It is the eight-step easy guide of how to draw a Manta Ray with a pencil on a piece of paper, similar to our fun guide on how to draw a jellyfish. Kids are going to enjoy this easy manta ray drawing tutorial and can become experts within a few steps.
So, squeeze out your 20 to 25 minutes to follow these easy drawing steps for kids and learn how to draw a Manta Ray.
Fun Facts about Manta Rays
Before initiating the guide, kids should learn some amazing facts about Manta Ray. So, let’s explore a few of them.
- Manta Rays are fish that are closely related to sharks.
- They are famous for their large brains and triangular pectoral fins.
- They have unique structures protruding out of their heads known as cephalic lobes. Manta Rays uncoil the lobes to eat the food in the water.
- It has two species; the reef Manta Ray and the giant oceanic Manta Ray. The oceanic species can grow to 23 feet across and weigh 5000 pounds.
- Each Manta Ray’s underside markings are different just like a human’s fingerprints.
- They are completely harmless to humans.
Now, as you know a lot of things about this animal, the drawing journey is going to be interesting — just like it is when learning how to draw a jellyfish.
How to Draw a Manta Ray for Kids?
Before delving into the tutorial, make sure to have all your necessary art supplies and reference pictures, just like we recommend in our how to draw a camel guide. It will make the drawing process easy and smooth.
Materials:
- a piece of paper
- a pencil for the guiding lines and sketching
- an eraser
- a black sharpie or a pen for the outlines
- markers or colored pencils for coloring
- our printable drawing guide (Join my Email List below to get this Tutorial)
Here are my RECOMMENDED Art Supplies!
- Crayola Coloring Set (140 Pieces – Mega Value!)
- 24 Colored Crayon Set
- A4 Printer Paper
- Crayola Coloring Pencils
- HP Home Printer with Instant Ink!
Time needed:
15 minutes.
How to Draw a Manta Ray — Let’s get started!
Step 1 – Draw the Base of The Head
For a realistic Manta ray drawing, we have to create the base of the head in the first step.
To do this, draw a simple horizontal curve line in the center of the page. It will form the top edge of the Manta Ray’s body.
Step 2 – Draw the Top of Manta Ray’s Wings
The Manta Ray’s body is very different from that of other fish. Its pectoral fins are shaped like wings and are crucial for feeding and stabilizing the body. Since they are an important part of the body, completing them will take two to three steps.
So, for sketching the base of the wings, you have to add two gentle curves extending forward on both sides of the already drawn curved line. They are the top edge of the Manta Ray’s Wings.
Step 3 – Complete the Wing Outline
Now, it is time to complete the wing in this How to Draw a Manta Ray in an Easy Way tutorial. To do this, join the extended curved lines.
Draw a crescent-like shape below the base of the head. Start it from the first extended curved line and end it on the second one, joining both of them. Refer to our picture for better understanding.
Step 4 – Draw the Tail
A Manta Ray has a cute tail that can act as a whip when any predator approaches it. But, it doesn’t have any barbs and is nonvenomous.
To draw this tail, sketch a vertical curved line in the center of the base of the head. This curved line should come back with a pointy tip facing the upward direction.
Step 5 – Add the First Wing Details
For a realistic pencil animal drawing, you need to add some details to the Manta Ray’s wings. In this step, we are going to focus on the first wing.
Here, you have to draw a curved line in the wing. That curved line should start from the outer edge of the wing and should stop in the middle of the crescent body.
Step 6 – Add the Second Wing Details
This step is similar to the last one. You have to add some details to the second wing to make it realistic.
For this, add a small curved line starting from the outer edge of the second wing and ending at the center of the body. Make sure there is enough space between the curved lines of both wings, as the mouth will be drawn in between them.
Step 7 – Sketch the Manta Rays Mouth
In this step, we will sketch the mouth of the Manta Ray with a pencil. It will be in between the space we leave between two curved lines.
What you have to do is to draw a slightly tilted horizontal line, joining both curved lines. Draw it at the beginning point of the curved lines as shown in the picture.
Now, draw a small curve, joining the curved lines, underneath the horizontal line. This will make the shape of a tongue.
Step 8 – Add Face Details
In this step of the cute Manta-Ray drawing tutorial, we have to focus on facial details. For this, add two small dark circles above the curved lines. You can add a small white dot in the circles to represent the light area.
At the bottom of the body, underneath the curved lines, draw two to three small curved shapes. It will give a lively and smiley expression to the Manta Ray.
That’s it! Your drawing is complete. You can start celebrating right now if you’d like. However, if you want to make it look more professional and detailed, the next step will guide you further.
Step 9 – Coloring the Pencil Sketch of Manta Ray
Coloring the pencil sketch is the favorite part of a kid’s drawing — especially when working on cute animals like in our how to draw an armadillo tutorial. So, grab your colors and unleash your creativity.
If you want a bit of realistic painting, you can color your Manta Ray as we have done in the picture. But if you want to be creative, you can grab other colors, too.
Pin it now, Draw later!
You can choose a variety of colors to make your drawing fancy. Moreover, you can color the background blue to represent the water.
If you want any inspiration for the background, browse the pictures of Manta Ray or check out other projects like how to draw an armadillo. You will get plenty of ideas from there.
Once you complete your drawing and coloring, you’ll have a wonderful piece for your learn to draw sea animals collection to share with friends and family. Their feedback will help you in improving your sketches. Moreover, keep checking our drawing tutorials, like this fun how to draw a camel guide, to enhance your artistic skills.
Get the FREE Printable Drawing Guide
