Praying Mantis Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas

Every good praying mantis drawing starts the same way: a circle for the head and an oval for the body, refined step by step into a finished piece. Below you'll find a complete step-by-step tutorial you can follow with any pencil and paper, plus easy praying mantis drawing ideas — from quick five-minute doodles to more detailed studies.

Difficulty Easy
Time ~15 min
Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
Starts with a circle for the head and an oval for the body

Praying Mantis drawing — hand-drawn praying mantis illustration with ink lines and soft colors

How to Draw a Praying Mantis Step by Step

Step 1 of 9

Thorax and abdomen guides

Draw a tall light oval in the middle of the page for the thorax, then a longer light oval overlapping its right side for the abdomen.

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Thorax and abdomen guides
Draw a tall light oval in the middle of the page for the thorax, then a longer light oval overlapping its right side for the abdomen.
Body outline
Trace over both guide ovals with one smooth back line on top and belly line on the bottom, blending them into one long body.
Head, eyes, antennae
At the top of the thorax add a small triangular head, two large bulging eyes, and two thin curving antennae above them.
Raised front legs
Draw two bent front legs folded together in front of the chest, angled up and forward like praying hands.
Four back legs
Add four thin bent legs along the bottom of the body, reaching down to the ground below.
Folded wings and leaf
Add two long thin folded wings lying along the top of the abdomen, then a wide pointed leaf beneath the mantis's feet.
Segment and leaf lines
Add a few short segment lines across the abdomen and one vein line down the middle of the leaf.
Ink the mantis
Go over every kept line with dark ink, then erase the light thorax and abdomen guide ovals.
Color the mantis
Fill the body and legs bright green, the wings a slightly darker green, and leave the leaf a fresh green too.

Praying Mantis Drawing Ideas to Try Next

Once the basic praying mantis clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.

A praying mantis peeking around a corner
Half the animal hides behind an edge — you draw the easy half and the composition feels playful.
A praying mantis in its natural habitat
Add two or three environment elements behind your praying mantis — the scene sells the story without needing a full background.
Continuous one-line praying mantis
Draw the whole praying mantis without lifting your pen. Great warm-up, and the wobbles are the style.
A cartoon praying mantis with a tiny accessory
Round everything, shrink the body, add one hat/bow/scarf. Accessories add personality for nearly zero extra difficulty.
A geometric low-poly praying mantis
Build the praying mantis from straight-edged triangles only — a modern design look that secretly teaches structure.
Praying Mantis face close-up portrait
Crop to just the face and make the eyes the star. Big expressive eyes carry the whole piece.
A baby praying mantis next to its parent
Same drawing twice at two sizes with bigger eyes on the little one — instant "aww" with skills you already have.
A sleeping praying mantis curled up
Sleeping poses tuck away the legs and face details — draw one restful curve and let the pose forgive the anatomy.

Tips for Better Praying Mantis Drawings

Compare proportions to something you know: how many heads long is the body? Where do the legs attach? Two measurements taken early save twenty corrections later.
Eyes make or break animal drawings: place them carefully, keep them symmetrical, and always leave a white highlight dot. A perfect body with dead eyes still fails; a wobbly body with living eyes still charms.

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Praying Mantis Drawing FAQ

What is the easiest way to draw a praying mantis?

Start with a circle for the head and an oval for the body, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable praying mantis on their very first try with it.

How long does a praying mantis drawing take?

A simple praying mantis drawing takes about 15 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.

What supplies do I need for praying mantis drawings?

Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.

Can kids draw a praying mantis?

Yes — the praying mantis is one of the friendlier subjects for beginners, and this method was written for first-timers. Kids can follow the same steps; just expect wobblier lines and more charm.