Drawing fish can be a fun and relaxing activity. It allows people to express their creativity while practicing basic artistic skills. From simple outlines to more detailed designs, fish drawings offer endless possibilities for artists of all levels.
These 27 cute fish drawing ideas provide easy starting points for beginners and experienced artists alike.
We have a nice mix of ideas here. Our selection ranges from cartoonish doodles to more realistic sketches. Some ideas incorporate playful elements like hats or exaggerated features, while others focus on capturing the graceful shapes of different fish species.
With these ideas as inspiration, you can get started with your own unique fish artwork.
Let’s go!
1) Whimsical Goldfish Doodle
A whimsical goldfish doodle is a fun and simple drawing idea. Start with a basic fish shape and add big, expressive eyes. Give the goldfish some playful features like a tiny crown or bow tie.
Use curvy lines to create flowing fins and a swishy tail. Add bubbles or plants around the fish for extra charm. This cute doodle works great for quick sketches or creative breaks.
Related: Easy Cute Doodles to Draw
2) Simple Betta Fish Sketch
Betta fish make great subjects for simple sketches. Their flowing fins and vibrant colors are eye-catching.
Start by drawing the oval body shape. Add the distinctive long, flowing tail fin. Sketch the other fins – dorsal, pelvic, and anal.
Give the betta its characteristic angry-looking face with a small eye and mouth. Add some scales and fin details for texture.
3) Koi Fish With Patterns
Koi fish drawings can showcase beautiful patterns on their scales. Artists often use swirls, dots, or geometric shapes to create eye-catching designs.
These patterns can be inspired by real koi fish markings or imagined for artistic effect. Colors like orange, white, black, and red work well for koi patterns.
Simple line work or shading can add depth to the patterns. This style of fish drawing allows for lots of creativity and personalization.
4) Tropical Fish Illustration
Tropical fish illustrations bring vibrant colors to paper. Artists can start with simple shapes like ovals or triangles for bodies.
Fins and tails add flair with flowing lines. Bright patterns of stripes, spots, or scales make each fish unique.
Eyes and mouths give personality to these underwater creatures. A few bubbles or coral complete the tropical scene.
5) Cartoon Clownfish
Cartoon clownfish are a popular choice for cute fish drawings. Their bright orange color and white stripes make them eye-catching and fun to draw.
To create a cartoon clownfish, start with a simple oval body shape. Add large, expressive eyes and a small smiling mouth. Don’t forget the white stripes and fins!
6) Basic Angelfish Drawing
Angelfish are great for simple drawings. Start with an oval shape for the body. Add a triangular tail fin at the back.
Draw long, flowing fins on top and bottom. Give your angelfish a small, pointed mouth. Add a large, round eye near the front.
Finish with some stripes or spots for detail. Keep lines smooth and gentle for a cute look.
7) Minimalist Guppy Design
A minimalist guppy drawing captures the fish’s essence with just a few simple lines. Start with a small oval body and add a triangular tail fin.
Use curved lines to suggest flowing fins on top and bottom. Add a large eye near the front of the body.
Keep colors basic – perhaps a single bright hue for the body and clear fins. This pared-down approach highlights the guppy’s graceful form.
8) Cute Seahorse Outline
A cute seahorse outline is a fun and simple drawing idea. It starts with a curved S-shape for the body. The head is a small circle at the top.
Add a curled tail at the bottom. Draw tiny fins on the sides and back. A snout and eye complete the face.
This basic seahorse shape is easy to draw. It can be decorated with patterns or left as a simple outline.
9) Easy Pufferfish Art
Pufferfish make fun and simple subjects for fish art. Their round shape is easy to draw with basic circles and curves.
Start by sketching a large circle for the body. Add spikes all around using short lines or triangles. Draw a small circular eye and curved mouth.
For extra cuteness, give your pufferfish big eyes and a tiny smile. Color it in bright hues like yellow or orange to finish the piece.
10) Butterfly Fish Drawing
Butterfly fish make great subjects for simple, cute fish drawings. Their distinctive shape and patterns are easy to capture with basic lines and shapes.
Start by sketching an oval body and a triangular snout. Add large, round eyes and flowing fins. Draw long, thin pectoral fins that resemble butterfly wings.
Include vertical stripes or spots on the body to mimic the butterfly fish’s unique markings. Add a small mouth and some scales for extra detail.
11) Playful Dolphin Doodle
A simple dolphin doodle can be a fun addition to fish drawings. Start with a curved line for the body. Add a small triangle for the dorsal fin. Draw a rounded snout and a smiling mouth.
Give the dolphin a big, friendly eye. Finish with a tail fin at the end. This cute doodle captures the playful spirit of dolphins in just a few lines.
12) Coral Reef Fish Scene
A coral reef fish scene is a fun and colorful drawing idea. Start by sketching the outline of a coral reef. Add different shapes and sizes of coral structures.
Draw small fish swimming among the coral. Use simple shapes like ovals for fish bodies. Add fins and tails with quick strokes.
Include other sea creatures like starfish or seahorses for variety. Use bright colors to bring the scene to life. Blues, yellows, and pinks work well for tropical fish and coral.
