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How to Draw a Koinobori
Draw a koinobori 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: the pole.
Step 1: The pole
On the left, start on the ground. Draw a line straight up, stopping near the top. Add another beside it.
Step 2: The ball on top
On the top of the pole draw a round ball, like a golf ball sitting on a tee.
Step 3: The big carp
High up beside the pole draw the biggest carp flying right: an oval mouth, a long body, a V tail.
Step 4: Two more carp
Below it draw a middle-sized carp the same way, and a small one under that, mouths near the pole.
Step 5: Eyes
Near the mouth of each carp draw a big round eye with a black dot inside.
Step 6: Scales
Across the middle of each carp draw 3 rows of little bumps from the back to the belly.
Step 7: Strings
Join each carp's mouth to the pole with a short straight string.
Step 8: Ground and grass
Draw a ground line from the left edge to the right edge at the pole's foot. Add 2 grass tufts.
Step 9: Yellow ball
Colour the ball on top yellow, and the mouth rings yellow too.
Step 10: Red and blue carp
Colour the middle carp red and the big carp blue. Keep the eyes white.
Step 11: Green carp, wood pole
Colour the small carp green and the pole wood brown. Keep its eye white. Your koinobori are done!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a koinobori, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
