the rest.
Pressing too hard with the pencil on the first try, making it hard to erase and adjust shapes.
Forgetting to connect the shapes so the head floats away from the body with a big gap.
Making legs as long as the whole body — legs should be short compared to the animal body for most simple animals.

FAQs

What if my animal doesn't look perfect?

That is totally okay! Every artist's cat or fish looks a little different, and that makes your drawing yours. Keep practicing and it gets easier each time.

Do I have to use a pencil first?

Yes, starting with a light pencil is a great idea. Then you can erase mistakes before you go over the lines with crayon or marker.

What if I don't know what shape to start with?

Look at the animal and ask yourself: what is the biggest part? That is almost always the body. Start with that big oval or circle and everything else connects to it.

Can I make up my own animal?

Absolutely! Use the same idea — pick some shapes, put them together, and add details. You might invent a whole new creature that nobody has ever seen.

How do I make my animal look like it is moving?

Tilt the body oval a little to one side, or draw the legs bent instead of straight. Even a small tilt makes the animal look like it is walking or swimming.

What if my circle comes out lumpy?

Lumpy circles are fine for animals — they can look even more cute and fluffy! With practice, try moving your whole arm in a big sweeping motion instead of just your fingers.

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