How to Draw Walrus — Free Practice Sheets

A walrus drawing depends on a few clear shapes: a heavy rounded body, a broad whiskered muzzle, and two long tusks pointing downward. This page explains how to build those parts in order, then how to use trace, grid, frame, and half-completion practice sheets to test the same skill in different ways. Because drawings can vary, you will judge your work by visible features and proportions rather than an exact match.

Build the walrus from large shapes to small details

Start with the body, not the tusks. A walrus reads as bulky and rounded, so draw a large oval that tapers slightly toward the rear. Keep the back curve smooth and low; avoid a narrow waist or a pointed tail end. The head sits at the front as a rounded shape, joined to the body without a long neck.

Next, widen the muzzle area. The muzzle is broad and rounded, with space for a nose, cheek pads, and whisker lines. Place the two tusks so they descend from the muzzle and point downward. They should look long and clearly separated, not short spikes. Add the front flippers under the chest and a rear flipper at the back, then refine the outer contour so the body, head, and flippers connect smoothly.

1. Draw a large rounded oval for the bulky body, tapering toward the rear.
2. Add the head as a rounded shape at the front, with a broad muzzle area.
3. Place two long tusks descending from the muzzle and add whisker and cheek pad lines.
4. Draw the front flippers under the chest and a rear flipper at the back, then outline the body contour.

Use each practice sheet for a different check

On a trace sheet, follow the reference outline first, then try the contour again on blank space. The goal is to notice how the back curve, muzzle width, and tusk length relate to one another. On a grid sheet, copy the drawing onto the blank grid by matching intersections. Use the grid to compare placement, not to force every line into a square.

A bounding frame with a center guide helps you place the silhouette before adding details. Check that the body fills the frame in a balanced way and that the head is not too small. On a half-completed sheet, use the full reference to finish the blank side. Match the visible features and proportions, then compare your drawing with the separate full reference sheet.

1. Trace the reference outline, then practise the contour independently.
2. Copy the reference onto the blank grid using matching grid intersections.
3. Use the bounding frame and center guide to place the silhouette, then add identifying details.
4. Complete the blank right-hand portion using the full reference.

Check the drawing by features, not by exact lines

A correct walrus drawing can take several forms. Check for a bulky rounded body with a smooth back curve, a broad whiskered muzzle with a nose and cheek pads, and two long downward-pointing tusks. Then check the flippers: front flippers under the chest and a rear flipper at the back. If one feature is missing or out of proportion, adjust that part rather than redrawing everything.

Keep the tusks clearly visible against the muzzle and avoid letting them merge with whisker lines. The body should not look like a seal with tusks added; the heavy rounded mass and broad face are what make the walrus recognisable. Use the rubric below to review your sheet after each attempt.

1. Compare tusk length and direction with the reference.
2. Check that the muzzle is broad enough for nose, cheek pads, and whiskers.
3. Confirm the body is bulky and the back curve is smooth.
4. Locate both front flippers and the rear flipper.

A simple worked example

Suppose your task is to trace the reference outline, then practise the contour independently and compare with the separate full reference sheet. Begin with the body oval, add the rounded head and broad muzzle, place the two long downward tusks, add whisker and cheek pad lines, then draw the flippers and refine the contour. Your drawing does not need to match every pixel; it needs to show the same identifying features and sensible proportions.

1. Draw the body oval and taper it toward the rear.
2. Add the head and broad muzzle at the front.
3. Place two long downward tusks and add whisker and cheek pad lines.
4. Add the front flippers under the chest and the rear flipper at the back.
5. Outline the body contour and compare with the full reference sheet.

Check your work

• The body is bulky and rounded, with a smooth back curve and a taper toward the rear.
• The head is rounded and joined to the body without a long neck.
• The muzzle is broad and includes a nose, cheek pads, and whisker lines.
• Two long tusks descend from the muzzle and point downward.
• Front flippers sit under the chest and a rear flipper is visible at the back.
• The outer contour connects the body, head, and flippers smoothly.

Worked example

walrus: Trace the reference outline, then practise the contour independently. Compare with the separate full reference sheet.

Common mistakes

• Drawing short tusks that point sideways or upward. Lengthen both tusks and angle them downward from the broad muzzle, keeping them clearly separated.
• Making the body narrow or seal-like. Widen the main oval and keep the back curve smooth and low so the body looks bulky and rounded.
• Leaving out the whisker and cheek pad area. Add a broad muzzle with a nose, cheek pad lines, and whisker marks before refining the outline.

Questions and answers