How to draw octopus

Learn to Draw octopus

Follow along with this easy step-by-step drawing tutorial and learn how to draw octopus. Perfect for kids and beginners!

Materials You Will Need

• Drawing paper or sketchbook
• Pencil (HB or #2)
• Eraser
• Black marker or pen for outlining
• Colored pencils, markers, or crayons

Drawing Tips

• Start with light pencil lines so you can easily erase mistakes
• Take your time with each step
• Add your own creative touches to make it unique
• Practice drawing octopus multiple times to improve

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this drawing tutorial suitable for beginners?

Yes! This step-by-step tutorial breaks down the drawing of octopus into simple, easy-to-follow steps perfect for kids and beginners.

What age group is this for?

This tutorial is designed for kids ages 5 and up, but anyone can follow along and learn to draw octopus!

How long does it take to complete?

Most kids can complete this drawing in 15-30 minutes. Take your time and enjoy the process!

Can I use different coloring materials?

Absolutely! Use colored pencils, markers, crayons, or even watercolors to bring your octopus drawing to life.

How to Draw an Octopus: Step-by-Step for Kids

An octopus has a big rounded head and eight curly arms. Counting the arms as you draw them is the secret to getting it right.

What You'll Need

• Pencil (HB or 2B)
• Eraser
• White drawing paper
• Black marker for the outline
• Coloured pencils or crayons

Step-by-Step: Drawing an Octopus

Step 1: Draw the head

Draw a large upside-down U shape, like a dome. This is the mantle, or head, of your octopus.

Step 2: Add the eyes

Draw two big circles in the lower half of the dome. Colour a smaller circle inside each one, leaving a tiny white dot for a sparkle.

Step 3: Close the base

Draw a gently curved line under the eyes to close the head. This is where the arms will attach.

Step 4: Draw the first two arms

From the bottom corners, draw one wavy S-shaped arm to the left and one to the right. Make them thick at the top and thinner at the tips.

Step 5: Add the other six arms

Draw three more arms on each side, tucked between the first two. Let some curl up at the ends and others hang down. Count to eight to check.

Step 6: Draw the suckers

On each arm draw a row of small circles along the underside. Make them big near the head and tiny near the tip.

Step 7: Add spots and a smile

Dot a few spots on the head and draw a small curved smile between the eyes and arms.

Step 8: Outline and erase

Trace with a marker and erase the pencil lines. A few bubbles floating up finish the underwater scene.

Colouring Your Octopus

Purple, red-orange or pink all look great. Use a lighter shade for the suckers and a darker shade for the spots on the head. Colour the background light blue with a few darker waves.

Tips for Drawing an Octopus

• Make the arms taper, thick at the top and thin at the tip, so they look bendy instead of stiff.
• If you run out of room for eight arms, let two overlap at the back. Real octopus arms often tangle.

Try This With ChatGPT

With a grown-up, open a new ChatGPT chat and paste this prompt, changing [my age] to your age:

I am [my age] years old and I want to draw Octopus. Give me 6 steps using only simple shapes like circles, ovals and lines. Give one step at a time and wait until I type “next” before giving the following step.

Exact steps, follow-up prompts and safety rules are in our parent-guided ChatGPT guide. More ideas: creative AI activities for kids.