Updated August 25, 2026
This nine-step tutorial shows kids and beginners how to draw a small fish using simple curves and shapes. The numbered steps now match every illustration, from the first body outline to the finished color drawing.
Drawing tip: Begin with light pencil pressure. Darken the lines only after the body, tail, and fins look balanced.
Supplies
- Paper
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
How to Draw a Small Fish in 9 Easy Steps
Step 1: Draw the fish body
Draw a wide oval with slightly pointed ends. This outline will become the fish’s body.
Checkpoint: Leave open space around the body for the tail and fins.
Step 2: Mark the head
Near the front of the body, add a curved line from the top edge to the bottom edge. This separates the head from the middle of the fish.
Step 3: Separate the tail
Add a short inward curve near the back of the body. This marks the narrow base where the tail begins.
Step 4: Draw the side fin
On the middle of the body, draw two curved lines that meet at a soft point. This creates the side fin.
Step 5: Add the top and bottom fins
Draw a longer fin along the top of the fish and a smaller fin underneath. Keep both shapes simple and slightly curved.
Step 6: Shape the mouth
At the front of the head, add two short angled lines to make a small open mouth.
Step 7: Draw the eye
Add a circle for the eye and a smaller filled circle for the pupil. Leave a tiny white highlight if you want a lively cartoon expression.
Step 8: Add scales and bubbles
Fill the body with a repeating scale pattern. Draw a few circles near the mouth to make underwater bubbles.
Step 9: Outline and color
Erase unwanted guide lines, darken the final outline, and color the fish. Try a lighter body color with darker fins and scales so the details remain easy to see.
Quick Fixes
- The fish looks too long: round the body by redrawing the top and bottom curves closer together.
- The tail looks detached: make sure its lines meet the narrow tail base from Step 3.
- The scales feel crowded: use fewer, larger scale shapes and keep the rows gently curved.
Make the Underwater Scene Your Own
Add seaweed, pebbles, a treasure chest, or a school of smaller fish. You can also repeat the same outline at different sizes to create depth.
Your small fish is complete. Redraw it once without looking at every step and notice which shapes you already remember.
Next tutorial: How to Draw a Satellite
