How to Draw a Koala
Especially for you, I have gathered several basic methods that will show you how to draw a koala, a very cute animal with a distinctive appearance.
How to Draw a Koala: Introduction
A koala has a truly distinctive appearance with a highly recognizable head shape, body, and facial features. In this lesson on how to draw a koala, I will demonstrate in detail how to depict all these parts on paper, ensuring maximum recognizability while avoiding excessive details and complex shapes.
First, I will show you how to draw a koala in the simplest and most accessible form, allowing any artist to achieve a recognizable result. Then, I will guide you through drawing a koala on a tree, which is essentially its natural habitat. This lesson will also be very simple and suitable for any skill level.
Next, I will demonstrate even easier methods, where the koala is depicted in a more childlike form. These simplified versions will make the drawing process even more approachable for beginners.
Try to replicate all the shapes and lines as accurately as possible while drawing, or add more unique details to make your koala drawing look less like my example.
Koala Drawing Tutorial
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 30 minutes
How to Draw a Koala
- Draw the basic body shape.
Start by sketching two overlapping ovals to form the koala’s head and body. The top oval should be slightly smaller than the bottom one. Keep the lines light so they can be adjusted later if needed. The head should be curved at the top and slightly flat at the bottom.
- Add the eyes and nose.
Now, place two small circles for the eyes on the upper half of the head oval. Leave some space between them to accommodate the large, rounded nose. The koala’s nose should be an elongated oval placed at the center of the face, slightly tapering towards the top.
- Sketch the mouth and fur details.
Sketch two small curved lines below the nose to represent the mouth of the koala. Next, draw short, jagged lines at the top of the head and along the sides to represent the koala’s fluffy fur. These lines should not be too uniform – slightly uneven, wavy strokes will make the fur look more natural.
- Draw the ears of the koala.
Koalas have large, round, fluffy ears. Draw two curved lines extending outward from the sides of the head to form the general shape. Instead of making them perfectly smooth, add small jagged lines along the edges to give a furry texture. This is an important feature that gives your koala drawing more natural look.
- Add inner ear details.
Now, give the koala’s ears more realistic look by drawing the inner ear details. Inside each ear, sketch a smaller curved shape following the contour of the outer fluffy outline. This should resemble a smaller ear within the larger one, helping to create more realistic look.
- Sketch the front legs.
Start by sketching simple lines extending downward from the lower part of the head and upper body. These lines should slightly taper towards the bottom, forming the arms. At the bottom of each leg, add small, rounded fingers. You can add small claws to for more realism.
- Draw the koala’s hind legs.
These legs should be shorter and more rounded compared to the front legs. Draw two oval-like shapes at the bottom of the body. Then, draw the feet using two small ovals with tiny curves for the toes. Inside each foot, sketch small oval pads.
- Finalize the line work.
At this stage, clean up the entire koala drawing by going over the lines and removing any rough sketches and unnecessary lines. You can add a few short, jagged lines along the body and limbs to indicate fur, especially around the head and ears. Check for symmetry in the face, ears, and legs.
- Color the koala.
Now that the outline is complete, it’s time to add color to your koala drawing. Use a light gray shade for most of the body. The inner ear area and toe pads should be a lighter gray or pink. Color the nose in a dark gray or black shade. The eyes should be black with small white highlights.
Additional Content
To help you improve your drawing skills, I created this simple file that includes the steps of the tutorial along with additional materials. For example, you can use the coloring sheet to practice your painting skills, or the tracing worksheet to refine your line work. The grid drawing worksheet provides an opportunity to develop your observation skills.
How to Draw a Koala: Alternative Methods
Now that you have completed the first koala drawing tutorial, you can try different approaches to improve your skills. The next three tutorials offer variations in style and pose, allowing you to practice new techniques. You can draw a koala climbing a tree, a more simplified cartoon version, or a baby koala with softer features.
How to Draw a Koala on a Tree
This method differs from the first koala drawing tutorial by depicting the animal in a climbing pose rather than a sitting position. The style remains simple, but the step sequence is adjusted to accommodate the tree and the koala’s limbs gripping it.
To learn how to draw a koala on a tree, start with an oval for the head. Below it, draw a slightly larger oval for the body. Add two rounded ears on each side of the head. Next, sketch a small tail on the lower left side of the body and one arm raised as if gripping a tree. Draw the koala’s face by adding two small circles for the eyes, a larger oval for the nose, and a curved mouth line.
Draw the leg of the koala tucked close to the body. Extend two vertical lines to form the tree trunk. Refine the outline, erasing unnecessary lines. Complete the koala by outlining all features clearly. Finally, color the koala gray with a darker nose and inner ears, and shade the tree brown.
Baby Koala Drawing Tutorial
This method depicts a baby koala, making it distinct from the previous tutorials. The proportions are adjusted to highlight a larger head relative to the small body, creating a more youthful appearance. The features are simplified, with softer lines and minimal details. The sitting pose is slightly hunched, reinforcing the look of a baby koala.
To draw a baby koala bear, start by sketching a large oval for the head and a smaller oval below it for the body. Draw two small circles for the eyes, an oval for the nose, and two additional small ovals for facial details. Add large, round ears on each side of the head, using jagged lines to create fluff. Inside each ear, draw a smaller curved shape. Sketch small fur details at the top of the head.
Draw the front paws on the lower part of the body using simple curved lines. Add the hind legs in a sitting position with small feet sticking outward. Outline the koala bear’s belly with a soft curve. Refine the entire drawing by cleaning up unnecessary lines. Finally, color the koala bear in gray tones, darkening the nose and eyes.
Alternative Koala Drawing Tutorial
This method is a more simplified and cartoon-like version of a koala compared to the first tutorial. The proportions are exaggerated, with a larger head, smaller body, and a stylized face. The overall design is rounded and minimalistic.
To draw a koala in this cartoon style, begin by sketching a rounded shape for the head, adding small fur details at the top. Draw two small circles for the eyes, an oval for the nose, and two smaller ovals for additional facial features. Attach two large, fluffy ears on both sides of the head, using jagged lines. Inside each ear, draw a smaller curved shape for more realism.
Below the head, sketch a rounded shape for the body. Draw the koala’s short legs at the bottom, with one bent slightly outward. Add arms on each side of the body with simple curved lines. Include a small belly detail in the center. Refine the outline by erasing unnecessary lines. Finally, color the koala gray, with darker shading for the ears and nose, and add black eyes.
Conclusion
The entire collection of koala drawing lessons is now complete. If you have followed all the instructions as accurately as possible, you have likely become a true professional illustrator of koalas, and it’s time to advance your skills further. To do this, try drawing a koala in a different environment.
For example, you can create a forest background by drawing trees in the background and surrounding the koala with lush leaves. Alternatively, you can draw animals around this cute creature. For example, draw a monkey hanging nearby on another branch. You can also try drawing the koala in a different pose or from another perspective.
These exercises will greatly help in developing your skills. Additionally, the extra exercises in the PDF files, which you may have already downloaded and were located slightly above, will further contribute to your skill improvement.
