How to Draw a Koala

Koala bears are adorable tree dwellers with distinctive features.

Koala bears are fuzzy little mammals native to Australia that spend most of their time hanging out in trees. Drawing them can be tricky if you aren't sure how to tackle the task, but by using general shape outlines you can get the body proportioned correctly before you even have to worry about details. Koala bears share distinctive features that make them easy to identify and fun to draw.

Things You'll Need

• Piece of drawing paper
• Pencil
• Picture of koala (optional)
• Eraser

Instructions

1. Sketch three very light circles in a vertical row using a pencil on a piece of drawing paper. The top and bottom circle should be roughly the same size, to represent the head and haunches. The circle in the middle, the body circle, should be slightly larger than the other two.

2. Create a line that runs around the circles to connect them, making the koala's body. Use the side of your pencil to shade the top half of the bottom circle to emphasize the haunches. Draw two long arms that reach forward, and two small feet that poke out directly beneath the haunches. Koalas have fingers, but their toes are hooked with claws.

3. Add two fluffy, circular-shaped ears on either side of the koala's head. The ears should be large with wisps of hair that come out the sides.

4. Erase the original circles' lines within the body so that you can add spiky fur details around the belly, shoulders, and haunches of the koala.

5. Add in the koala's facial features, using a picture of a koala for a reference if necessary. Koalas have small dark eyes, long black noses, and a distinctive white stripe that wraps around the jaw of the face.

References

• Drawing Now: How to Draw a Koala
• Drago Art: How to Draw a Koala