How to Draw an Elephant

Realistic elephant drawing with dimensional shadows and texture.

With the help of this tutorial, you will learn how to draw an elephant in a realistic and three-dimensional style using classical artistic techniques.

The elephant is one of the most fascinating animals on planet Earth, with very recognizable forms and features.

To draw this animal in a convincing three-dimensional manner, we will use classical methods and techniques from the academic tradition.

We will begin with basic overall shapes, gradually refine the details, and finally add dimensional yet simple shading to achieve a truly realistic effect.

How to draw an elephant step by step

Step 1: Sketch the overall volumes and proportions

There are many ways to draw animals, including an elephant, but we will use the method of moving from large general volumes to details. Begin by sketching the main outline of the elephant with light, rough lines. At this stage, you should establish the boundaries of the future drawing, define the overall proportions, and determine the composition and placement of the animal on the paper.

Sketching the elephant’s overall body mass with light construction contours.

Step 2: Mark the head and trunk

Now gradually begin adding the largest volumes and forms characteristic of an elephant. Start with the head, sketching a long, slightly curved trunk and large ears. At this stage, do not go into any details and avoid using dark lines. Simply indicate the main shapes while already keeping symmetry and proportions in mind.

Sketching the elephant’s head, curved trunk, and large ears with light lines.

Step 3: Shape the torso and tail

Now gradually begin shaping the contours of the elephant’s body. Lightly sketch the lower edge of the torso with a rough, soft line. In the rear part of the body, indicate the tail, again without adding any details. Check the overall balance of the drawing, and as you work, avoid focusing too long on any single area.

Drawing the elephant’s broad torso and lightly indicated tail.

Step 4: Sketch the legs of the elephant

An elephant’s legs are large and massive, resembling tree trunks. Shape their outlines using the same light, rough lines. Position them in the pose you prefer – either standing still or walking. At this stage, you can also indicate the bend at the knees and the slight widening toward the feet.

Sketching the elephant’s massive legs with knee bends and widened feet.

Step 5: Refine the side head contours

Return to the head and draw the side contours of the elephant’s face. Try to make them proportional and symmetrical so that the left and right sides almost mirror each other. Remember not to focus on just one area – work alternately on both sides to maintain balance and symmetry.

Refining the elephant’s symmetrical side facial contours around the trunk.

Step 6: Draw the eyes of the elephant

The main rough outline of the elephant is complete, and the overall form made up of large volumes is ready. Now gradually begin adding details. First, in the upper part of the head, draw the eyes of the elephant as two small almond-shaped forms. Slightly above, refine the contour of the head with a couple of light, smooth lines.

Drawing the elephant’s small almond-shaped eyes and upper head contour.

Step 7: Refine the head contours

Indicate the upper contour of the elephant’s head with a smooth, symmetrical line. Then, to the left and right of this area, sketch the beginnings of the ears. Slightly below the eyes, draw the side contours of the area from which the elephant’s tusks emerge, again maintaining symmetry and proper proportions.

Refining the elephant’s upper head, ear bases, and tusk areas.

Step 8: Draw the tusks of the elephant

Now move on to the tusks and draw them on both sides of the elephant’s trunk. Depending on the angle of the head, the tusks may appear slightly different in shape. It is very important to maintain symmetry so that the left and right tusks are proportional in size and properly aligned with the rest of the head.

Drawing the elephant’s curved tusks on both sides of the trunk.

Step 9: Trace and complete the head shape

Carefully refine the side contours of the head, giving them a smooth and finished appearance. You may also add subtle wrinkles and folds to increase realism. As you draw the elephant, occasionally step back from the artwork to check symmetry and proportions from a distance, and compare smaller details with the overall form to ensure everything remains balanced.

Refining the elephant’s full head shape with smooth contours and subtle folds.

Step 10: Draw the elephant trunk in detail

The trunk is one of the central elements that draws the viewer’s attention in an elephant drawing. Trace its contours with smooth lines, gradually refining and correcting the shapes as needed. At the bends, add light folds to make the form appear more natural and realistic.

