Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw an Alligator. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this prehistoric reptile!

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To draw this alligator step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.

Materials You'll Need Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pencils (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)	Kneaded Eraser	Drawing Paper

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Step 1: Draw the Main Body and Head Guidelines

Sketch the basic structural circles and proportions to establish the alligator's body guidelines. Sketch lightly at first so it is easy to erase if you make a mistake.

Proportional Body Circles

• Front Body Guide: Draw a circle for the front part of the body. Make small marks for the height and width, then connect them with curved lines. You can trace a coin, bottle cap, or another circular edge if needed.
• Rear Body Guide: To the left, draw another circle for the back portion of the body. Make this circle slightly smaller, and do not place them too close together since alligators have long bodies.

Head and Jaw Guides

• Head Circle: On the right side, draw a smaller circle for the head, making it about two-thirds the size of the first front body circle. Add a sloping construction line across it.
• Top Jaw Guide: Draw a small rectangular shape on the right side of the head circle. Make it wide at the base and thin at the tip.
• Lower Jaw Guide: Directly below the top rectangular guide, sketch a matching rectangular shape for the lower jaw.

Step 2: Connect the Head and Body, and Add Limbs

Connect your structural circles together and create the orientation of the alligator's legs and tail sections.

Neck, Torso, and Tail Framework

• Neck Lines: Connect the head circle to the front body circle using two short lines. Make sure the bottom line has a distinct curve.
• Torso Outline: Connect the two large body circles together using a pair of curved horizontal lines to finalize the main torso.
• Tail Outline: Draw two sloping lines extending outward to the left side from the rear body circle to outline the visible portion of the tail.

Leg and Joint Guidelines

• Front Legs: Below the neck, draw a short angled line for the first front leg. Under the main body circle, draw a longer angled line that bends a few times to mark the joints of the stepping leg.
• Hind Legs: Under the left body circle, sketch an angled line shaped like a letter Z. Farther left, draw a shorter angled line for the visible section of the other hind leg.

Step 3: Refine the Facial Features

Transition into the final drawing lines by defining the distinct textures and shapes of the alligator's head.

The Eye and Textured Brows

• The Eye: Sketch a small circle for the eye near the top edge of the head guide. Darken the circle, place a short vertical line inside for a slit pupil, and add crease lines below it.
• Armored Brows: Draw a long, angular, wavy line above the eye to construct a rough-textured brow. Draw another wavy line along the top of the initial circle for the brow on the opposite side.

Snout, Jaws, and Teeth Structure

• Top Jaw: Darken the top rectangular guide with curved lines. Extend the mouth line to the left, curving the tip downward until it hits the left edge of the head circle. Sketch interior structural lines.
• Lower Jaw: Darken the lower jaw guide, making it rounder. Add a long wavy line for its top edge that slopes down to the bottom right, then sketch a short curved line for the inside of the mouth and throat.
• The Teeth: Draw a series of small, varied triangular shapes along the interlocking margins of both the upper and lower jaws to populate the rows of teeth.

Step 4: Add Details to the Limbs and Main Silhouette

Flesh out the body shapes around your guidelines, adding realistic contours to the legs and the underbelly skin.

Forelimbs and Toes

• First Front Leg: Outline the front leg around the long joint guide with curved lines, blending the top portion inside the body. Add small, downward-pointing V-shaped lines at the bottom for the toes.
• Second Front Leg: Sketch around the remaining front guide on the right, keeping the tip pointy and adding short lines to delineate individual toes.

Hind Limbs and Torso Edges

• Hind Legs: Sketch around the Z-shaped line to fill out the hind leg. Build a square-like shape for the foot, separate the toes with small triangles, and add curved lines along the joints to represent thick creases. Outline the visible segment of the opposite hind leg on the far left.
• Body Contours: Darken the outer edges of the main torso guidelines. Draw a series of soft, curved lines below the head and neck to simulate sections of loose skin.

Step 5: Add Final Details

Apply the complex patterning of reptile armor and layer your pencil tones to finalize the piece with three-dimensional depth.

The Scale and Spike Grid

• Grid Alignment: Erase your hidden construction guides. Lightly sketch three long horizontal lines across the back, then cross them with vertical lines to construct a grid-like pattern over the back and neck.
• Armored Spikes: Draw a small triangular spike within each grid square on the back. Flatten the shapes into small ovals and square scales as they sit lower toward the belly, tail, and underside.

Tonal Shading and Final Highlights

• Shadow Values: With a light source originating from above, cast heavy shadows along the undersides of the head, jaws, belly, legs, and tail to build dimension.
• Coloration and Dots: Blend a medium value across the upper parts of the body for natural skin coloration, keeping scale tops lighter for highlights. Add tiny dots along the jawlines for sensory spots.
• Ground Texture: Sketch rapid, short lines and scribbles beneath the alligator's feet to create a rough, grassy environment.

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