Learn How to Draw an Octopus Step by Step

Understanding Octopus Anatomy for Drawing

Before you start drawing an octopus, it helps to understand the basic structure of this fascinating sea creature. An octopus has a soft, rounded head region called the mantle, which is where most of its organs are located. Below the mantle, the octopus has eight flexible arms covered with suckers that help it grab and manipulate objects. Unlike fish, octopuses have no bones in their body, which makes them extremely flexible and allows artists to draw them in many different poses and positions.

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The head of an octopus contains its brain and large, intelligent eyes that are positioned on either side. These eyes are one of the most distinctive features you'll want to capture in your drawing. The mouth is located at the center, where all eight arms meet. This central point is important to understand because it's where all the arms connect to the body. An adult octopus typically has arms that are roughly as long as or longer than its body, though this varies by species.

When studying octopus anatomy, pay attention to how the arms taper as they extend outward. The arms are thicker near the body and gradually become thinner toward the tips. The suckers are small circular shapes arranged in two rows along the underside of each arm. These suckers vary in size—larger ones are typically found closer to the body, while smaller ones appear toward the arm tips. Understanding this structure will help you draw a more realistic and proportionally accurate octopus.

Another important feature is the texture of the octopus skin. Real octopuses have bumpy, textured skin that helps them blend into their surroundings. However, for beginning drawings, you don't need to include every bump—simple shading and a few texture marks can suggest this quality without overwhelming your drawing. The color of an octopus also changes based on its mood and environment, ranging from reddish-brown to pale white or even blue-gray tones.

Practical Takeaway: Sketch a simple circle for the mantle and eight curved lines extending from it for the arms. Add small circles along each arm to represent sucker placement. This basic framework helps you understand how all the parts connect before adding details.

Gathering Your Drawing Materials and Setting Up Your Workspace

Drawing an octopus doesn't require expensive or specialized materials. You can create an excellent octopus drawing with basic supplies that many people already have at home. Start with drawing paper—regular printer paper works fine for practice, though slightly heavier paper around 80-90 pounds holds up better if you erase and rework areas. Sketch paper pads designed for drawing are inexpensive and provide a good surface for practicing multiple drawings.

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For pencils, a standard set of graphite pencils in varying hardness levels is ideal. A 2H or H pencil works well for light preliminary sketches because these harder pencils don't leave heavy marks. An HB or 2B pencil is good for general drawing and shading. For darker values and shading, a 4B, 6B, or 8B pencil creates richer, darker tones. You don't need to purchase an extensive set—three pencils covering light, medium, and dark values are sufficient for octopus drawing.

Additional materials that are helpful include a kneaded eraser, which is gentle and allows you to lift graphite without damaging paper fibers. A regular pink eraser also works but can be harsher on your paper. A sharpener keeps your pencils pointed for detail work. Blending stumps (also called tortillons) are paper sticks that help you smooth and blend pencil marks, though you can also use tissue, cotton swabs, or even your finger for blending. A ruler or straightedge isn't essential for organic subjects like octopuses, but it's useful for checking proportions.

Set up your workspace with good lighting—natural daylight is ideal, but a desk lamp works well too. Position your light source to the side so it doesn't create glare on your paper. Have water nearby if you're using any wet media, and keep a scrap piece of paper under your hand to prevent smudging as you work. Organize your materials within arm's reach so you're not constantly searching for what you need, which disrupts your focus and flow while drawing.

Practical Takeaway: Start with what you have available: paper, a regular pencil, and an eraser. As you practice and develop your skills, you can gradually invest in additional materials. Most successful octopus drawings come from practice and observation rather than expensive supplies.

Creating the Initial Sketch and Establishing Proportions

Start your octopus drawing by lightly sketching the basic shapes that will form the foundation of your composition. Use very light pencil marks—you'll be erasing these later, so a light touch makes cleanup easier. Begin with a circle or oval for the mantle (the head and body area). This shape should be roughly in the upper-middle portion of your paper, leaving room below for the arms to extend downward.

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From the bottom of your mantle circle, sketch eight curved lines radiating outward to represent the arms. Don't make these arms perfectly identical—varying their angles and lengths creates a more natural, dynamic appearance. Some arms can angle downward and to the sides, while others can curve upward or cross in front of the body. Leave some space between the arms rather than making them all equally spaced, which looks more organic and interesting.

At this stage, focus on overall proportions rather than details. A useful proportion guideline: the combined length of the body and arms should create a balanced composition. If your mantle is about one inch tall, your arms might extend two to three inches from the bottom, though this varies based on artistic choice and the specific species you're drawing. Step back frequently and view your sketch from a distance to check if the proportions look balanced and if the octopus appears to be sitting or positioned naturally.

Consider the placement of the octopus within your paper's boundaries. Centering it directly in the middle can feel static, whereas placing it slightly off-center and angling it creates more visual interest. Some artists use the rule of thirds, which divides the paper into nine equal sections, placing the main subject near the intersection of these lines rather than dead center. This simple compositional choice makes your drawing more dynamic and engaging.

Don't worry about making your sketch perfect at this stage—that's not the goal. You're establishing a roadmap that guides your more detailed work. Many professional artists create rough, sketchy preliminary guides that would look unfinished to observers, but these guides are invaluable for planning the final drawing. Your sketch should answer these questions: Where is the octopus located on the page? What direction is it facing or moving? How long are the arms compared to the body?

Practical Takeaway: Use light pencil pressure and focus on basic shapes and proportions. Create multiple quick sketches on scratch paper before committing to your final composition. This practice takes only five to ten minutes but significantly improves your final drawing quality.

Developing the Mantle and Head Features

Once your basic proportions are established, begin developing the mantle with more defined edges and features. The mantle isn't a perfect circle—it has subtle curves and irregularities. One side might be slightly fuller than the other, and the top might have a gentle pointed area. Refine your circle into a more organic, slightly asymmetrical shape that looks more like an actual octopus rather than a geometric form.

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Add the octopus's most expressive features: the eyes. Position two large, round eyes on either side of the head, roughly in the upper-middle section of the mantle. Octopus eyes are quite large relative to their head size, which gives them an intelligent, engaging appearance. Leave a small white highlight in each eye to create a sense of life and dimension. The pupils can be vertical slits or round pupils depending on the species and the octopus's current emotional state. Real octopuses often have vertical pupils similar to cats, which can make them look more intriguing in drawings.

Between and slightly below the eyes, add the mouth area. Real octopuses have a small parrot-like beak, but for most drawings, suggesting a small opening or slight indent is sufficient unless you're drawing an extreme close-up. Some artists add a simple curved line or small depression to indicate the mouth without showing the beak in detail. The mouth position helps anchor the other features and makes the octopus feel more lifelike and expressive.

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