Step-by-Step Gorilla Drawing
Step 1: Draw the Head Outline
Draw a tall oval that is slightly narrower at the bottom, like an upside-down egg. Instead of a smooth line, use short, jagged strokes all around the edge. These little points make the head look furry right from the start.
Tip: Leave plenty of space below the head. The body will be about three times taller than the head.
Step 2: Add the Ears
On each side of the head, a little above the middle, draw a small “C” shape for the ears. Add a short curved line inside each ear for detail. Gorilla ears are small and sit close to the head, so don’t make them too big.
Step 3: Draw the Face Shape
Inside the head, draw the bare skin area of the face. Start near the top, curve the line down both sides with a slight inward bend at the cheeks, and round it off at the chin. This shape is wider at the top (for the brow) and at the bottom (for the mouth).
Step 4: Draw the Eyes and Brow Ridge
Draw two small almond-shaped eyes in the upper part of the face and color the pupils dark. Right above them, draw a heavy, angled brow ridge with a few short wrinkle lines. Add a few curved lines under the eyes too.
Tip: Small, deep-set eyes under a low brow give the gorilla its strong, serious expression. Big round eyes will make it look cartoonish.
Step 5: Draw the Nose
Below the eyes, draw a wide, flat nose shaped a bit like a rounded heart. Add two large nostrils at the bottom. Draw a few short lines between the eyes and nose to show the bridge of the nose.
Step 6: Draw the Mouth
Under the nose, draw a long, wavy line across the face for the mouth. Add a second curved line below it for the thick lower lip. The face is now complete.
Step 7: Draw the Left Arm
Starting from the side of the head, draw the broad shoulder and then a long, thick arm going straight down. Make the arm wider at the shoulder and forearm, and use jagged lines on the outside edge for fur. Stop near the bottom of your page where the hand will rest.
Step 8: Draw the Right Arm
Draw the right arm the same way, as a mirror image of the left one. Both hands should end at about the same height. Now you can already see the gorilla’s powerful upper body.
Step 9: Draw the Chest and Belly
Between the arms, draw two curved lines under the chin for the chest muscles. Below them, add a few short, curved lines for the belly. Keep these lines light and simple; they only suggest the muscles.
Step 10: Draw the Back Legs
Because the gorilla is sitting, its back legs are bent and peek out behind the arms. On each side, draw a large rounded shape that starts at the side of the arm and curves out and down toward the ground.
Step 11: Draw the Feet and Toes
At the bottom of each back leg, draw a wide foot with short, rounded toes. You can also add one or two small fur lines on the belly.
Step 12: Draw the Hands and Knuckles
At the bottom of each arm, draw the curled fingers resting on the ground. Use a row of small rounded shapes with tiny fingernails. Add a few curved fur lines on the lower belly and legs.
Step 13: Draw the Grass and Ground
Draw a simple ground line under the gorilla. Add a few tufts of pointed grass on both sides, along with some short dashes on the ground.
Step 14: Your Gorilla Is Complete
Look over your drawing and erase any extra sketch lines. If you like, trace the final lines with a black pen. Your gorilla is now finished! You can stop here, or keep going to place your gorilla in the jungle.
Step 15: Add Bushes and Rocks
Behind the gorilla on both sides, draw bumpy, cloud-like shapes for bushes. Add a few large pointed leaves sticking out of them, and some rounded rocks near the ground.
Tip: Always draw background objects behind the gorilla. Stop your lines where they touch its outline.
Step 16: Draw a Jungle Tree
On one side, draw a thick tree trunk with a few branches. Across the top of the page, draw a wavy, bumpy line for the leafy canopy. Add some lines on the trunk for bark texture.
Step 17: Final Drawing
Go over the whole drawing, clean up any leftover sketch lines, and darken the outlines. Your gorilla in the jungle is complete and ready to color.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Arms too short. This is the most common mistake. The arms should reach all the way to the ground.
- Head too round. A gorilla’s head is tall and slightly pointed at the top, not a perfect circle.
- Eyes too big. Large, round eyes make the gorilla look like a cartoon monkey. Keep them small and tucked under the brow.
- Smooth outlines everywhere. Use jagged, short strokes on the outer edges to show fur, but keep the face smooth.
- Pressing too hard at the start. Dark sketch lines are hard to erase. Sketch lightly and darken only at the end.
- Background lines crossing the gorilla. Bushes and trees should stop at the gorilla’s outline so it stays in front.
How to Color Your Gorilla
- Fur: Color the body and head with black or very dark gray. Layer brown lightly on top for warmth.
- Face, hands and feet: Use a slightly lighter dark gray so the features stand out from the fur.
- Chest: Use a medium gray to show the bare chest area.
- Silverback detail: If you want a silverback, add light gray on the shoulders and back.
- Background: Use different greens for the leaves and bushes, brown for the tree trunk, and gray for the rocks.
Tip: Leave a small white spot in each eye. It makes the gorilla look alive.
FAQ
Is a gorilla hard to draw?
Not when you break it into simple shapes. If you can draw an oval and a few curved lines, you can draw a gorilla. Following the red lines in each step makes it much easier.
How long does it take to draw a gorilla?
About 20 minutes for the gorilla alone (steps 1–14) and 30–40 minutes with the jungle background and coloring.
How do I make my gorilla look more realistic?
Keep the eyes small and deep-set, make the arms long and thick, and use short, jagged lines for fur. Adding light shading under the brow, chin and arms also adds depth.
How do you draw gorilla fur?
Instead of a smooth outline, draw short, overlapping strokes that point in the direction the fur grows. Use more strokes on the head, shoulders and arms.
What’s the difference between drawing a gorilla and a monkey?
Gorillas are much bigger and heavier, with a tall head, a short neck, very long arms and no tail. Most monkeys have slimmer bodies and long tails.
What color is a gorilla?
Gorillas are mostly black or very dark gray-brown. Adult males (silverbacks) have a patch of silver-gray fur on their backs.
Can kids follow this tutorial?
Yes. Kids around 8 and up can follow it on their own. Younger kids can stop at step 14 and skip the background.