Penguins are one of the easiest animals to draw because the whole body is one egg shape. This guide shows how to draw a penguin in six steps, ending with a cozy scarf for a winter look.
The free PDF has a step-by-step sheet, a tracing page, a practice sheet with a grid and a coloring page, so kids can learn it, practice it and color it.
What’s in the PDF
- Step-by-step sheet with 6 numbered steps; new lines are black, earlier lines are grey
- Tracing page with a large penguin in light grey to trace over
- Practice sheet with a small reference and two boxes with a light grid
- Coloring page with the finished penguin in bold outlines
How to draw a penguin step by step
- Draw the body. A big egg shape, a little wider at the bottom.
- Draw the face and belly. Inside the body, a heart-like shape at the top for the face that flows into a long oval belly.
- Add the flippers. A curved flipper on each side of the body.
- Draw the feet. Two small rounded feet at the bottom.
- Add the eyes and beak. Two round eyes with dots and a small triangle beak between them.
- Give it a scarf. A band around the neck with one end hanging down.
If the belly looks off, check that it is the same distance from the edge of the body on both sides.
Trace it first
If drawing freehand feels hard, start with the tracing page. Go over the grey lines with a pencil, pressing lightly, and you will learn the shapes and the order without worrying about mistakes. Then try again on the practice sheet.
Practice on the grid
The practice sheet has a small finished penguin for reference and two boxes with a faint grid. The grid helps with size and spacing: count how many squares tall the penguin is in the reference, then draw it the same way.
Color the finished drawing
Black or dark blue for the body and flippers, white face and belly, orange beak and feet. The scarf can be any color; red and green make it Christmas-ready.
Drawing tips for kids
- Draw the egg shape lightly and adjust it before adding the belly.
- Keep the flippers close to the body so the penguin looks round and cute.
- Add a hat or earmuffs to match the scarf.
- Draw an ice floe or a snowy ground line under the feet.
Download the pages one by one
Prefer a single page? Click a link to open the full-size PNG, then print it or save it. The full PDF with all pages and a cover is in the download box.
- How to draw a penguin: step-by-step sheet (PNG)
- a Penguin tracing page (PNG)
- a Penguin practice sheet with grid (PNG)
- a Penguin coloring page (PNG)
More winter fun: how to draw a snowflake, how to draw a deer and the Winter Wonderland junk journal kit.
FAQ
Can younger kids draw this penguin?
Yes. The body is one big shape, so even four-year-olds can do it, especially after tracing it once on the tracing page.
What paper should I print it on?
Plain US Letter printer paper works. Use cardstock if your child will color with markers or wants to keep the drawing.
Can I use it in my classroom?
Yes. The pages are free for personal and classroom use. Print a copy for every student, and link to this page instead of sharing the PDF file.
