How to Draw an Elephant

Elephants are the largest living land animals. They are found in Africa and southern Asia. They are heavy plant eaters they are known for their big ears, long trunk and tusks, and memory. Here's a simple tutorial on how to draw one of these amazing creatures. Let's begin!

Watch our step by step video here!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Drawing a Cartoon Elephant

1
Draw a circle and a large oblong attached to it. The oblong should slightly overlap the circle.
2
Draw the elephant’s trunk using curved lines and the ears using a wide inverted C shape.

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3
Draw the limbs using a set of parallel lines.
4
Add the eyes using a small circle and the eyebrows using small strokes. Add a large protruding tooth using a curved line and sketch a few strokes on the upper part of the elephant’s trunk.
5
Draw the whole head and ears using your outline.
6
Sketch the body and limbs from the outline you have drawn earlier.
7
Add the tail using two curved lines and a few hairs at the ends of the tail. Draw the elephant’s nails using curved lines.
8
Erase unnecessary lines.
9
Color your drawing.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Drawing a Simple Elephant

1
Draw three circles interconnected with the other. Connect it with a membrane-like shape.
2
Draw the elephant’s trunk on the first circle and a fan-like shape for the ears.
3
Draw slanted lines that make up the limbs.
4
Draw the eyes using curved strokes. Sketch a protruding tooth just beneath the tusk.
5
Refine the details of the ears and tusk.
6
Draw the whole body based on the outline you have drawn and add the tail. Don’t forget to draw curved lines on each limb for the nails.
7
Sketch short random strokes on the elephant’s body, especially to areas usually covered in shadow.
8
Erase unnecessary lines.
9
Color your drawing.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Drawing a Front-Facing Elephant Head

1
Draw a medium-sized circle and add a big oval shape for the head.
2
Draw 2 arcs from the intersect of the circle and oval down and a wavy line at the bottom of the circle for the truck.
3
Draw the elephant’s trunk and tusks.
4
Draw the ears of the elephant from the upper intersect of the oval and circle.
5
Add the details of the elephant’s face.
6
Color your elephant.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Drawing a Chibi Elephant

1
Draw a medium-sized circle and add a big oval shape for the body.
2
Draw 2 pear-shaped ovals from the middle portion of the circle to the oval's mid-portion. This will be the ears of your elephant. This is ideal for baby elephants.
3
Draw the eye of the elephant in the middle of the circle.
4
Draw the elephant’s trunk and eyebrows.
5
Draw the half of the legs using “U” shaped lines to provide a framework. The other half of the legs are more of a rounded square.
6
Add details for the legs and draw the legs on the other side using the front leg as a guide. Add the tail.
7
Trace with a pen and erase unnecessary lines and add small details to your liking.
8
Cartoon elephants can be any color. Try out your favorite!

Community Q&A

Question

How do I draw equally large tusks and ears?

Community Answer

You could find an object that's curved, like a can, and use that to draw both parts of the elephant so they're equal. You could also measure your lines with a ruler to ensure that your tusks and ears are the same size.
Question

How do I make it look like a cartoon but not stupid?

Community Answer

Try to stay half and half, so not too many highlights in the eye, ears kind of big but not bigger than the body - keep it slightly realistic looking.
Question

How do I draw a herd of elephants going and facing towards the right side?

Community Answer

Follow the instructions on how to draw a side on elephant, and, if necessary, just flip the way you draw. For a herd of them, start by drawing the elephant in the front and then just add the top halves of the elephants behind; you don't need to draw the bottom half as it will be hidden.