How to Draw a Koi Fish

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Koi is an ornamental variety of the Carp fish species. Because the Japanese pronunciation of the kanji “love” is the same as “Carp”, the Koi fish has become a symbol of love and friendship in Japan., as well as a popular tattoo motif. Want to draw a koi fish of your very own? We've got you covered with a quick, easy-to-follow tutorial. Grab your pencil and get ready to make a splash on your sketch paper!

1

Start by sketching the head.

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    Inside this shape, draw a circle.
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2

Draw a long, slim oval.

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    Narrow the oval towards the end. This will be the body of the fish.
3

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4

Draw two semicircles on each side of the body.

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    These will become the fins.
5

Outline the shapes.

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    Also, add details on the fins.
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6

Erase the sketch lines.

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7

Color your drawing.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I draw the tail right? It's so hard!
    Community Answer
    If you look at a picture of one and follow that, it might help. If you really need to draw the tail, and you can't make it where the fish is swimming off the page, then you can print a picture and then trace the outline, and then personalize it.
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      Reader Success Stories

      • Millie U.

        Dec 9, 2016

        "It really helped me draw a koi fish, and I enjoyed the step by step instructions."
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