How to Draw an Alligator
Hey kids, let’s explore the art jungle and learn how to draw an alligator with two easy, kid-friendly techniques that I’ve made just for you. You’ll be amazed at how we can transform simple lines into a cool, friendly alligator, so let’s grab those pencils and start our fun drawing journey!
How to Draw an Alligator: Basic Information
Get ready, little sketchers, because today we’re going to master how to draw an alligator that’s more cute than fierce. I’ve prepared a simple method that’ll make drawing this reptile a walk in the park. Our alligator has a long, wavy back and a smile that’s just waiting to be drawn.
This alligator might look complex, but you’ll see it’s made of easy lines and curves that anyone can draw. Watch how its back arches gently and the tail curls up, ready to splash in the water. Drawing this alligator will help you learn to control your pencil and create smooth, flowing lines.
So, let’s start our artistic journey and draw an alligator that’s sure to charm. With your crayons or markers, we’ll add life and color to our drawing. Every artist starts somewhere, and today, we start with our friendly alligator. Let’s make it snappy and have fun along the way!
Alligator Drawing Tutorial
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 30 minutes
How to Draw an Alligator
- Draw the head.
First, create the basic outline of the alligator’s head. Note the large upper jaw and thin, short lower jaw. These delicate, light outlines should be positioned on the left side of your piece of paper.
- Depict the back and the top of the tail.
The back of an alligator is similar to the back of a dinosaur. In both cases, the back has a jagged, comb-like shape. However, in our case it is positioned horizontally and curls slightly upward.
- Add the rest of the body
Finish drawing the basic outline of the crocodile’s torso. To do this, draw a long, smooth line that connects the tip of the tail and the bottom of the edge of the head from step one. Try to do this very delicately and smoothly.
- Sketch out the eyes and nostril.
For the eyes, draw two small ovals on top of the head, and for the nostrils, add two smaller ovals at the tip of the snout. This step is crucial for giving the alligator a face and personality, as well as establishing symmetry and facial features.
- Draw the teeth.
So, depict a series of small, triangular teeth along the upper jawline inside the mouth. These should be evenly spaced and vary slightly in size to mimic the natural look of an alligator’s teeth.
- Depict the front paws.
A pair of curved round shapes below – this is exactly what we need to depict the front paws of our alligator. Draw these short legs on the lower part of the body, very close to where the neck is approximately located.
- Depict the hind legs.
Draw two sets of parallel, slightly curved lines beneath the body to form the back legs. The lines should be short and stubby, with the ends rounded for the feet. There is no need for detailed toes at this stage.
- Correct inaccuracies.
Is your alligator creepy, natural, and still looks cool? Then feel free to move on to coloring. If you see inaccuracies, correct them and remove extra lines.
- Color the drawing.
So, let’s color. A green hue is filled in throughout the alligator’s body, but you can change it. Create a color scheme with a lighter shade on the belly and a darker shade on the back to suggest a three-dimensional form.
Additional Content
In addition to the fun we’ve had drawing together today, I’ve put together a free PDF file for you. This way, even if you’re somewhere without internet, you can still enjoy drawing our alligator friend. It’s a shorter version of our lesson, packed with all the key steps and tips, and it’s designed to be super easy to follow.
You can download it once and have it forever – perfect for those times when you’re itching to draw but can’t get online. So don’t let anything stop you from creating; with this PDF, you can keep honing your art skills anytime!
Alternative Drawing Technique
To make sure you get the most out of our drawing lessons, I’ve added one more alligator drawing method to our repertoire. It’s a great way to experiment with another style, adding variety to your drawings and helping you to see your subjects from different angles.
The more techniques you try, the more rounded your skills become, enabling you to capture the world around you with confidence and creativity.
How to Draw an Alligator for Kindergarten
For our kindergarten artists, I’ve got a super easy method to draw an alligator that’s as fun as playtime! We’ll begin with a shape that looks like a banana, then add some squiggles for legs and a swish for the tail.
Next, we’ll dot on eyes and draw a big smile. In just a four steps, you’ll have an alligator that’s ready to jump right into a storybook. Grab your favorite crayons, and let’s make drawing as enjoyable as snack time!
Cool Ideas for Your Alligator Sketches
You’ve just learned how to draw an alligator, and I bet it looks incredible! But every great artist knows that practice makes perfect. So, here are some tips to make your alligator drawings even more awesome:
- Add Some Friends: Maybe your alligator needs a buddy. Try drawing a frog or a fish alongside it.
- Create a Habitat: Alligators love water! How about drawing a swamp or river around your alligator?
- Play with Colors: Alligators aren’t just green. You can color them in shades of brown, gray, or even patterns.
- Experiment with Expressions: Give your alligator different expressions. Is it happy, sleepy, or maybe a little grumpy?
Remember, every line you draw adds to your story. Keep experimenting, and your drawings will come to life more and more. On my website, you’ll find a whole bunch of lessons that can help you create all sorts of scenes for your alligator to live in.
Conclusion
You’ve made it through the alligator lesson, and your drawing looks fantastic! Ready for more? Check out my website where you can learn to draw all sorts of things, like a detailed ear or even a stylish cowboy hat.
And there’s always something new coming up, so be sure to follow me on social media to hear about the latest lessons first. We’re on an amazing drawing adventure together, and I can’t wait to see where we go next. Keep practicing, and let’s fill that sketchbook with your incredible art!
