Squirrel Drawing Ideas
Twenty-three squirrel drawings you can copy straight onto paper, from a plain sitting squirrel to a squirrel climbing a tree. Every one is a clean pencil outline drawn by hand, with no shading and no colour. Pick one, keep it next to you, and copy it line by line.
How to draw a squirrel step by step
- Start with a small oval for the head and a slightly bigger oval below it for the body. Keep them close together, since a squirrel has a short neck.
- Add two small rounded ears on top of the head. They sit close together, not far apart like a rabbit’s.
- Draw the face: two round eyes, a small triangle nose, and a soft curved mouth. Squirrel faces are usually drawn friendly and a little round.
- Sketch the front paws close to the chest. In most of these drawings they are either resting on the body or holding something small.
- Add the back legs and feet at the base of the body, planted on the ground if the squirrel is sitting or standing.
- Now draw the tail, which is the part that makes a squirrel look like a squirrel. Start it at the lower back and curve it up and over in one big sweep, drawing it fuller and fluffier than the body.
- Go over your lines once you are happy with the shape, then rub out any extra pencil marks underneath.
- If you want to add a prop, such as a nut, a balloon, or a scarf, draw it last so it does not throw off the proportions of the squirrel itself.
Which squirrel should you start with
If this is your first squirrel
Start with a plain sitting or standing squirrel with no extra props, like the simple outline drawings in this set. Getting the head, body and tail in proportion is the real skill here, and it is easier to learn without anything else to draw.
If you have drawn animals before
Try one of the squirrels holding something, such as a nut, an acorn, or a flower. The pose stays simple, but you get practice drawing paws holding an object, which is a useful skill for other animal drawings too.
If you want a challenge
Pick the climbing squirrel or the running squirrel. Both change the angle of the body and legs, and the tail has to follow the movement instead of just curving up behind a still animal.
What you need
A pencil, an eraser, and plain or lightly lined paper are enough for every drawing in this set. A fine liner or black pen is useful if you want to ink over your pencil lines once you are happy with them. None of these drawings need colour, since they work well as plain line art.
Three things that make a squirrel look like a squirrel
- A tail that is too thin. The tail should be as wide as, or wider than, the body. A thin tail makes the drawing look more like a rat than a squirrel.
- Ears placed too far apart. Squirrel ears sit close together near the top centre of the head, not out to the sides.
- A body that is too long. Squirrels have short, compact bodies. Keep the body oval close to the head instead of stretching it out.
Ways to use these drawings
Print a few pages and use them as a simple colouring activity for kids. Trace them onto card to make quick birthday or thank you cards. Use one as a warm up sketch before starting a bigger drawing project, or copy several of them side by side to practice keeping your line work consistent from one drawing to the next.
Questions people ask
Is it hard to draw a squirrel?
No. A squirrel is one of the easier animals to draw once you get the tail right, since the body is just two ovals and simple round features.
What makes a squirrel drawing look right?
A big, fluffy curved tail, small ears set close together, and a short compact body. Getting these three parts right matters more than fine detail.
Can beginners use these drawings?
Yes. Start with the plain sitting or standing squirrel outlines, since they have no extra props and let you focus on getting the basic shape correct.
Do I need to colour these drawings?
No. Every drawing in this set works as a plain pencil outline. You can leave it as is, ink over it with a pen, or add colour later if you want to.
What paper and pencil should I use?
Plain printer paper and an ordinary HB pencil work fine. An eraser is useful for correcting the tail and ear shapes as you go.
Can I use these for kids' activities?
Yes. They work well as tracing pages, simple colouring sheets, or as a starting outline for a child to add their own details to.
Can I use these squirrel drawings for a school project or card?
Yes, you are welcome to print and use them for personal projects such as school work, greeting cards, or craft activities.
Are these drawings made by hand?
Yes. Each one was drawn in pencil on plain paper and photographed. They are not computer generated or traced from photographs.