Easy Underwater Coral Reef Scene Drawing Tutorial for Kids

Updated at: 24/05/2025

Dive into a vibrant underwater world and discover the magic of coral reefs! This tutorial is designed for young artists eager to learn how to draw their own stunning underwater scenes, filled with colourful coral and fascinating sea creatures. No prior drawing experience is necessary; we'll guide you through each step with simple shapes and easy-to-follow instructions. Imagine bringing the beauty of the ocean to life on paper – from the swaying kelp forests to the playful dolphins that call the reef home. Creating a captivating coral reef is easier than you think!

Get ready to unleash your creativity and learn how to depict this breathtaking ecosystem. We’ll be focusing on building your drawing step by step, starting with the foundational elements and progressing to adding intricate details. Prepare your pencils, crayons, or markers and let's embark on this fun and educational art adventure together! Let's begin with the first step in our easy, step-by-step process.

Preparation and Safety Guidelines

Tools Needed
  • Gray lead pencil
  • Black permanent marker
  • Colored markers
  • Watercolor paints
  • Paintbrush
  • Water
Safety Guidelines
  • Always have an adult supervise you while using art supplies like crayons, markers, or paints. Some materials can be harmful if ingested.
  • Be careful not to poke your eyes or face with pencils or sharp objects when drawing.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after you finish your drawing and clean up your art supplies.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Sketching the Ocean Floor and Main Fish

    • Start with the ocean floor by drawing a wavy line along the bottom of the page.
    • an egg shape for the body, a half-circle for the tail, and wavy lines for fins.
    Draw the main fish: an egg shape for the body, a half-circle for the tail, and wavy lines for fins.Draw the main fish: an egg shape for the body, a half-circle for the tail, and wavy lines for fins.
    Sketching the Ocean Floor and Main Fish

  2. Adding Fish Details

    • draw the face, eye, and additional wavy lines on the body and tail.
    Add details to the fish: draw the face, eye, and additional wavy lines on the body and tail.
    Adding Fish Details

  3. Sketching Additional Fish

    • a long, skinny shape with a similar tail and fin structure.
    • a different shape, adding variety to the scene.
    Draw a third fish: a different shape, adding variety to the scene.Draw a third fish: a different shape, adding variety to the scene.
    Sketching Additional Fish

  4. Adding Second Fish Details

    • face, eye, and patterns on the body and tail.
    Add details to the second fish: face, eye, and patterns on the body and tail.
    Adding Second Fish Details

  5. Adding Ocean Floor Elements

    • Add shells and starfish to the ocean floor.
    Add shells and starfish to the ocean floor.
    Adding Ocean Floor Elements

  6. Sketching Seaweed

    • wavy lines extending from the ocean floor to the surface.
    Draw seaweed: wavy lines extending from the ocean floor to the surface.
    Sketching Seaweed

  7. Sketching Coral

    • up and around, creating organic shapes.
    Draw coral: up and around, creating organic shapes.
    Sketching Coral

  8. Sketching More Seaweed

    • lines with small leaves and buds.
    Draw a different type of seaweed: lines with small leaves and buds.
    Sketching More Seaweed

  9. Adding Bubbles

    • draw a larger circle and a smaller circle inside.
    Add bubbles: draw a larger circle and a smaller circle inside.
    Adding Bubbles

  10. Inking the Drawing

    • Outline all the drawings with a black marker.
    Outline all the drawings with a black marker.
    Inking the Drawing

  11. Coloring with Markers

    • Color in all drawings using colored markers, filling white spaces and keeping strokes in the same direction.
    Color in all drawings using colored markers, filling white spaces and keeping strokes in the same direction.
    Coloring with Markers

  12. Adding Watercolor Background

    • Add watercolor background using cool colors (blues, greens, purples), keeping the paint watery and away from the marker lines.
    Add watercolor background using cool colors (blues, greens, purples), keeping the paint watery and away from the marker lines.
    Adding Watercolor Background

Read more: Reverse Silhouette Painting: Underwater Scene Masterclass

Tips

  • Pause the video if you need more time.
  • Don't be afraid to go outside the lines while coloring.
  • Use odd numbers of fish for a balanced composition.
  • Practice drawing coral on a separate piece of paper.
  • Be careful with watercolors to avoid smudging marker lines.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Inconsistent Coral Shapes and Sizes

Reason: Corals lack variety and look too uniform, resulting in a boring reef.
Solution: Draw corals in different shapes, sizes, and colors to create a more natural and vibrant reef.

2. Forgetting Background Details

Reason: The reef looks flat and lacks depth; it feels like corals are floating in empty space.
Solution: Add details like sand, seaweed, or other aquatic plants to the background to create depth and a more complete underwater scene.

FAQs

What materials do I need to draw a coral reef?
You'll need paper (white or light-colored works best), pencils (a regular pencil for sketching and a darker one for outlines), crayons, colored pencils, or markers for coloring. Optional: a ruler for straight lines (though freehand is fine!), and an eraser.