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how to draw a walrus

How to draw a walrus - a free walrus drawing guide

Draw a walrus step-by-step using simple shapes, add tusks, whiskers, texture, and shading. Practice observation, proportions, and confident line work.

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Photos of walrus drawing examples

Step-by-step guide to draw a walrus

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Learn How to Draw A Walrus | Super Simple Draw | Step By Step

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, black marker (optional), coloring materials such as crayons or colored pencils, flat surface

Step 1

Place your paper flat on the table so it does not move.

Step 2

Lightly draw a large horizontal oval for the walrus body near the center of the page.

Step 3

Draw a slightly smaller circle that overlaps the front top of the oval for the head.

Step 4

Sketch two small circles spaced wide apart on the head for the eyes.

Step 5

Draw a wide rounded U shape at the bottom of the head to make the muzzle.

Step 6

From the bottom of the muzzle draw two long curved tusks pointing down and slightly outward.

Step 7

Draw three short whisker lines on each side of the muzzle to show whiskers.

Step 8

Add two front flippers as rounded triangles on each side of the body near the front.

Step 9

Draw the rear flippers at the back of the oval with short webbing lines.

Step 10

Add short curved lines across the neck and belly to show skin folds and texture.

Step 11

Shade lightly under the belly and behind the flippers with soft pencil strokes to add depth.

Step 12

Trace your final outline with a black marker if you want a bold look.

Step 13

Erase any extra pencil guidelines to clean up your drawing.

Step 14

Color your walrus using browns or grays and a lighter color for the belly.

Step 15

Share your finished walrus drawing on DIY.org

Help!?

What can I use if I don't have a black marker or colored pencils?

If you don't have a black marker, use a dark fine-tip pen or brown crayon to trace the final outline, and if you lack colored pencils use crayons, watercolor paints, or felt-tip markers to color the walrus in browns, grays, and a lighter belly shade.

My tusks or head overlap look wrong—how do I fix shapes that don't match the instructions?

Keep your paper flat on the table and redraw the large horizontal oval and the overlapping head circle with very light pencil strokes, erase and adjust the tusk curves until they point down slightly outward, and only trace with the marker when the alignment looks right.

How can I adapt this drawing for different age groups?

For preschoolers simplify to one big oval body, a single head circle and bold tusks drawn with crayons, for school-age kids follow all steps including whiskers and flippers, and for older kids add skin-fold texture, light shading under the belly, and trace with a black marker for a polished look.

How can we extend or personalize the walrus drawing once it's finished?

Add a background like an ice floe or waves, experiment with soft pencil shading behind the flippers and on the belly, decorate the tusks or whiskers with patterns, or use watercolor washes over your colored walrus before sharing the finished drawing on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to draw a walrus

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Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How To Draw A Walrus

4 Videos

Facts about animal drawing for kids

🦭 Walruses are huge marine mammals—big males can be about as heavy as a small car, so start your drawing with a big, round body shape!

🐘 Those impressive tusks are actually long canine teeth that walruses use to haul themselves onto ice and to show dominance.

🧭 Whiskers (called vibrissae) are super-sensitive and help walruses find clams on the seafloor—great little details to sketch with short strokes.

✏️ Artists often begin with simple shapes—ovals and circles—to get the walrus's proportions right before adding tusks, whiskers, and texture.

🎨 Shading makes your walrus look three-dimensional: darken the underside, add highlights on top, and use short marks for wrinkly skin texture.

How do I draw a walrus step-by-step?

Start with light construction shapes: draw a large oval for the body and a smaller overlapping circle for the head. Add two rounded flippers and a short tail. Sketch two long curved tusks from the upper jaw and place a small rounded nose between them. Draw whiskers as short radiating lines, add skin wrinkles and short curved texture lines. Refine outlines, erase guides, then shade under the chin, belly, and flippers for form.

What materials do I need to draw a walrus?

You’ll need plain drawing paper, a range of pencils (HB for sketching, 2B–4B for darker lines and shading), a soft eraser, and a pencil sharpener. Optional extras: fine liners or black marker for inking, colored pencils or watercolor for color, and a blending stump or cotton swab for smooth shading. A simple photo reference of a walrus helps with proportions and texture.

What ages is this walrus drawing activity suitable for?

This activity suits a wide range: preschoolers (4–6) can trace and color basic shapes, early elementary (6–9) practice proportions and add simple tusks and whiskers, while older kids (10–14) work on texture and shading. Tailor steps and expectations: younger children use bold shapes and crayons; older children focus on observation, confident line work, and realistic details.

What are the benefits and simple variations of drawing a walrus?

Drawing a walrus builds observation, proportion skills, fine motor control, and confidence with line work and shading. It also teaches texture and form. Try variations: a cartoon walrus with exaggerated tusks, a realistic study focusing on wrinkles and shading, a watercolor wash background, or a collage using textured paper for skin. Safety tip: supervise sharp tools and charcoal, and wash hands after using art materials.

Ready to create?

All Activities

how to draw a walrus

How to draw a walrus - a free walrus drawing guide

Draw a walrus step-by-step using simple shapes, add tusks, whiskers, texture, and shading. Practice observation, proportions, and confident line work.

Table of contents

Drawing Apps

Photos of walrus drawing examples

Step-by-step guide to draw a walrus

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Learn How to Draw A Walrus | Super Simple Draw | Step By Step

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, black marker (optional), coloring materials such as crayons or colored pencils, flat surface

Step 1

Place your paper flat on the table so it does not move.

Step 2

Lightly draw a large horizontal oval for the walrus body near the center of the page.

Step 3

Draw a slightly smaller circle that overlaps the front top of the oval for the head.

Step 4

Sketch two small circles spaced wide apart on the head for the eyes.

Step 5

Draw a wide rounded U shape at the bottom of the head to make the muzzle.

Step 6

From the bottom of the muzzle draw two long curved tusks pointing down and slightly outward.

Step 7

Draw three short whisker lines on each side of the muzzle to show whiskers.

Step 8

Add two front flippers as rounded triangles on each side of the body near the front.

Step 9

Draw the rear flippers at the back of the oval with short webbing lines.

Step 10

Add short curved lines across the neck and belly to show skin folds and texture.

Step 11

Shade lightly under the belly and behind the flippers with soft pencil strokes to add depth.

Step 12

Trace your final outline with a black marker if you want a bold look.

Step 13

Erase any extra pencil guidelines to clean up your drawing.

Step 14

Color your walrus using browns or grays and a lighter color for the belly.

Step 15

Share your finished walrus drawing on DIY.org

Help!?

What can I use if I don't have a black marker or colored pencils?

My tusks or head overlap look wrong—how do I fix shapes that don't match the instructions?

How can I adapt this drawing for different age groups?

How can we extend or personalize the walrus drawing once it's finished?

Watch videos on how to draw a walrus

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How To Draw A Walrus

4 Videos

Facts about animal drawing for kids

🦭 Walruses are huge marine mammals—big males can be about as heavy as a small car, so start your drawing with a big, round body shape!

🐘 Those impressive tusks are actually long canine teeth that walruses use to haul themselves onto ice and to show dominance.

🧭 Whiskers (called vibrissae) are super-sensitive and help walruses find clams on the seafloor—great little details to sketch with short strokes.

✏️ Artists often begin with simple shapes—ovals and circles—to get the walrus's proportions right before adding tusks, whiskers, and texture.

🎨 Shading makes your walrus look three-dimensional: darken the underside, add highlights on top, and use short marks for wrinkly skin texture.