This episode of the 100 Days Sketching Challenge takes on the mighty elephant — the largest land animal on Earth. With its huge ears, long trunk, and tusks, the elephant is a rewarding animal to draw. Parikshet shows you how to sketch an elephant step by step.

🖍️ What You Need

  • Pencil and eraser
  • Grey markers (light and dark)
  • Pink for the inner ears
  • Black pen for outlines

How to Draw an Elephant Step by Step

  1. Draw the head — a large rounded shape, domed at the top.
  2. Add the huge ears — two large fan-shaped ears on each side of the head.
  3. Draw the trunk — a long, thick tube curving down from between the eyes, tapering toward the tip, with wrinkle lines.
  4. Add the tusks — two curved ivory tusks beside the trunk.
  5. Draw the small eyes — gentle, small eyes for such a big animal.
  6. Sketch the large body — a big rounded body with a slightly arched back.
  7. Add the thick legs — four sturdy, column-like legs with rounded toenails.
  8. Colour — grey body, pink inner ears, with a thin tufted tail.
💡 Parikshet's Tip: The trunk and big ears make an elephant unmistakable — draw the trunk as a long, thick curving tube with wrinkle lines, and make the ears large and fan-shaped. Nail those two features and your drawing reads as an elephant straight away.

🌟 Did You Know?

An elephant's trunk has around 40,000 muscles — compared to about 600 in the whole human body! Elephants use their trunks to breathe, smell, drink, grab food, trumpet, and even hug. Elephants are also extremely intelligent and emotional: they live in close family groups, help each other, and have been seen showing grief when a member of their herd dies.

Elephant Drawing Key Features

  • Long wrinkled trunk — the most distinctive feature
  • Large fan-shaped ears — help the elephant keep cool
  • Curved ivory tusks — beside the trunk
  • Thick column legs — sturdy like tree trunks

🎯 Try This: Draw an Elephant Family

  1. Draw a large adult elephant using this guide.
  2. Add a baby elephant (calf) beside it — smaller, with a shorter trunk.
  3. Show the baby holding the adult's tail with its trunk (elephants really do this!).
  4. Add a savanna background with an acacia tree.

How to Draw Episode 55: Step-by-Step for Kids

Get your pencil ready! Follow these easy steps and you'll have an amazing Episode 55 drawing in no time.

What You'll Need

  • Pencil (HB or 2B)
  • Eraser
  • White drawing paper
  • Black marker (optional, for outlines)
  • Coloured pencils or crayons

Step-by-Step: Drawing a Episode 55

Step 1: Sketch the Basic Outline

Begin with a very light pencil sketch of the Episode 55's overall shape. What is the biggest, simplest shape that describes it — a rectangle, oval, or triangle?

Step 2: Add the Main Structure

Build on the basic outline by adding the main structural elements of the Episode 55. Break it down into simple geometric shapes.

Step 3: Draw the Key Features

Add the most important identifying features that make this recognisably a Episode 55. These are the details that someone would notice first.

Step 4: Add Secondary Details

Now add the secondary details — textures, patterns, smaller parts. These build up the drawing gradually and give it character.

Step 5: Refine the Outline

Go back to the outline and refine any shapes that don't look right. Compare the proportions to a reference image if you have one.

Step 6: Add Depth with Lines

Add shading lines or cross-hatching on the darker side of the Episode 55 to create the impression of three dimensions.

Step 7: Trace with Marker

Once happy with your pencil drawing, carefully trace the final lines with a black marker or pen. Let it dry, then erase all pencil marks underneath.

Step 8: Colour Your Drawing

Apply colour to your Episode 55, working from the largest areas first. Leave white areas uncoloured — the paper's white works as your lightest tone.

Colouring Your Episode 55

Use real reference images as a guide for the Episode 55's colours. Start with a base colour and add darker shading on one side to give a 3D feel.

Tips from Parikshet

  • Break the Episode 55 into simple shapes first — even complex subjects are just combinations of circles, rectangles, and triangles!
  • Don't try to make it perfect on the first try — Parikshet always does at least two practice sketches before the final drawing.
  • Practice makes perfect — try drawing it again tomorrow!