How to Draw a Rainbow Fish

Step 1: Eye and kissy lips

Left of the middle, draw 1 huge eye with a black dot and 2 shines. In front, draw kissy lips.

Tip Kissy lips are 2 bumps with a dent between.

Step 2: Big round body

From the lips, draw a rainbow over the eye, down to a short neck. Draw the belly the same way.

Tip Plump like an egg lying down, a little longer than tall.

Step 3: Paddle tail

From the back's end, draw 1 round paddle tail, curving back to the end of the tummy. Add 3 rays.

Tip One smooth rounded paddle, no dent, a third as wide as the body.

Step 4: Frilly top fin

Start on the back above the eye. Draw a long low fin, stopping near the neck. Add 3 rays.

Tip Long and low like a frill, not a tall sail.

Step 5: Gill

A finger behind the eye, draw a short C bowing toward the tail, not touching the back or belly.

Step 6: Side fin

Behind the gill, draw a fan fin pointing back and down, with 3 bumps and 2 thin rays.

Step 7: Belly fin

Start on the tummy behind the side fin. Draw a small fin down and back, stopping on the tummy.

Step 8: Rainbow scales

Cover the back half of the fish with 9 round U scales in rows, like roof tiles.

Tip Each scale is its own closed U with a round top and a small gap to the next.

Step 9: Sand and seaweed

From edge to edge, draw a wavy sand line under the fish. Add 1 tall wavy seaweed each side.

Tip Each seaweed starts and stops on the sand line.

Step 10: Light blue and sand

Colour the body and lips light blue, and the sand sandy, down to the bottom. Leave the eye white.

Tip Go around the scales and the side fin. They get their own colours.

Step 11: Red and yellow scales

Colour the scales in a rainbow pattern, each a different colour from its neighbours. Do red and yellow first.

Step 12: Green and purple scales

Colour the rest of the scales green and purple, and the seaweed green too.

Step 13: Purple tail and fins

Colour the tail and fins purple. Your rainbow fish is done!