How to Draw an Ant

Here is a step by step tutorial for learning how to draw an ant. 

Learning how to draw using basic shapes is a fast way to learn. It also is the key to learning how to draw anything.

It doesn’t matter what the object is, all objects are made of basic shapes. And we’ve broken down the steps for how to draw this cute little ant for you. Take a look at the supplies you’ll need listed below.

Drawing Materials for Learning How to Draw an Ant:

• Pencil
• Eraser
• Sheet of paper
• Pencil sharpener

A white eraser is ideal for erasing marks because it won’t leave a red mark or streaks like pink erasers tend to, but both will work!

Also, I like to have several sheets of paper in case I want to start over.

Another fun insect to draw is a mosquito. You may want to check that tutorial out, as well as these color by number pages with an ant and other bugs.

Do you love learning about ants? Take a look at our fun facts about ants below the tutorial!

Here is another fun insect drawing tutorial you might enjoy –how to draw a wasp, a cute bumblebee and a butterfly. You may also want to check out this easy frog!

How to Draw an Ant: Step by Step

There are 8 easy steps to drawing an ant. You’ll start with the head and work your way through the various parts of the ant.

Then end with filling in the details and coloring it if you want.

Step 1. Draw The Ant’s Head

The first step is to draw the head. The head isn’t exactly a large circle, it’s more of an oval shape.

You’ll notice that it’s rounder on the left side, and flatter on the bottom right side.

So the oval shape is on a slight angle, diagonally.

Step 2. Draw The First Part of the Thorax 

The middle section of the ant includes the thorax and the abdomen, but you’ll start with the first section of the ant’s thorax.

Make another small oval shape just like the larger one in the previous step.

This will be at the same angle, but quite a bit smaller.

It will be attached to the flattened side of the head.

Now erase the line where the bottom circles overlap.

Step 3. Make the Second Section of the Thorax

This step is just like the previous one, draw another small oval just slightly smaller than the one you just drew.

Again connect it at the flat part.

Step 4. How to Draw an Ant Abdomen

Now draw the abdomen of the ant. Its shape is much like an egg, but with a pointy tip at the back end.

It connects to the thorax on the rounder side.

Step 5. Create the Front Legs

For this next step, you’ll make the front legs of the ant. Start with the front leg.

The top part of the leg is a long oval and attaches to the middle of the top thorax.

The bottom part is a similar oval, but with another oval connected and pointing out to the right.

Erase the lines where the ovals overlap.

Repeat for the opposite leg and erase where the top of the leg connects to the thorax.

Step 6. Draw the Ant’s Hind Legs

The hind legs are just more long ovals attached to each other.

Start at the middle thorax and make a small narrow oval at an upward diagonal angle. Stop at halfway past the thorax.

Then connect another vertical long oval to that, stopping halfway down the abdomen. 

Finally, add one more long oval attached to the bottom, with a small oval that narrows at the back (pointing toward the back of the body).

Repeat on the other side, but only from the visible areas.

Step 7. How to Draw an Ant Mandible, Eyes and Antennae

First, fill in the details at the abdomen. Make a curved line for each section of the abdomen, spaced equally apart.

The ant mandibles are jaws. These are ovals with L-shaped curves facing inward.

To draw the ant antennae, start them at the far outsides of the head in an L-shape. This curves around and meets back at the side of the head.

The final part of this step is to create the Ant’s eyes, Make two ovals.

Step 8. Detail the Eyes and Color the Ant

The last step is to add details to the ant’s eyes and to color your ant drawing if you’d like!

Make a large circle shape inside the oval of the ant’s eye to show the iris.

And then inside of that make a small circle to make the pupil.

Coloring in the iris will make the eye really stand out!

Looking for a fun outdoor activity? Here’s a nature backyard scavenger hunt –with free printables!

Interesting facts about ants:

• Ants are very social insects that live in large colonies. The different ants in the colonies have different jobs.
• For instance, usually, younger ants will stay inside the colony to protect the nest queen ant and take care of the eggs.
  Did you know that ants are among the world’s strongest creatures?
• It’s true, an ant can  lift up to 20 times its own body weight.
• There are approximately 12,000 species of ants!
• Ants don’t have ears, but they can feel vibrations through the ground.
• Ants are as old as dinosaurs!

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