13) Basic Starfish Sketch
A basic starfish sketch starts with a simple star shape. Draw five arms extending from a central point. Make the arms slightly curved for a natural look.
Add rounded tips to each arm. Draw two small circles for eyes near the center. Include small dots along the arms to represent the starfish’s texture.
Color the sketch in shades of orange or pink for a cute finish. This easy drawing can be done by artists of any skill level.
14) Friendly Fish Cartoon
A friendly shark cartoon is a fun drawing idea for kids and adults alike. Artists can start with a simple oval shape for the body. They can add a triangular fin on top and a tail at the back.
The shark’s face is key to making it look friendly. Big, round eyes and a wide smile can give the shark a cute appearance. Small teeth or no teeth at all can make the shark seem less scary.
15) Sweet Parrotfish Image
A sweet parrotfish drawing can bring color to your sketchbook. Start with a rounded body shape. Add large, bright eyes and a beak-like mouth.
Give the parrotfish vibrant scales in blues, greens, and pinks. Draw flowing fins and a fan-like tail. A few bubbles around the fish can add an underwater feel.
16) Soft Pastel Fish Drawing
Soft pastels create beautiful fish drawings with vibrant colors and smooth textures. Artists can blend different shades to capture the shimmering scales and fluid movements of fish.
For a cute fish drawing, start with a simple outline. Then add big, expressive eyes for a whimsical look. Use light pastel strokes to build up color gradually.
17) Dainty Seahorse Portrait
A dainty seahorse portrait makes for a charming fish drawing idea. Start with a curved S-shape for the body. Add a small, horse-like head at the top. Draw tiny fins along the back and sides.
Give your seahorse a delicate, curled tail. Finish with intricate patterns on its body for texture. This cute and simple design is perfect for beginners.
18) Abstract Fish Patterns
Abstract fish patterns offer a fun way to explore creativity with fish shapes. Artists can use geometric forms, swirls, and bold colors to create unique fish designs.
These patterns often feature simplified fish outlines filled with eye-catching shapes. Circles, triangles, and wavy lines can bring the fish to life in an abstract style.
Bright color combinations add extra flair to abstract fish art. Artists might choose contrasting hues or stick to a specific color scheme for a cohesive look.
19) Quirky Blowfish Art
Blowfish make for fun and quirky fish drawings. Start with a round body shape and add spikes all over. Give your blowfish big eyes and puffed-up cheeks for extra character.
Add some bubbles around the blowfish to show it’s underwater. You can make the blowfish any color you like – try bright patterns or spots for a playful look.
20) Miniature Jellyfish
Tiny jellyfish sketches are a fun way to practice drawing sea creatures. Artists can create these small doodles using simple shapes and lines. A basic dome or bell shape forms the jellyfish’s body.
Wispy tentacles can be added with a few quick strokes. Details like spots or patterns make each jellyfish unique. These mini drawings work well in the corners of notebooks or as cute decorations.
21) Colorful Reef Fish
Reef fish drawings offer a chance to explore vibrant colors and unique shapes. Start with a basic fish outline. Add bright hues like yellow, blue, and orange.
Include details like stripes or spots. Draw fins with wavy edges for a realistic look. Add large, expressive eyes to make the fish seem cute and lively.
22) Lovely Fish Pair
Draw two fish swimming side by side. Make their bodies simple oval shapes with triangular tails. Add small round eyes and curved lines for fins.
Use different colors for each fish to show contrast. Draw tiny bubbles around them to suggest movement in water.
This cute pair of fish creates a sweet, harmonious image perfect for beginners to practice.
23) Simple Fish Silhouette
A fish silhouette drawing is a basic outline of a fish’s shape. It captures the essence of a fish without any details inside.
To create one, draw a smooth curved line for the body. Add a triangular tail fin and a few simple fins along the body.
This style works well for minimalist art or as a starting point for more detailed fish drawings.
24) Vertical Fish Tank Scene
Draw a tall, narrow fish tank. Add layers of colorful gravel at the bottom. Sketch some rocks and plants along the sides.
Draw different fish swimming at various heights. Include small bubbles rising to the top. Add a filter or air pump on one side for detail.
25) Friendly Octopus Design
A friendly octopus design adds a fun twist to fish drawings. Start with a round body and add big, friendly eyes. Draw eight curvy tentacles around the body.
Give the octopus a big smile to make it look happy and welcoming. Add some simple details like suction cups on the tentacles for extra charm.
This cute octopus can be a great addition to an underwater scene or stand alone as a cheerful sea creature character.
26) Underwater Bubbles
A cute fish drawing can come to life with the addition of underwater bubbles. Artists can create small circles of different sizes around the fish to represent bubbles.
These bubbles add movement and depth to the scene. They can be drawn with simple outlines or filled in with light colors. Some bubbles can be drawn partially behind the fish for a realistic effect.
27) Fishbowl with Goldfish
A fishbowl with a goldfish is a classic and simple drawing idea. Start by sketching a round bowl shape. Add water lines inside the bowl.
Draw a small, curved goldfish shape in the center. Include fins and a tail. Give the fish an eye and some scales.
Add pebbles at the bottom of the bowl for detail. You can also draw a plant or two for extra flair.
What do you think of these? We’d love to hear if you tried them! Leave a comment to let us know.