How to Draw a Salmon: Easy 10-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to dive into the world of fish anatomy? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and some paper to bring this sleek swimmer to life while practicing your curved line control.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A finished, colorful illustration of a salmon swimming, used as the featured tutorial image.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Body Outline

Pencil sketch showing the basic curved outline of a salmon's body and head shape.

Lightly outline the serpent-like head and body. Teacher's Tip: Use long, sweeping strokes. Focus on the bulge of the eye ridge and the small dip where the mouth will eventually sit.

Step 2: Defining the Mouth

Close-up of the salmon's head showing the addition of a curved line for the mouth.

Draw a long, curved line to form the smiling mouth. Add a tiny curved line at the corner to give it personality. Tip: Keep this line smooth to make the fish look friendly.

Step 3: Adding the Eye

Detail view of the salmon's eye with a circular outline and a C-shaped pupil.

Draw a circle above the mouth for the eye, then add a pupil using two curved lines that form a 'C' shape. Tip: Placing the eye higher up makes the fish look more alert.

Step 4: Sketching the Gills

Drawing the gill slits on the side of the salmon's head using simple curved lines.

Sketch rows of curved lines behind the eye to represent the gills. Tip: Keep these lines parallel to each other for a clean, professional look.

Step 5: Drawing the Dorsal Fin

Adding the triangular dorsal fin to the top of the salmon's back.

Add the dorsal fin on the back using long, curved lines that meet at a sharp point. Tip: Imagine a shark fin shape, but slightly more rounded at the base.

Step 6: Adding the Pectoral Fin

Drawing the pectoral fin on the side of the fish with added texture lines.

Draw the pectoral fin on the side, erasing any overlapping body lines. Add small curved lines for texture. Tip: Draw a long line down the body to show the fish's side profile.

Step 7: The Opposite Fin

Adding the second pectoral fin on the far side of the fish body.

Draw the fin on the far side of the fish to create depth. Use a simple curved shape and add a few lines for texture. Tip: Keep this fin smaller than the first one to show perspective.

Step 8: Anal and Adipose Fins

Adding the smaller anal and adipose fins to the bottom and top of the tail section.

Draw the anal fin at the base and the small adipose fin on top near the tail. Tip: Use light, quick strokes to add texture lines to these smaller fins.

Step 9: Completing the Tail

Finalizing the tail fin with a V-shape and texture lines.

Draw the caudal (tail) fin using a sweeping 'V' shape. Connect it to the body with curved lines. Tip: Make the tail look powerful by adding a few radiating lines for texture.

Step 10: Adding Color

The completed, colored drawing of a salmon showing vibrant red and brown tones.

Bring your salmon to life! Use silvery grays for a standard look, or try vibrant reds and browns to depict a sockeye salmon. Tip: Use light pressure with your colored pencils to blend colors smoothly.