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How to Draw a Hippo
Draw a hippo 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: big round head.
Step 1: Big round head
Near the top left, draw a big round head, a little wider than tall. Leave room on the right.
Tip The head is about as big as the body is deep.
Step 2: Two eyes
Draw 2 big oval eyes in the top half of the head, each with a dark pupil and a shine.
Step 3: Big snout
Across the bottom of the head, draw a huge oval snout. Add 2 nostrils, a smile and 2 teeth.
Tip The snout is nearly as wide as the head.
Step 4: Round ears
On each top corner of the head, draw a round cookie ear with a smaller curve inside.
Step 5: The neck
Start behind the head and under the chin. Draw 2 neck lines down to the body.
Step 6: Bean body
From the bottom of the neck, draw a big soft bean body: a long back, a round bottom, a tummy.
Step 7: Two legs
Draw a low ground line. Add a front leg under the chest and a back leg under the bottom.
Tip Make each leg narrower at the ankle, then end it in a round-toed hoof with a line across.
Step 8: Far legs
Add 2 thinner far legs peeking out, one beside each near leg. All 4 hooves touch the ground.
Step 9: Little tail
From the top corner of the bottom, draw a short tail that narrows into a little leaf tuft.
Step 10: Colour it purple
Colour the snout and ear insides pink, then the rest of the hippo purple, down to the hoof lines.
Tip Leave the eyes and teeth white.
Step 11: Colour the hooves
Colour the hooves slate grey.
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a hippo, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
