
Watch it draw itself · tap to replay
How to Draw an Arapaima
Draw an arapaima in 11 easy steps, about 8 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: long torpedo body.
Step 1: Long torpedo body
Start on the right. Draw a long back to a pointed nose, then the tummy back, stopping under the start.
Tip Leave the right end open for the tail. It is a giant torpedo!
Step 2: Eye and mouth
Behind the nose draw one big round eye. From the nose draw a small smile back, stopping before the eye.
Step 3: Round paddle tail
Start at the end of the back. Draw a big round paddle tail round to the end of the tummy.
Step 4: Fins far back
Start on the back, past the middle. Draw a long low round fin that ends at the tail. Same underneath.
Tip Both fins sit way back near the tail, like a rocket.
Step 5: Gill and side fin
Behind the eye draw a gill line, back to tummy. Add a fan fin low on it, with 2 lines.
Step 6: Scales
On the back half of the body draw 2 rows of curved scale lines, 3 in each.
Step 7: Bubbles
Above the nose draw 3 bubbles floating up, each bigger than the last.
Step 8: River floor and reeds
Draw a wavy river floor line across the bottom from edge to edge. Add a tall reed at each side.
Step 9: Sand and bubbles
Go over your lines. Colour the floor under the wavy line sandy and the bubbles light blue.
Step 10: Red tail and fins
Colour the round tail and all 3 fins red.
Step 11: Green body and reeds
Colour the body dark green around the side fin, and the reeds green. Leave the eye white.

Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: an arapaima, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
