Art Hub How To Draw A Horse

Dorsi is a freelance writer/researcher in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is also a photographer, art educator, and artist.

These step-by-step instructions will guide you through the process of drawing your own seahorse

Dorsi Diaz

Drawing Seahorses

As an art teacher, I like to teach lessons on things that are interesting to both kids and adults. Seahorses are one of those animals that most kids really like and, when presented with a chance to draw one, they usually get very excited. There is just something whimsical and fun about a creature that is called a horse yet lives in the sea!

In this lesson, I will break down the drawing steps one by one. At the end of the tutorial, you will find 10 interesting facts about seahorses which can make a classroom lesson even more informative.

Enjoy your lesson!

What You Need to Draw a Seahorse

White Paper: Printer paper is alright, but if you are going to be painting, then something thicker like watercolor or art paper would be best.
Pencil
Eraser
Black Sharpie: This is optional and only needed if you want to trace the seahorse in black.

art-lesson-how-to-draw-and-paint-a-sea-horse — Dorsi Diaz

1. Draw the Guideline

To bring this art lesson, draw a guideline like a cross on your paper. Make these lines light. Then draw a circle with a snout to begin your sea horse drawing. Notice where I placed the circle. Make sure your paper is "portrait" style.

2. Add the Body

In the second step, add the body of the seahorse. Notice the shape that I used—a stretched-out oval type shape attached to the circle. Smaller children can just draw an oval.

3. Draw the Tail

In the third step, add the curling tail of the seahorse. Try to keep the tail on the paper, otherwise your seahorse will not be complete.

4. Add the Fin

Next, add the fin on the seahorse's back along with the line going up the fin.

5. Add the "Ear" or "Crown"

Now, add the "ear" or "crown" at the top of your seahorse drawing.

6. The Form Is Finished!

Congratulations—your basic seahorse shape is finished. Now you can change curves, add details, and define your seahorse using the original lines that you drew. Also, draw in your seahorse's eye. You can also add the seahorse's habitat to your drawing.

Finsished drawing of a seahorse completed in black Sharpie. You can add in all the details inside the seahorse and also draw in his habitat.

Dorsi Diaz

Finish Drawing Your Seahorse!

After your basic seahorse shape is drawn, follow the finished seahorse to the right to add your details. You will make a series of connecting semi-circles around the shape (except for the face), add the eyes, the other fins, and the shading marks.

After you are done drawing your seahorse in pencil, you can either leave it that way or add pencil shading if you like. I went over my seahorse with black Sharpie to prepare it for painting. Then, I erased any visible pencil lines. Make sure your guidelines are totally erased. You can pencil in the seahorse's habitat with coral and seagrass and draw with Sharpie over those lines as well.

Photo of a seahorse from the London Museum and Aquarium.

Paul Hudson, CC-BY via Wikimedia Commons

Did You Know These 10 Interesting Seahorse Facts?

Sea horses are amazing little creatures. They capture our imagination and also make a great art lesson. Here are 10 interesting facts about seahorses that you may not have known about them:

Once seahorses fall in love, they stay together for life. They are monogamous.
Seahorses are the only species in the world in which males give birth.
Seahorses range in size from just 0.6 inches (1.5 centimeters) to 14 inches (35 centimeters) long.
Seahorses propel themselves through the water by using the small fin on their back. This fin flutters up to 35 times per second!
Seahorses like to eat all day long! They can eat 3,000 or more brine shrimp per day.
There are 54 species of seahorses.
Seahorses use the fins near the back of their heads to steer.
Seahorses do not swim very well. In storms, they sometimes die of exhaustion.
Male seahorses carry unborn young in a pouch that they have on the front of their bodies.
Seahorses use their tails to latch onto grasses and coral in the ocean.

Seahorse Giving Birth

Poll on the seahorse art lesson

Dorsi Diaz (author) from The San Francisco Bay Area on October 24, 2013:

Thanks Paul. I really enjoy making them too!

Paul Edmondson from Burlingame, CA on October 24, 2013:

This is really nicely done. I love these guides to drawing.

Dorsi Diaz (author) from The San Francisco Bay Area on July 03, 2013:

@torrilynn) I love memories like that torri. We created some great new memories making these.

@Austinstar) Glad you enjoyed the hub Austin. The one thing I have found is that everyone can learn to draw when taught correctly. It's never too late!

@peachpurple) It should be fine for a 6 year old peach. I had a 7 year old do an adorable seahorse!

peachy from Home Sweet Home on June 30, 2013:

wonderful drawing! Your seahorse looks cute and a darling. I was wondering whether a 6 yr old could do that... No problem for me... Thanks for including the information about seahorse too. Voted up

Lela from Somewhere near the heart of Texas on June 30, 2013:

I have always wanted to draw and paint. Sadly, I am not very talented in the arts. Science has always been my forte. That is one thing that sets this hub apart from other hubs! You have included some very interesting facts!

torrilynn on June 29, 2013:

@Dorsi thanks for this lesson on how to draw a seahorse. This brings back memories of how I would draw cartoons and pictures of people when I was younger. Overall, nice. Voted up