How to Draw an Aardvark: Easy 9-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to draw a unique African mammal? This tutorial is perfect for artists ages 5 and up. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and some paper to bring this curious creature to life.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, friendly cartoon aardvark illustration for kids.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Snout and Eye

Close-up pencil sketch of an aardvark's snout and eye on white paper.

Start by drawing a long, curved line that loops back to create the aardvark's signature pig-like snout. Add an almond-shaped eye above it with a dark pupil. Teacher's Tip: Keep the snout shape rounded and soft to give your aardvark a friendly, cartoonish look.

Step 2: Defining the Head and Ears

Drawing the head shape and two large, pointed ears for the aardvark.

Draw the bottom of the face and add two tall, pointed ears on top of the head. Teacher's Tip: Aardvark ears are quite large compared to their heads, so don't be afraid to make them nice and tall!

Step 3: The Back and Front Leg

Sketching the long back line and the first front leg with fur texture.

Extend a long, smooth curve for the back and draw the front leg using jagged lines to suggest fur. Teacher's Tip: Use short, quick strokes for the 'fur' lines to make the aardvark look textured and soft.

Step 4: Adding Paws and Belly

Adding details to the front paw and drawing the belly line.

Sketch the toes using overlapping curves and add triangular claws. Connect the leg to the belly with more jagged fur lines. Teacher's Tip: Aardvarks have strong claws for digging, so make them look sturdy and sharp.

Step 5: Drawing the Rear Leg

Sketching the sturdy rear leg and foot of the aardvark.

Draw the upper part of the rear leg with a mix of smooth and jagged lines. Add the lower leg and foot. Teacher's Tip: The rear legs are usually thicker than the front ones, so draw them slightly wider.

Step 6: Completing the Feet

Adding the final details to the feet and the second front leg.

Finish the toes and claws on the rear foot, and add the second front leg. Teacher's Tip: Notice how the legs overlap; drawing the one in the back slightly higher helps create a sense of depth.

Step 7: The Tail and Hips

Drawing the thick tail and hip area of the aardvark.

Extend the back line to form a thick, tapering tail. Define the hips with curved lines. Teacher's Tip: Aardvarks have very thick, muscular tails—make sure it looks strong at the base!

Step 8: Finalizing the Legs

Adding the final leg to complete the aardvark's body outline.

Draw the remaining rear leg to complete the stance. Teacher's Tip: Ensure the claws are consistent in size across all four feet for a balanced look.

Step 9: Adding Texture and Details

Adding final fur texture details to the aardvark's outline.

Go over your lines and add small, jagged marks along the body to represent fur. Teacher's Tip: Don't overdo the fur—just a few marks here and there will suggest texture without making the drawing look too busy.

Step 10: Color Your Aardvark

A fully colored cartoon aardvark with light brown fur and pink accents.

Time to color! Use light brown for the body and a soft pink for the inner ears and nose. Teacher's Tip: Use a darker brown to add a little shading under the belly to make your drawing pop off the page.