How to Draw a Tapir: Easy 9-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to bring a unique jungle friend to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up. Grab your pencil, eraser, and paper to practice basic shapes and contour lines while creating your very own adorable tapir.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, finished drawing of a cute tapir, perfect for kids to use as a reference.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Snout and Eye

Pencil sketch showing the initial curved line for a tapir snout and a single eye with a dark pupil.

Start by drawing a long, gentle curve to form the tapir's unique snout. Next, draw an oval for the eye inside a rounded shape. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil lines light so you can easily erase any mistakes as you refine the face shape.

Step 2: Defining the Face

Drawing showing the completed snout outline and jawline of the tapir.

Use two curved lines to finish the snout, making sure they overlap slightly at the nostril. Add a line for the bottom of the jaw. Teacher's Tip: Focus on the 'S' curve of the snout—it gives the tapir its signature look!

Step 3: Adding Ears and Head Shape

The tapir head outline with two small, rounded ears added to the top.

Draw the top of the head and add the ears by extending a curved line and doubling it back. Teacher's Tip: Tapir ears are small and rounded, so keep your strokes short and soft.

Step 4: Sketching the Neck and Chest

The tapir's head connected to the neck and front chest area using smooth, overlapping lines.

Use overlapping curved lines to connect the head to the body, forming the neck and chest area. Teacher's Tip: Imagine the tapir is standing tall; keep the chest line smooth to show a healthy posture.

Step 5: Front Leg and Belly

The tapir's front leg with three toes and the beginning of the belly line.

Draw the three toes using small lines and rounded shapes at the bottom. Then, extend a long, sweeping curve to create the belly. Teacher's Tip: Tapirs have sturdy legs, so make sure your lines look solid and grounded.

Step 6: Back and Rear Leg

The tapir's back line and rear leg taking shape on the page.

Extend a long line from the neck to form the back and the rear leg. Add the front of the leg and start the toes. Teacher's Tip: Use a continuous, fluid motion for the back to give the animal a natural, rounded shape.

Step 7: Completing the Legs

The drawing showing the completed rear foot toes and the second front leg.

Finish the toes on the rear foot and draw the sides of the remaining front leg. Teacher's Tip: Keep the legs parallel to show the tapir is standing firmly on the ground.

Step 8: Finalizing the Limbs

The tapir drawing now showing all four legs and feet clearly defined.

Draw the toes on the final rear leg using pairs of short lines. Teacher's Tip: Don't worry if the toes aren't perfectly symmetrical; nature is rarely perfectly straight!

Step 9: Final Touches

The completed line art of the tapir with final contour details added.

Finish the toes and add a few contour lines to the neck and shoulder to show muscle. Teacher's Tip: Darken your final outline with a firmer pencil stroke to make your tapir pop off the page.

Step 10: Color Your Tapir

A fully colored, cute cartoon tapir illustration.

Your tapir is ready for color! South American tapirs are often dark brown or gray, while the Malayan tapir has a distinct white 'saddle' patch on its back. Baby tapirs are spotted—have fun experimenting with your favorite colors!