How to Draw Koi Fish: Step-by-Step Guide

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to draw two koi fish swimming next to each other. The idea is simple: we place two heads facing each other, build smooth body shapes, add fins and tails, then finish with koi-style spots and shading so the fish look different and interesting. One koi can be light with dark spots, and the other can be darker with light spots — that contrast makes the drawing look more “alive” even with just pencil. You can find more beginner-friendly drawing ideas on tryartwork, where simple shapes turn into finished artwork step by step.

Materials You’ll Need

• A regular pencil for sketching
• An eraser for cleaning up guide lines
• A black pencil or fineliner for outlining (optional)
• Colored pencils or markers (optional, if you want color)

Step 1: Plan the Two Fish Positions

Start by placing the koi so they feel balanced on the page.

• Mark where the head of the first fish will be.
• A little distance away, mark where the head of the second fish will be.
• Lightly sketch where each body will curve and where the tails should fit, so you don’t run out of space.

Tip: If it’s easier, rotate your paper while drawing curves. It helps keep the body lines smooth.

Step 2: Sketch the Basic Body Shapes

Each koi body is a soft, flowing shape — narrower near the head, wider in the middle, then narrowing again toward the tail.

For each fish:

• Draw a smooth “silhouette” of the body.
• Right after the eye area, make the body slightly slimmer.
• Then widen the body through the middle.
• Narrow it again as you approach the tail base.

Don’t worry if the two fish are not identical — koi look better when they’re slightly different.

Step 3: Add the Eyes

Now place the eyes so the fish look like they’re “alive” and facing properly.

For each fish:

• Draw the eye as a small oval or circle near the front of the head.
• Add a pupil inside and shade it in.
• Leave a tiny highlight if you want the eye to look glossy.

Step 4: Draw the Tails

Koi tails are wide, soft, and a little wavy.

For each fish:

• Sketch the tail fin attached to the narrow end of the body.
• Make it slightly uneven or curved — it should feel like it’s moving in water.
• Add a few fin “bones” (thin lines) spreading outward from the tail base.

Step 5: Add the Fins

Koi have several fins, and adding them makes the fish instantly more realistic.

For each fish:

• Add side fins near the middle of the body (one is usually more visible).
• Add a small fin along the back closer to the tail.
• Inside each fin, draw thin “bone” lines to show structure.
• Keep fins rounded and soft — no sharp angles.

Step 6: Add Koi Spots (The Signature Pattern)

This is the fun part. Koi spots should be organic and random.

• Draw patches in a chaotic, natural order.
• Place a few on the head, some on the body, and maybe one near the tail.
• Avoid making them too even or symmetrical.
• You can always add one extra spot later if the design feels empty.

Step 7: Clean Up the Sketch and Strengthen the Lines

Erase messy guide lines and refine the shapes.

• Outline the body silhouette more confidently.
• Re-draw the fins and tail edges cleaner.
• Make the eyes darker so they stand out.

Step 8: Shade the Two Fish Differently (Cool Contrast Trick)

To make your drawing look more advanced without extra work, give each koi a different value style.

Option A:

• Fish 1: Keep the body lighter and shade the spots darker.
• Fish 2: Shade the body darker and leave the spots lighter (almost white).

For the darker fish:

• Shade with gentle pencil strokes along the body.
• Keep the shading even, but slightly darker near the belly or under fins for depth.

Step 9: Add Small Water Details (Optional)

For a cute finishing touch:

• Draw a few small bubbles around the fish.
• Keep them simple circles, some tiny, some slightly bigger.

Once you feel confident drawing smooth shapes and balanced compositions, you might also enjoy learning how to draw a rocket ship, where clean outlines and simple structure are just as important.

Conclusion

Now you have two koi fish swimming together, with fins, tails, spots, and a clean contrast style that makes them look like a real pair. If you want to level it up, you can color one koi orange/white and the other darker, or add soft water waves behind them.

You can also explore abstract art paintings to see how artists work with flowing shapes and composition in different styles.

With time, simple drawings like this can grow into meaningful artwork, for example creating a custom grandparents painting on canvas that captures special memories and emotion.

Happy drawing, and see you next time!