How to Draw a Jellyfish Step by Step
Step 1: Draw the Jellyfish Bell
Start near the top of your paper and draw a big rounded shape, like an upside-down bowl that is a little tilted. Make the top round and smooth, and the bottom edge slightly curved. This shape is called the bell — it is the jellyfish’s body and head at the same time.
Tip: Leave plenty of space underneath. The tentacles will be long!
Step 2: Add the Middle Tentacles
Under the middle of the bell, draw three long wavy tentacles hanging down. Draw each tentacle with two lines that sit close together and meet in a point at the bottom. Wiggle your lines left and right, like a ribbon moving in the water.
Tip: Make the tentacles different lengths. That makes your jellyfish look like it is floating.
Step 3: Draw the Left Curly Tentacles
Now add two more tentacles on the left side of the bell. Let the outside tentacle bend outward and finish with a small curl at the tip, like a little hook. The inside one can wave down next to the middle tentacles.
Tip: Curly tips make your drawing look playful and full of movement.
Step 4: Draw the Right Curly Tentacles
Do the same thing on the right side. Draw two tentacles, and give the outer one a curly tip that bends out to the right. Now your jellyfish looks balanced, with wiggly tentacles on both sides.
Tip: They don’t need to match perfectly. Real jellyfish tentacles are never exactly the same!
Step 5: Add Spots to the Bell
Draw five small oval spots around the top of the bell, following its round shape. Then add a small curved line on the right side of the bell for a little extra detail. The spots give your jellyfish a fun, bubbly texture.
Step 6: Give Your Jellyfish a Cute Face
This is the most fun part! Draw two big round eyes in the middle of the bell. Inside each eye, draw a large dark pupil and leave two small white circles for the shine. Add a few tiny eyelashes on the outside, a curved eyebrow, round cheeks under each eye and a wide happy smile.
Tip: Big eyes and rosy cheeks are the secret to a cute, kawaii-style drawing.
Step 7: Draw the Sandy Ocean Floor and Starfish
Now let’s give your jellyfish a home. Near the bottom of the paper, draw a bumpy line for the sandy sea bed. Add a few round pebbles, sprinkle tiny dots for sand, and draw a five-pointed starfish on the left. Add small dots on the starfish too.
Step 8: Add Seaweed and Coral
On the left side, draw tall wavy seaweed growing up from the sand. Each leaf is a long wiggly shape with a pointed tip. On the right side, draw coral with short rounded branches, like a little underwater tree.
Tip: Draw the plants behind the jellyfish’s tentacles, so it looks like the jellyfish is swimming in front.
Step 9: Draw Little Fish and Bubbles
Draw two small fish — one on each side of the jellyfish. Give each one an oval body, a triangle tail, a round eye and a few stripes. Then add bubbles floating up: a trail of circles in different sizes on both sides.
Step 10: Finish Your Jellyfish Drawing
Carefully trace over your best pencil lines with a black marker. Wait a moment for the ink to dry, then gently erase the pencil lines underneath. Your cute jellyfish drawing is finished — great job!
How to Color Your Jellyfish
Jellyfish in the ocean come in many colors, so you can be as creative as you like. Here is a palette that looks great:
- Bell: light pink or lavender
- Spots: a darker pink or purple
- Tentacles: purple, pink or light blue
- Cheeks: rosy pink or red
- Fish: orange with white stripes
- Starfish: yellow or orange
- Seaweed and coral: green, and coral pink or red
- Water: a light blue background
Coloring tips:
- Color lightly first, then press harder in the corners and edges to make shadows.
- Leave a small white spot on the top of the bell to make it look shiny, like jelly.
- Markers give bright colors; colored pencils are easier for blending.
Common Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)
- The bell is too small. If the bell is tiny, the face won’t fit. Draw it big — about one-third of your paper’s width.
- Straight, stiff tentacles. Jellyfish tentacles float in water, so they should wiggle. Move your pencil gently left and right as you draw down.
- All tentacles the same length. Make some longer and some shorter so the jellyfish looks natural.
- Tiny eyes. Small eyes make the jellyfish look serious. Big eyes with white shine spots make it cute.
- Pressing too hard with the pencil. Dark pencil lines are hard to erase. Draw lightly first, then go over the final lines with a marker.
- Crowded background. Draw the seaweed and coral at the sides, not in front of the face.
Easy Variations to Try
- Super-easy version for toddlers: Stop after Step 6. A bell, a happy face and a few wiggly lines make a perfect first jellyfish.
- Realistic jellyfish: Make the bell see-through and smooth, without a face. Add long frilly “oral arms” in the middle and many very thin tentacles around the edge. Color it with soft blues and purples and leave lots of white to make it look transparent.
- Kawaii jellyfish: Make the bell rounder, the eyes even bigger and add tiny sparkles around it.
- Glowing jellyfish: Draw on black paper with neon or gel pens, or color the background dark blue so your jellyfish seems to glow.
- Seasonal jellyfish: Give it a witch hat for Halloween, a heart-shaped bell for Valentine’s Day, or a Santa hat for Christmas.
Fun Jellyfish Facts for Kids
- Jellyfish are mostly water. Their bodies are about 95 percent water.
- No brain, no heart, no blood. Instead, jellyfish have a simple nerve net that helps them sense light, smells and touch.
- They are older than dinosaurs. Jellies have floated in the seas for at least 500 million years .
- Some jellyfish glow. Many jellies make their own blue or green light. This is called bioluminescence.
- Some have real eyes. Box jellyfish have complex eyes with lenses.
- The biggest is huge. The lion’s mane jellyfish can be almost 6 feet (1.8 m) wide, with tentacles longer than 49 feet (15 m).
- They are not fish. Jellyfish are invertebrates (animals without a backbone) and are related to corals and sea anemones.
More Ocean Animals to Draw
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you draw a jellyfish easy for kids?
Start with a big rounded bell shape, add wavy tentacles underneath, then draw a cute face with big eyes and a smile. Following simple shapes one step at a time — like the 10 steps above — makes it easy for kids aged 4 and up.
How many tentacles should a jellyfish drawing have?
There is no exact rule. For a cartoon jellyfish, 5 to 8 tentacles look great. In this tutorial we use seven: three in the middle and two curly ones on each side.
How do you draw a realistic jellyfish?
Draw a smooth, see-through bell without a face. Add frilly oral arms hanging from the center and many thin, long tentacles around the edge. Use soft, light colors and leave white areas so it looks transparent.
What colors are jellyfish?
Jellyfish can be clear, white, pink, purple, blue, orange or even red. Some glow blue or green in the dark. For a drawing, pink and purple are the most popular choices.
How do you draw a cute jellyfish face?
Draw two big round eyes with white shine spots, a small curved smile and round blushing cheeks. Big eyes placed low on the bell make any jellyfish look cute.
Can toddlers draw a jellyfish?
Yes! Toddlers can draw a circle for the bell and wiggly lines for tentacles. Use the super-easy version (Steps 1–6) and let them add a face with your help.