How to Draw a Cow
In this drawing lesson, you’ll learn how be creative and draw a cow! I’ll walk you through each step, from outlining the cow’s distinctive shapes, like the head and body, down all the way through adding color and shading. This lesson is designed for beginners who want a solid foundation while also encouraging you tap into your own artistic flair.
We’ll use a variety of colors, from lively greens for the grass, blues for the sky, and browns for the cow's spots, that will make your drawing beautiful looking. You'll also learn how add depth with shading techniques that bring your cow and the background come to life! So, gather your materials and get ready to do some drawing today.
Estimated Time: 50 minutes
Level: Intermediate
Materials
- Blank Paper
- Pencil
- Crayons or Colored Pencils
Lesson: How to Draw a Cow
Alright, ready to draw a cow that’ll knock your socks off? We’re breaking it down step-by-step, starting with basic shapes and building up to detailed features. I’ll guide you through colors, shading, and even adding a cool grass field background. Scroll down and let’s make this cow happen...
Outline the Head
Begin by making a curved outline of the cow’s head.
Add the Eyes
Add two pointed ovals for the cow’s eyes.
Attach the Muzzle
Outline the muzzle by drawing an oval. Next, add two tiny ovals for the nostrils. Now, draw a curved line for the mouth.
Add the Ears
Add the cows pointed ears at the sides of its head.
Outline the Horns
Outline the cow’s horns on top of its head.
Form the Body
Form the cow’s elongated, wavy body.
Attach the Legs
Form the shape of the cow’s upright legs. Then, add the hooves at the end of its legs. Be sure to erase any overlapping lines.
Draw the Udder
Draw the cow’s udder connected to the base of its body in between its hind legs.
Attach the Tail
Form the thin shape of its tail and attach the tail tuft at the end.
Outline the Cow’s Spots
Draw curved wavy lines on the cow’s head, body and legs to form its spotted pattern.
Draw a Grass Field
Create a field of grass around the cow by drawing curved, pointy lines.
Color the Eyes, Horns, Muzzle and Udder
Color the horns yellow. Now, fill in the eyes black and add a spot or two of white circular shine. Next, shade the muzzle and udder pink. Then, use dark brown to fill in the nostrils.
Shade the Body
Shade the cow’s body with white. Add hints of light gray to create some shadows.
Fill in the Cow’s Spots, Hooves and Tail Tuft
Fill in the spotted pattern on its body, its hooves and tail tuft with dark gray.
Add Shading to the Background
Color the grass green and the sky blue. Use darker shades of green to add some shadows beneath the cow.
Artist & Educator