Elk Drawing: Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
In this guide
Picture a deer that hit the gym, grew a shaggy neck scarf, and put on the most impressive antler crown in the forest — that’s an elk. Big as they are, we’re going to keep this elk drawing easy by building everything from beans, ovals, and simple branching lines. No forest experience required. 🌲
If you’ve followed our easy deer drawing, you already know half the moves. The elk just gets a bulkier body, a longer neck, and antlers with serious personality.
Pencils up — let’s meet the king of the mountain meadow.
What You’ll Need
- Paper
- A pencil
- An eraser
- Optional: brown and tan colored pencils
Step 1: Draw the Body Bean
Start with a big bean shape lying on its side, taking up the middle of your page. Let the back dip slightly and the belly curve gently downward. This one shape is most of your elk, so make it nice and roomy — and leave a generous stretch of empty paper above it, because the antlers are coming and they do not travel light.
Step 2: Add the Neck and Head
From the front of the bean, draw a thick neck rising up and forward — elk necks are burly, so don’t make it skinny. Top it with a small oval head, then attach a rounded rectangle muzzle to the front, like a soft snout sticking out. Elk hold their heads proudly, so angle the head up just a touch.
Step 3: Build the Legs
Drop four long legs from the body — two in front, two in back. Make them wider at the top and slimmer near the bottom, like table legs that taper, and finish each with a small triangle hoof. Bend one front leg slightly for a mid-step pose.
Step 4: Grow the Antlers
Here’s the elk’s crown. From the top of the head, draw two long main beams that sweep up and back like huge parentheses. Then add three or four points branching off the front of each beam, like fingers reaching for the sky. Keep the two sides roughly matching, and remember: wobbly antlers still look great — real ones are never perfect either.
Step 5: Add Ears, Eyes, and Nose
Just below the antlers, draw two oval ears sticking out sideways like little leaves. Add a round eye with a shine dot on the side of the head, and darken the tip of the muzzle for the nose. A tiny curved line under the nose gives him a calm, gentle mouth.
Step 6: Give It the Shaggy Neck
Elk wear a thick fur collar on their necks — it’s their signature look. Trace the underside of the neck and chest with short, jagged zigzag strokes instead of one smooth line. A few extra fur flicks on the chest and rump make the coat feel cozy.
Step 7: Add the Tail and Rump Patch
Draw a short, stubby tail on the back — much smaller than a deer’s flag tail. Then outline a soft patch on the rump around it; on real elk this patch is pale cream and shows up from far away. Erase any leftover sketch lines poking through your final drawing.
Step 8: Color Your Elk
Color the body a warm tan-brown, make the shaggy neck and legs darker chocolate, and leave the rump patch pale cream. Antlers get a soft beige. A strip of green meadow and one pine tree in the background put your elk right at home. 🎨
Tips to Make Your Elk Drawing Even Cuter
- Bigger eyes and a smaller muzzle turn your elk into an adorable calf.
- Add a snowy background and a red scarf for instant winter-card energy.
- Tiny birds perched on the antlers make everyone smile.
- Draw a “bugling” pose — head tilted way up, mouth open, music notes floating out.
- Fuzzy antler “velvet” (soft shading instead of hard outlines) gives a springtime look.
FAQ
What’s the difference between drawing an elk and a deer?
Elk are bulkier, with a thicker neck, a shaggy chest, and long swept-back antlers, while deer look daintier with smaller, upright antlers. Start with a bigger bean and a burlier neck and you’re drawing an elk.
Are the antlers hard to draw?
They’re easier than they look — two big curved beams first, then add points one at a time. Nobody’s antlers match perfectly, so relax and branch away.
How long does an elk drawing take?
Plan on about 20 minutes. The body comes together fast; give yourself extra time to enjoy the antlers and fur.
Antlers up — you did it! Every elk you sketch from here on will stand a little taller and look a little prouder. For more forest friends drawn step by step, wander over to our YouTube channel, and if you loved this big fella, try our easy moose drawing next — his antlers are a whole different adventure.
