Do you think drawing a deer is hard? You might think drawing a deer is hard.
But if you follow the step by step pictures below, then it’ll be easy to draw a deer.
With these 11 steps, you’ll be a pro at drawing a deer.
Step 1: Draw deer head
Create a blocky heart shape
Step 2: Draw deer ears
On either side of that blocky heart shape, create a leaf shape, one thinner than the other
Step 3: Start drawing deer body
From the right edge of the heart shape create a curved line going downward, then continue that line horizontally, finally curving downward to outline the top part of the body.
Step 4: Draw deer antlers
Back at the top of the blocky heart shape, we’re going to outline where the antlers come out.
From the middle of the top edges of the heart shape, we’re going to make 2 lines per side.
The first line should be wide and curved, and the second should be straighter and closer to the head.
This is going to guide us in making the antlers later.
Step 5: Start drawing deer legs
Now we’re going to move to the legs.
Much like with the dragon image we’re going to outline the shape of the legs before finishing them off.
From the body line we made earlier take the large curve downward further down in that curve, but leave a little bit extended out for the tail.
Now, remember the unique knee shape of the dragon?
Similar to the deer, create a little bit of a sharp edge and then bring that edge inward.
For the back hind leg make a little line outward from the first dip in of the leg we just made, then bring it straight down!
On the front leg, we’re going to make a long crotchet rest symbol, and finally, a little bit away from that, under where the chin of the head is, we’re going to make a straight line with a little curve outward at the bottom of it.
Step 6: Finish drawing deer body
Let’s finish that body! From the other side of the head we’re going to make a big curve for the neck and chest, then stop with a little space for the front of the leg that will come later.
Behind that leg that is shaped like a rest note, we’re going to make a smaller curved line for the belly!
Step 7: Finish drawing deer legs
Let’s finish those legs.
Create matching lines to the guidelines we made before, but don’t make them too far from the guidelines, deer have thin legs! close off those legs with a hoof by making a straight line where they connect.
Step 8: Add deer tail and finish antlers
Now let’s close off that tail line, that little bit of curve line we left alone earlier from the original body guideline.
Just close that up to the body!
Then let’s go back to the antlers.
Using those lines we made earlier, draw a shape around them in the same shape as the guidelines, using the guidelines as a midline.
Step 9: Draw deer nose
Now where that heart comes together, create a straight line going across, and at the end of it make a very fat keyhole (or up arrow) shape, but make sure it’s very fat and rounded! this is the nose!
Other related topics that will teach you how to draw
- How to Draw Dogs – Easy Step by Step Tutorial for Cute Dogs
- How to Draw Realistic Trees Like a Pro
- How to Draw a Cute Bunny (12 Easy Steps)
- How to Draw a Rose (7 Easy Steps)
- How to Draw a Dragon (Step by Step with Pictures)
Step 10: Erase unneeded antler lines
Erase the midline from the antlers and where the ear overlaps on the right (that ear is covered by the antler!)
Step 11: Finish the deer drawing
Fill in the nose and draw some <> shaped eyes, adding a white dot for the highlights, then make the hoofs filled in as well. There you have it, a deer!
There you go! Your very own deer!
I’d like to thank Carolyn for sharing her process. Be sure to check out her social @ClazDesign if you enjoyed her illustrations. She also has some amazing prints and illustrations available in her shop.
How to Draw a Deer Printable Guide
Step-by-step instructions on how to draw a deer.
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Or tablet and stylus
Tools
- Pencil
- Paper
- Or tablet and stylus
Instructions
- Step 1: Draw deer head. Create a blocky heart shape
- Step 2: Draw deer ears. On either side of that blocky heart shape, create a leaf shape, one thinner than the other.
- Step 3: Start drawing deer body. From the right edge of the heart shape create a curved line going downward, then continue that line horizontally, finally curving downward to outline the top part of the body.
- Step 4: Draw deer antlers. Back at the top of the blocky heart shape, we’re going to outline where the antlers come out.
From the middle of the top edges of the heart shape, we’re going to make 2 lines per side.
The first line should be wide and curved, and the second should be straighter and closer to the head.
This is going to guide us in making the antlers later. - Step 5: Start drawing deer legs. Now we’re going to move to the legs.
Much like with the dragon image we’re going to outline the shape of the legs before finishing them off.
From the body line we made earlier take the large curve downward further down in that curve, but leave a little bit extended out for the tail.
Now, remember the unique knee shape of the dragon?
Similar to the deer, create a little bit of a sharp edge and then bring that edge inward.
For the back hind leg make a little line outward from the first dip in of the leg we just made, then bring it straight down!
On the front leg, we’re going to make a long crotchet rest symbol, and finally, a little bit away from that, under where the chin of the head is, we’re going to make a straight line with a little curve outward at the bottom of it. - Step 6: Finish drawing deer body. Let’s finish that body! From the other side of the head we’re going to make a big curve for the neck and chest, then stop with a little space for the front of the leg that will come later.
Behind that leg that is shaped like a rest note, we’re going to make a smaller curved line for the belly! - Step 7: Finish drawing deer legs. Let’s finish those legs.
Create matching lines to the guidelines we made before, but don’t make them too far from the guidelines, deer have thin legs! close off those legs with a hoof by making a straight line where they connect. - Step 8: Add deer tail and finish antlers. Now let’s close off that tail line, that little bit of curve line we left alone earlier from the original body guideline.
Just close that up to the body!
Then let’s go back to the antlers.
Using those lines we made earlier, draw a shape around them in the same shape as the guidelines, using the guidelines as a midline. - Step 9: Draw deer nose. Now where that heart comes together, create a straight line going across, and at the end of it make a very fat keyhole (or up arrow) shape, but make sure it’s very fat and rounded! this is the nose!
- Step 10: Erase unneeded antler lines. Erase the midline from the antlers and where the ear overlaps on the right (that ear is covered by the antler!)
- Step 11: Finish the deer drawing. Fill in the nose and draw some shaped eyes, adding a white dot for the highlights, then make the hoofs filled in as well. There you have it, a deer!
There you go! Your very own deer!
I’d like to thank Carolyn for sharing her process. Be sure to check out her social @ClazDesign if you enjoyed her illustrations. She also has some amazing prints and illustrations available in her shop.