Refining the elephant’s curved trunk with smooth contours and light folds.

Step 11: Draw the ears of the elephant in detail

The large ears are another striking feature that draws attention in an elephant drawing. Trace them with smoother and more defined lines, working alternately on the left and right ears to maintain proper proportions and symmetry. Add subtle folds near the outer edges to enhance realism.

Drawing the elephant’s large ears with clean edges and subtle outer folds.

Step 12: Trace and complete the front legs

Using very clean and careful lines, outline the elephant’s front legs, indicating the bend at the knees and conveying the overall form as naturally as possible. Keep in mind that there are muscular and skeletal structures beneath the skin, and try to reflect them subtly in your elephant drawing. In the lower part of the legs, carefully draw the large toenails and define the contours of the feet.

Drawing the elephant’s front legs, feet, knee bends, and large toenails.

Step 13: Refine the hind legs and toenails

Now repeat the same process with the elephant’s hind legs, refining them with smoother and more finished lines. Indicate the bends at the knees and subtly suggest the muscular structure beneath the skin where appropriate. In the lower part of the legs, draw the large toenails of the elephant and try to render the contours of the feet as naturally as possible. Also, refine the lower edge of the torso with a smoother, clearer line.

Refining the elephant’s hind legs, feet, toenails, and lower torso contour.

Step 14: Draw the back and tail of the elephant

Trace the elephant’s back with a smooth, clean line, capturing its characteristic curve. Then draw the tail of the elephant with a couple of gentle strokes and add the distinctive tuft at the tip. To make the tuft look more natural, avoid a single continuous outline – use short strokes that extend from the base toward the ends.

Drawing the elephant’s curved back and tail with a short textured tuft.

Step 15: Add the trunk wrinkle texture

The elephant’s trunk has a distinctive texture with many transverse wrinkle lines. Draw them as smooth strokes across the length of the trunk, adjusting their curvature to follow the rounded form and any bends in the trunk itself. These lines should be noticeably lighter than the main contour lines of the drawing.

Adding transverse wrinkle lines that follow the elephant’s rounded trunk.

Step 16: Clean up and complete the forms

Now carefully and gradually erase the construction lines from the drawing, trying not to touch the important main contours of the elephant. Trace and slightly darken the lines where needed – especially on the parts closest to the viewer – to create a clearer sense of volume.

Cleaning up the elephant drawing and strengthening the finished contours.

Step 17: Apply hatching along the form

Correct forms and clean lines create a solid foundation for a realistic, dimensional drawing. However, it is the shading that truly makes it appear three-dimensional. Keep the principles of light and shadow in mind, as well as the direction of the light source, and carefully apply hatching to the shaded areas. Try to apply your hatching in a way that follows the form of the body to achieve the strongest sense of volume.

Adding shadows to the elephant with hatching that follows the body forms.

Step 18: Review and finalize the drawing

Do a final check of your elephant drawing, paying attention to proportions and how individual details relate to the overall volumes. Look at the drawing from a greater distance or turn it upside down to spot and correct any possible mistakes. Add more shadows and midtones if you want to make the drawing even more three-dimensional.

Finishing the elephant drawing with final corrections, shadows, and midtones.

Beyond drawing an elephant

Drawing animals requires knowledge of the fundamental principles of drawing and visual art in general.

In this elephant drawing lesson, we demonstrated the most important foundations that are necessary not only for depicting this particular animal but also for drawing many other representatives of the fauna of our planet.

The core principles – whether you are drawing an elephant or a human – remain the same; only the nuances and specific details change.

To study these details more thoroughly, we have created an animals drawing category on our website, where we discuss individual species as well as the shared principles behind drawing them.

For example, you can learn how to draw a horse – a graceful and elegant animal, often described as a true work of nature.

Or, if you are more interested in predators, you can learn how to draw a lion, commonly known as the king of the savanna.

In addition, you will become familiar with essential aspects such as correctly applying shading to animal forms and creating convincing, academically grounded textures of fur and other surfaces.