How to Draw a Coral Reef - Easy Step by Step Drawing Guide for Kids and Beginners

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Learn how to draw a great looking Coral Reef with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.

By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Coral Reef.

Easy Coral Reef Drawing: Simple Step by Step Directions

How to Draw a Great Looking Coral Reef for Kids and Beginners - Step 1

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 01

1. Draw several series of curved lines, one series overlapping the next. This begins to shape some of the rocks and coral that make up the reef. Detail the coral with curved lines.

Easy Coral Reef Drawing - Step 2

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 02

2. Draw another series of curved lines above the others, and detail the top with a curved line. These are known as shelf corals. Then, draw a staghorn coral. Use series of curved lines that double back upon themselves to form rounded branches that resemble the limbs of a tree or a deer's antlers.

Easy Coral Reef Drawing - Step 3

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 03

3. Draw more staghorn coral. Again, use series of curved lines that double back upon themselves to form rounded branches.

Easy Coral Reef Drawing - Step 4

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 04

4. Draw a long horizontal line to form a sandbank on the ocean floor. Upon it, use a series of curved lines to outline a five-pointed star. Draw curved lines from its center to the tips of the arms. This is a starfish. Then, to one side of the page, draw layers of wavy lines, indicating sponges.

Easy Coral Reef Drawing - Step 5

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 05

5. Draw more layers of wavy lines, connecting the pile of sponges or corals to the seafloor.

Easy Coral Reef Drawing - Step 6

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 06

6. Draw "U" shaped lines to further detail the sponges. Then, draw more sponges on the opposite side of the page.

Easy Coral Reef Drawing - Step 7

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 07

7. Draw more series of "U" shaped lines. Then, draw some seaweed or seagrasses. Use pairs of wavy curved lines that meet at points at the top.

Add More Details to Your Coral Reef Picture - Step 8

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 08

8. Draw a large sponge. Use overlapping curved lines to form the arms or branches of the animal. Shade an oval-shaped opening at the end of each branch. In the open water above the sponge, begin drawing a jellyfish. Draw a large "U" shaped line, and connect the ends with a series of smaller "U" shaped lines. This forms the animal's body or bell.

Complete the Outline of Your Coral Reef Drawing - Step 9

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 09

9. Draw curved lines to indicate the stinging tentacles. Use curved lines to outline a tropical fish. It is shaped like a heart, with three curved lines extending between the bulges and forming a triangular tail. Detail the fish with vertical curved lines for stripes, and shade a small circle to indicate the eye.

Color Your Coral Reef Drawing

How to Draw a Coral Reef Step 10

Color your cartoon coral reef. Healthy reefs are full of brightly colored creatures. Sick or dying reefs experience coral bleaching, meaning that the tiny animals that make up the corals die and the remaining structures turn white.

Would you like to expand your oceanic drawing skills? Learn how to draw an underwater scene.

For more great Landscape drawing tutorials, see the 31 Step-by-Step Landscape Drawing Guides post.
Easy, step by step Coral Reef drawing tutorial
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Learn More About The Coral Reef Drawing

"Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world." The large stone like structures are built by tiny, almost microscopic animals called coral polyps.

The polyps live and grow in colonies, filtering their food from the water or using energy from the sun.

This easy coral reef drawing tutorial teaches how to draw an underwater ecosystem.

Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.

Follow along with the detailed instructions on drawing a coral reef and other sea creatures, including how to draw a fish and jellyfish.

Don't forget to check out the video for the full drawing tutorial.

 

If you liked this drawing tutorial, see also the following guides: Manatee drawing, Bass drawing, and Underwater Scene drawing.

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See a Google Web Story of this Coral Reef Drawing Tutorial.


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