How to Draw a Hippopotamus

In this drawing guide, we will tell you how to draw a hippopotamus. It is a very powerful and large animal that prefers water bodies and a very hot tropical climate. We have created this tutorial in ten easy steps. Just follow the sequence of actions and you will get a great result!

How to Draw a Hippopotamus

Step 1 – Draw the Outlines of the Head and Torso

Firstly, draw a circle to show the position of the head. Then, place the oval to roughly indicate the body of the hippopotamus. Place these shapes in the center of the sheet of paper.

Step 2 – Draw the Front of the Face

Begin to shape the outlines of the muzzle. Draw a bump with a line (there will be an eye), draw it further to the future nostrils, round, and create the initial shape of the muzzle.

Step 3 – Draw the Eyes of a Hippo

Underline the outlines of the muzzle and draw a line from the mouth to the head. On the top of the muzzle, put two nostrils in the form of dots, and in the center of the head, also the point of the eyes. The small ears should be at the very top.

Step 4 – Draw the Neck of the Hippopotamus

Outline the folded neck. Draw a line down the bottom to connect the head and torso and create folds. Draw the same line along the top.

Step 5 – Draw the front legs of the Hippopotamus

In the area between the head and body, to the very bottom, draw four lines to outline the outer contours of the forelimbs of our cute animal. Note the gradual tapering downward on each leg.

Step 6 – Draw Hippopotamus Nails

Draw large, rounded nails and short fingers. The nails cover the fingers so that we cannot see their exact location. So use the lines from the previous steps as a guide.

Step 7 – Draw the Hind Legs of the Hippopotamus

Draw a tail and draw a line as if in continuation of the body. Sketch two short, powerful legs with small protrusions in the back.

Step 8 – Draw the Hind Feet of the Hippopotamus

So we are getting closer to the end of this guide. So it remains only to draw the large, rounded hippo nails that are located on the hind legs.

Step 9 – Remove Extra Lines

Now remove all construction lines from the drawing, they are no longer needed. To make the drawing more expressive, you can trace the hippopotamus drawing with clear and more dark lines.

Step 10 – Color the Hippopotamus

The light gray color is the perfect choice for a hippo. A tone shade will help to draw shaded areas. A white highlight inside the eye contour will make your drawing look more vivid and realistic.

Now your hippopotamus is definitely a real inhabitant of the harsh African land. So check all the lines again, give them the best shape. Remember, there is no limit to perfection! We, as always, are waiting for your feedback – tell us what seemed difficult, was it interesting for you to draw this animal.