Hello! Today, we are going to draw an octopus together in our tutorial on how to draw an octopus. Like in all of our tutorials, we make our drawing in just ten simple steps with pictures to follow along with. If you like this format, we’ve got a lot more for you on this site!
Chances are you’ve never seen one in person, but they are still well-known due to their unique body structure. There are roughly 300 species of octopus, and they normally live in tropical and temperate ocean waters. A few species are pelagic, meaning they live near the water, but most octopuses stay on the ocean floor.
There are several fascinating facts about octopuses. Did you know that octopuses have a total of three hearts? They can also eject a thick ink to distract the predator while quickly escaping using a siphon jet. And, for the most part, octopuses are solitary creatures, meaning they live alone.
If you enjoy drawing marine life, you might also like How to Draw a Whale or How to Draw a Starfish.
Alright, let’s start this tutorial. Are you ready? Let’s go!
Materials:
- a piece of paper
- a pencil for the guiding lines and sketching
- an eraser
- a black sharpie or a pen for the outlines
- markers or colored pencils for coloring
- our printable drawing guide (Join my Email List below to get this Tutorial)
Here are my RECOMMENDED Art Supplies!
- Crayola Coloring Set (140 Pieces – Mega Value!)
- 24 Colored Crayon Set
- A4 Printer Paper
- Crayola Coloring Pencils
- HP Home Printer with Instant Ink!
Time needed:
11 minutes.
How to Draw an Octopus — Let’s get started!
Step 1 – Draw the head of the octopus.
In the center of the page, draw a wide curve. It should be four or five inches wide, and should be like a big upside-down U shape. This is the octopus’s head!
Leave plenty of room below the head for the rest of the body.
Step 2 – Draw the first arm.
Octopuses have several arms. This is one of the most unique features of octopuses. Most of the neurons of an octopus are actually in their arms! They are quite strong which helps them survive in the deep ocean waters where they live.
From the left side of the head of the octopus, draw a long, skinny, curved line for the first arm. Refer to the photo. We’re going to draw a total of six arms.
Step 3 – Add another arm to the octopus.
We’ve got more arms to draw! Draw another arm very similar to the first one, but mirrored on the right side. The octopus should look symmetrical right now.
For more tutorials featuring detailed or flowing shapes, try How to Draw a Snake or How to Draw a Caterpillar.
Step 4 – Draw a third arm!
Let’s keep adding more arms to the octopus. On the left side, draw another arm. It should be the same length as the first two, and again, slightly curved to show the flexibility. Good job!
Step 5 – Add a fourth arm.
Let’s draw another arm. It should be centered below the head of the octopus. Check out the photo! Make it curve just slightly to the right at the bottom.
If you enjoy adding intricate details, consider How to Draw a Butterfly or How to Draw a Turtle.
Step 6 – Draw the last arm!
Let’s finish drawing the arms. Draw one more on the right side. Check out the photo! It should be the same length, of course, like the rest of the arms.
Step 7 – Draw the eyes of the octopus.
Octopuses are known to have very good eyesight. Let’s add eyes to our octopus friend now. Draw two small dots in the middle of the head.
Step 8 – Draw a smile on the face!
We want our octopus to look happy. Right underneath the eyes, draw a small upwards curve for a smile. Good job!
Step 9 – Add suckers to the arms!
Octopuses have suckers on their arms, making them a very interesting animal! They are often misinterpreted as tentacles, but they are technically called suckers. They help them move, pick things, hold things, and more. They are actually very versatile and useful for the octopus.
On the bottom of each arm, draw two little bumps to show the suckers. They should all be evenly spaced apart. Check out the photo. Good job!!
Step 10 – Color in your octopus!
Octopuses can be different colors—they can be gray, brown, pink, green, or even blue and can switch colors to visually blend in with their surroundings. Find some colors and have fun! Pick any colors you want! Color in the rest of the page, too. Make it look like your octopus is swimming in the ocean!
Congratulations! You’ve finished drawing your octopus!
Once you’ve mastered the octopus, try your hand at How to Draw a Shark or How to Draw a Dolphin.
It’s always smart to learn more about the many species who live on the planet with us. Although octopuses aren’t technically endangered, they still face dangers from humans, like habitat destruction or overfishing. So, we hope you had fun following this tutorial and learned some interesting facts about these marine creatures!
If you know anyone who might like this tutorial, go ahead and share it with them! And of course, browse our site for more tutorials. If you’re looking for another marine animal-themed tutorial, you can do the whale, shark, and dolphin tutorials!
Pin it now, Draw later!
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