In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw an Otter in 9 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.
The images above represent how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.
Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.
At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Otter.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw an Otter - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Let's draw an otter! Draw the head by tracing a shape that almost looks like a petal!
Step 2: Then, do the face by drawing a small circle for the eye, a very tiny petal shape just under the eye, and a circle that traces along the tip of the head, for the nose.
Step 3: Draw a semi-circle along the top for the body.
Step 4: From there, draw two lines that curve and meet at the end. There's your slim tail!
Step 5: Next, draw the back leg by tracing two lines that are wide apart at the top but come together at the bottom so that you can draw a long, flat foot.
Step 6: From the back leg, trace a long curbed line along the bottom of the body for the belly.
Step 7: Now, you can bring the lines of the belly and the neck together by drawing the front leg. Like the back leg, it's wide at the top but smaller at the bottom.
Step 8: Next, draw the other back leg. Here's a tip: hide it behind the first back leg so that you mostly see the long, flat foot.
Step 9: Draw the other front leg, tracing it wide at the top and small at the bottom. There's your otter!
Interesting Facts about Otters
Otters are semi-aquatic mammals that inhabit five of the world’s seven continents. They do not live in Australia or Antarctica. There are 13 species of otters. Otters have been around for about 30 million years.
Did you know?
- Otters are one of the few mammals that can use tools.
- Otters are the only marine mammals that have fur instead of blubber (a layer of fat) to keep them warm.
- Otters mostly eat fish and shellfish.
- Otters are related to polecats, weasels, badgers, and wolverines. They belong to the family Mustelidae.
- Baby otters, called pups, learn to swim when they are about two months of age. They live with their family until they are about a year old.
- The average lifespan of otters is 16 years.
Sea otters dwell in the North Pacific Ocean, and they are the heaviest species of the Mustelidae family. Giant otters are the longest species of the family. They can grow to be as long as 5.6 feet. Most of them live alongside the Amazon River in South America. The oriental small-clawed otter is the smallest species of all otters. They weight about 2 to 12 pounds, and are between 28 and 39 inches long.
How To Draw An Otter – Step-by-Step Tutorial