Have you ever wondered how to draw an elephant that looks adorable instead of complicated? I know the feeling. When I first tried to draw elephants years ago, I struggled with the trunk, the ears, and honestly—getting it to look cute rather than realistic was a challenge. That’s why I put together this simple step-by-step guide for you.
I love creating easy, fun drawing tutorials because I know how frustrating it can be when you want to draw something, but it just doesn’t turn out the way you imagined. With this guide, you’ll see how quickly a few simple shapes can transform into a sweet little elephant. And trust me, if I can do it, so can you!
Step 1: Draw the trunk curve
Let’s begin with the elephant’s trunk — a gently curved line with a soft bump halfway down.
This forms the front part of the trunk.
Step 2: Add the eyes
Now, let’s give our elephant some personality! Draw two small circles, one on each side of the trunk.
These will be the elephant’s eyes, and they should be placed evenly to make the face look balanced and cute.
Step 3: Draw trunk details
Next, add two short curved lines across the trunk. These little folds give the trunk more texture and make your elephant look even cuter and more realistic.
Step 4: Outline the head
Now draw a big rounded shape around the eyes and trunk. This circle will form the elephant’s head, giving it that cute, chubby look.
Step 5: Draw the big ears
On each side of the head, draw a large round shape for the elephant’s ears.
Make them wide and slightly overlapping the head to give your elephant its signature cute, floppy look.
Step 6: Add the inner ears
Inside each big ear, draw a smaller curved shape that follows the outline of the outer ear.
These inner ear details will make your elephant look extra adorable and ready for coloring later!
Step 7: Draw the front legs
Below the head, sketch two U-shaped lines side by side.
These will form the elephant’s front legs, making it look like it’s sitting down.
Step 8: Add the back legs
On each side of the front legs, draw an oval shape slightly tilted to the side.
These ovals will be the elephant’s back legs, making the sitting pose look complete.
Step 9: Connect the body
Draw two curved lines from the head down to the sides of the back legs.
This will create the elephant’s body and make all the legs look connected in a sitting position.
Step 10: Draw the toes
At the bottom of the front legs, add small curved bumps to show the elephant’s toes.
This little detail makes the feet look extra cute and playful.
Step 11: Add the tail
Draw a small curved line with a pointy tip on the side of the body to make the elephant’s tail.
This tiny detail adds even more charm to your drawing.
Step 12: Draw the hearts
Add some small heart shapes around the elephant to make the drawing extra sweet and playful.
These floating hearts give your picture a fun and loving vibe.
Step 13: Color your elephant
Now it’s time to bring your drawing to life with colors!
Shade the elephant’s body a soft gray, fill the inner ears with light pink, and color the hearts a cheerful pink.
Feel free to get creative with your own colors to make your elephant unique and extra adorable.
Why I Love Drawing Cute Animals
Whenever I sit down to draw, I feel like I’m taking a little creative break from the world. Elephants, with their floppy ears and gentle expressions, always bring me joy on paper. I’ve noticed that even beginners who struggle with drawing are thrilled when they see how simple shapes can become something so charming.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, you might also love some of my other step-by-step guides:
- How to draw a fox – cute fox drawing tutorial
- How to draw a bunny – cute bunny drawing tutorial
- How to draw a turtle – cute turtle drawing tutorial
Final Thoughts
I hope this elephant drawing tutorial helped you see how easy and fun it can be to draw something adorable step by step. Remember, drawing is about enjoying the process, not aiming for perfection.
Now I’d love to see what you create! Share your elephant drawing on Pinterest and tag me @digitaldrawingideas. Or, if you post on Instagram, mention me so I can cheer you on.
So grab your pencil, relax, and let your creativity flow — your cute elephant is waiting to come to life!
