How to Draw a Crab

Co-authored by Renée Plevy

Last Updated: June 17, 2022

Are you a huge fan of sea creatures? Do you love crabs? Crabs are fun, interesting, and simple to draw. Both experienced and new artists can enjoy drawing crabs with this easy step-by-step tutorial. Draw crabs for decorations at a pool party or just for fun. Follow the steps below to learn how.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Drawing a Simple Crab

1
Draw a medium sized oval, long-ways in the center of your paper. Make sure to give yourself plenty of room on the top, bottom, and sides of your oval. This will be the body of the crab.
- You can draw this oval in one continuous stroke or connect two sideways "C" shapes to make this shape.
2
Add the eyes and antenna. Crabs have two small eyes with a tiny antenna coming from each one, like eyebrows. You will want to draw these at the top of your oval in the middle.
- Find the center of your oval and draw two small circles next to each other on the top line. Make sure to space the circles far enough away that you can clearly see both of them. You may also want to color them in completely with your pencil or a black marker.
- Above each circle, add a short line sticking up and out, from the inside of the circle. This means that the two antenna lines should be directly across from each other, with the circle eyes on the outside.
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3
Draw the claws. Drawing the claws of your crab is a three step process. On the top of the oval, toward the edges, add a small oval, tall-ways, to each side. If you have trouble getting these ovals the same size, don't worry, some crabs have one claw that is larger than the other.
- On top of each oval, draw a larger oval tilted diagonally inward toward the eyes. Your top ovals should look like they are almost facing each other while reaching upward.
- Add the pincers on the top of the larger oval. To draw the pincers, hold your pencil at the top of the oval and draw a short curved line reaching upward. End this line with a pointed tip, and take the line back down to the center of the top of the oval.
- From the center of the top of the oval, draw a shorter curved line, curving toward the first (as if to complete a circle), and end that line in a point as well, before taking it back down the the base of the oval.
4
Draw the legs. Your crab can have three legs on each side, all below the claws. Start the first leg directly below the claw. Draw a crescent shape pointing upward, in line with the direction of the claw. Repeat this on the other side.
- Draw another leg directly below the first one. Use a crescent shape to angle this leg upward as well. Repeat on the other side.
- Draw the last leg directly below the second, but this time, angle the present shape downward. Repeat on the other side.
5
Finish your crab. Depending on what you want to do, there are a few ways you can finish your crab. You may wish to color your crab and then cut it out, using it as a party decoration for an underwater theme. You could also add an underwater scene to your paper, drawing a kelp forest or sea otters around your crab. Have fun!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Drawing a Realistic Crab

1
Start with the body. Draw a baseball diamond shape for the shell of the crab. Add the legs by drawing eight lines toward the bottom middle of the baseball diamond and two claw lines toward the top.
2
Create the shape of the crab. Crab shells are rough and pointy around all of their edges. Take your pencil and add ridge detail to the shell of the crab.
3
Draw out the thickness of the claws. Make sure the claws look strong. The claw itself is made up of different shapes.You can create the pincers with crescent shapes on the inside.
- You can also create your claw by starting with a rectangle shape on the edge of the diamond. Add a small circle onto the top of the rectangle and then two crescent shapes facing each other for the pincers.
- Once this is done, start drawing out the shapes of the walking legs, and the very back swimming legs.
4
Make sure all the legs are pointed at the tips. Give the legs and claws the same treatment you gave the body. Make the edges look rough and sharp by adding small bumps and points.
- Give the crab some small eyes on the tip of its head and two short antenna. Erase all the guidelines and shapes that you drew in step one.
- If you want to become better at drawing read about art.
- Practice a lot of sketching.^{[1]
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- Learn from a good teacher to see things from an artistic point of view.^{[2]
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Community Q&A

Question

What colors should I use to make a "blue" crab?

Community Answer

The colors for a blue crab are grey and hints of blue. You would want cool grey and a neutral blue.
Question

Do you have to draw crabs a specific color?

Ash Vee

Community Answer

It depends on the look you are going for. If you are doing a crab that defies reality, then you can do it purple or pink or anything. For a more realistic crab, look up images of crabs and color your crab like the one you admire most.