Learn how to draw a camel step by step in this easy and fun tutorial. Follow 9 clear drawing stages, plus fun facts, tools you’ll need, and artistic tips for sketching the perfect desert traveler.

How to Draw a Camel: Step-by-Step Guide to Sketching the Ship of the Desert

Camels are nature’s ultimate survivalists—tall, sturdy, and famously unbothered by blazing sun or endless dunes. Whether you’re fascinated by their quirky charm or just want to master the art of drawing exotic animals, this tutorial will walk you through how to draw a camel in just nine clear and easy steps. By the end, you’ll have a complete desert-ready doodle that looks like it walked right off the sands of the Sahara.

A Brief History of the Camel (and Why It’s Worth Drawing)

Camels have been trotting across deserts for thousands of years, long before the invention of sketchbooks. Domesticated over 3,000 years ago, these animals were once the pickup trucks of ancient civilizations—hauling goods, carrying people, and casually storing fat in their humps for long journeys.

There are two main types of camels: the Dromedary, which has one hump and is most common in the Middle East and Africa, and the Bactrian, which sports two humps and hails from Central Asia. In this tutorial, we’ll be drawing the two-hump version—because who doesn’t love bonus humps?

Fun Camel Facts to Keep You Smiling While You Sketch

A camel can drink up to 40 gallons of water in one go—and still not ask for a bathroom break.
Camels can close their nostrils during sandstorms—talk about nature’s air filter!
They have three eyelids and double rows of eyelashes to keep the sand out. Their eyes are basically wearing goggles all the time.
Despite their grumpy faces, camels are incredibly gentle and intelligent.

What You’ll Need to Draw a Camel

Before you start, gather a few simple tools. You don’t need a desert toolkit—just a few basics:

Pencil (HB or 2B recommended)
Eraser (because even camels deserve second chances)
Fine-tip black pen or marker (for clean outlines)
Paper (sketchpad, printer paper, or whatever you’ve got)
Optional: Colored pencils or markers in shades of brown, beige, and tan

Why Drawing a Camel Is Surprisingly Fun

Drawing a camel isn’t just a technical exercise—it’s a chance to explore exaggerated features, quirky body shapes, and a sense of personality. From their knobby knees to their long, sleepy-looking faces, camels are walking cartoons waiting to happen.

Time needed: 20 minutes

How to Draw a Camel

Draw the Camel’s Head Shape
Start with a small oval for the camel’s head. Then, extend a slightly curved line forward to form the long, rounded muzzle. This creates the base shape of the camel’s recognizable, elongated face. Camels have soft, thoughtful expressions, so keep the lines smooth and natural.
Detail the Head
Now refine the camel’s face by adding its distinctive muzzle shape. From the oval head base, extend a gentle curve downward and forward to create the long snout. At the tip, draw a small rounded nose, and beneath it, sketch a curved line for the smiling mouth—camels always seem to have a slightly amused expression.

Next, add the two eyes, placing them on either side of the head, slightly above the muzzle. Keep them oval-shaped and soft, with a relaxed gaze. Above each eye, draw arched eyebrows—this subtle touch gives the camel its calm, almost wise look.
Outline the Neck
From the base of the head, draw two lines sloping downward and slightly curving to the left—this forms the camel’s long, slender neck.
Draw the Body
With the head and neck in place, it’s time to give your camel its unmistakable body shape. Starting from the base of the neck, draw a wide, arched line upward—this will form the hump, the camel’s built-in desert backpack. Keep the hump rounded and proud, but not too tall.

From the top of the hump, continue the line downward and slightly back to shape the rear of the torso. Then, draw a smooth curved line underneath the hump, moving forward toward the front leg—this will define the belly and chest area.
Detail the Body
In this step, you’ll give your camel more character by drawing its tail and the shaggy fur details.
Start by sketching a small, simple tail at the back, gently curving down with a slight tuft at the end—just like a camel’s real tail. Then, using short, jagged lines, draw shaggy fur accents along the bottom of the neck and chest area. These textured lines should feel natural and uneven, giving the camel a rugged desert look.

This detail brings your camel to life and adds charm to its silhouette.
Draw the Front Legs of the Camel
Now it’s time to give your camel some sturdy support—let’s draw the front legs.
From the bottom of the torso, sketch two long, slightly curved legs that taper down. Make sure the leg in the foreground is more prominent, while the one behind it is slightly overlapped to create a sense of depth. Keep the lines smooth and natural—camels have slim, but powerful legs built for long desert walks.
Draw the Back Legs
Let’s complete the set—add the camel’s back legs.
Just like the front legs, sketch two more long, curved lines for the hind legs. They should start from the back of the body and angle slightly backward. Make the leg in the front a bit more defined to show depth. Don’t forget to keep the hooves rounded and soft at the bottom.
Your camel now stands on four legs—ready for a desert trek!
Draw Hooves
Time to refine those feet—add the hooves.
At the bottom of each leg, draw a clear separation for the camel’s hooves. A small horizontal line or curved edge helps define the hooves and gives your drawing more realism. They should look sturdy—these help camels walk across hot sand with ease!
Color the Drawing
Time to refine those feet—add the hooves.
At the bottom of each leg, draw a clear separation for the camel’s hooves. A small horizontal line or curved edge helps define the hooves and gives your drawing more realism. They should look sturdy—these help camels walk across hot sand with ease!

So there you have it—your very own hump-backed masterpiece. You’ve learned how to draw a camel from head to hoof, step by step, and hopefully had some fun along the way. Whether you drew it for a school project, your sketchbook, or just for a bit of relaxation, you’ve now captured one of nature’s most iconic (and underappreciated) animals.

Camels may be built for desert survival, but on paper, they’re full of personality. With their gentle eyes, shaggy bodies, and double-hump drama, they’re the perfect mix of elegance and awkwardness—just the way we like our art subjects.

Keep Drawing with Us!

If you enjoyed this drawing lesson, don’t stop here! We have plenty more fun, quirky, and original tutorials on HowToDrawEasy.net.

Share your camel drawing on social media and tag us—seriously, we want to see those humps! You can even challenge your friends to draw one and compare results (no two camels are ever quite the same, after