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How to Draw a Silverfish

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a silverfish in 12 easy steps, about 9 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 head.

Step 1: The head
Near the top draw an egg lying on its side for the head, with round cheeks and a smaller chin.
Tip Leave lots of room below for a long body and tail.
Step 2: Long feelers
From the top of the head draw a long thin feeler sweeping up and out to a point. Both sides.
Tip Silverfish feelers are very long, so let them sweep right out.
Step 3: 2 big eyes
In the middle of the head draw 2 big egg eyes one eye apart. Colour a black dot in each.
Step 4: Smile and cheeks
Start under the left eye. Draw a flat line to the right eye, then a U under it. Add cheeks.
Step 5: A carrot body
Start on the left of the chin. Draw a long carrot down to a thin round tip, then back up.
Tip Wide at the top, thin at the tail: that is the silverfish shape.
Step 6: Body rings
Draw 6 curved lines across the body, a finger apart, each from the left edge to the right edge.
Tip Let each line dip a little in the middle, like a smile.
Step 7: 3 tail bristles
Start at the tail tip. Draw 1 long thin line straight down, and 1 curving out on each side.
Tip 3 tail bristles spread like a fan tell you it is a silverfish.
Step 8: Front legs
Start on the body under the head. Draw a short bent leg out to a pointed foot. Both sides.
Step 9: Middle and back legs
Start on the body by the first ring. Draw a bent leg the same way. Last pair: 2 rings lower.
Tip Keep the legs short. A silverfish is mostly body.
Step 10: Pink cheeks, red mouth
Go over your lines. Colour the 2 cheeks pink and the open mouth red.
Step 11: Silver body
Colour the head and body silver grey, around the cheeks and mouth. Leave the eyes white.
Step 12: Dark grey legs
Colour the 6 legs dark grey, and your silverfish is ready to scurry!