How to Draw an Octopus (Easy Step-by-Step for Kids)
To draw an octopus, start with a big round head. Add two eyes with shine dots and a smile. Finish with four curly arms on each side and small suction cups on the arm tips.
- Steps
- 6 easy steps
- You need
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Black marker
- Purple, light purple and pink crayons
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Teaching this to a class?
Show one step at a time on the board and wait for the class before the next. The directed drawing for kids page explains how to run it.
How to draw an octopus step by step
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Step 1 of 6: Draw a big round head.
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Step 2 of 6: Add two big round eyes with two shine dots each and a small smile.
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Step 3 of 6: Draw four curly arms under the left half of the head. Curl the outer ones out to the side.
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Step 4 of 6: Add four matching arms on the right, eight in all. Erase the head line between the middle arms.
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Step 5 of 6: Draw small round suction cups along the curled ends of all eight arms.
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Step 6 of 6: Color the octopus purple and the suction cups light purple. Add pink cheeks under the eyes.
Tips for little artists
Tip: Press lightly with the pencil first. Trace the lines you like with the marker, then erase the rest.
Tip: Make the right arms a mirror of the left arms, curl for curl.
Tip: Curl the end of each arm like the letter C so the arms look soft.
Make it yours
Octopus with a hat
Draw a small top hat or a bow on the top of the head.
Under the sea
Add bubbles, seaweed and a few small fish around the octopus.
Rainbow octopus
Color each arm a different bright color.
Common mistakes and easy fixes
There are not eight arms
Count four arms on the left and four on the right before you ink them.
The arms look stiff
Make every arm wavy and curl each tip.
The suction cups are too big
Draw them as tiny circles that fit inside the arm tips.
Fun facts about the octopus
Octopuses have three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, and the third moves blood through the rest of the body. (Source: National Geographic Education)
Octopus blood is copper based, which makes it appear blue. (Source: National Geographic Education)
About two thirds of an octopus's neurons are found throughout its body, especially in its arms. (Source: National Geographic Education)
Questions grown-ups ask
How to make an easy octopus?
Draw a big round head with two eyes and a smile. Add four curly arms on each side and small suction cups on the arm tips.
How to draw an octopus for kids?
Start with the head, then the face, the four left arms and the four right arms. Add the suction cups, then color it purple.
How to draw an octopus tentacle?
Draw two wavy lines that get closer toward the end, then curl the tip like the letter C. Add small circles along the curled end for suction cups.
If your octopus's arms came out extra curly, that's fine. Your octopus is waving hello. More easy drawings for kids are on the home page.