How to Draw a Sheep with a Grid (Free Printable)
Draw this sheep one square at a time: copy each square of the example into the same square of the blank grid. It’s a free printable for ages 5 and up that takes about 30 minutes. The page comes from Kevin Coulston’s book Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals.

- Grid drawing
- Ages 5+
- Grades K–5
- Intermediate
- About 30 min
You’ll need
- Both printed pages (the character and the blank grid)
- Pencil and eraser
- Ruler (optional)
You’ll practice
- Looking closely
- Copying one square at a time
- Proportion and spacing
How to Draw a Sheep and Other Cute Cartoon Animals with Draw by Grid
If you’ve ever searched for fun and approachable drawing activities for kids, chances are you’ve come across the grid method. It’s a classic technique that makes learning to draw easier by helping artists focus on one small square at a time. That’s the idea behind the Draw by Grid series—books that combine simple, structured exercises with imaginative characters. And today, we’re highlighting one of the most popular titles in the collection: Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals.
Whether your child is just getting into drawing or already enjoys sketching, this book offers a guided path toward creative confidence. Plus, we’re sharing a free drawing page from the book—a grid-based activity that shows how to draw a sheep step-by-step.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes this book (and the series as a whole) a great fit for young artists.
What Is Draw by Grid?
The Draw by Grid method is simple but powerful. Each drawing is broken down into a grid of small squares. Kids look at the square-by-square reference on one side and copy what they see into a matching blank grid. This approach helps kids slow down, pay attention to shapes, and feel more in control of their drawing.
Unlike tracing or coloring books, Draw by Grid helps children build their own artwork from scratch—just one piece at a time. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about learning how to observe and translate images to paper in a fun and stress-free way.

Spotlight: Draw by Grid — Cute Cartoon Animals
In Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals, kids will learn how to draw 50 different animal characters in a fun cartoon style. Each one has big eyes, expressive faces, and simple features that are easy to copy using the grid method. Some of the animals include:
- A smiling lion
- A hopping bunny
- A rowdy rhino
- A baby hippo
- A silly octopus
- And yes, a cute cartoon sheep—which you can try for free!
Each character is designed to be both adorable and accessible, so kids won’t feel overwhelmed. Every page includes a reference image on the left, and a matching blank grid on the right, making it easy to focus on one square at a time.
How to Draw: Cute Cartoon Animals
Free Grid Drawing Page: How to Draw a Sheep
To give you a preview of what the book offers, we’ve included a free sample page featuring a sheep character. This step-by-step activity teaches your child how to draw a sheep using the grid method. The sheep is fluffy, cheerful, and simple to recreate—making it a perfect starting point for beginners.
This grid page breaks the sheep into smaller, manageable parts. Kids focus on one box at a time, copying what they see as they build up the full drawing. It’s a calm, screen-free activity that promotes concentration, observation, and hand-eye coordination.
By the time they finish the drawing, they’ll not only have a cute cartoon sheep to show off—they’ll also have a better understanding of how to break down and build up more complex images in the future.
If you’re here specifically looking for tips on how to draw a sheep, this is one of the most accessible ways to learn.
Free Activity Pages "How to Draw a Sheep" (save and print):


Why Kids (and Parents) Love the Draw by Grid Series
The Draw by Grid series isn’t just about copying pictures—it’s about building drawing confidence from the ground up. Here’s why so many kids enjoy these books:
- Clear Structure: The grid gives kids a road map to follow. No guessing where to start or how big to make a line—it’s all laid out.
- Creative Freedom: Once they finish the grid drawing, kids can color their characters, add backgrounds, or even change features to make the art their own.
- Skill Development: This method builds visual-spatial skills, attention to detail, and fine motor coordination.
- No Experience Required: Beginners can dive right in. You don’t need to know how to draw a sheep—or any animal—to enjoy these activities.
What Makes These Books Different
There are lots of art books for kids, but the Draw by Grid series fills a unique space between tracing and freehand drawing. It provides a gentle structure that allows for artistic success, even on the first try.
Unlike other approaches, the grid method encourages focus without feeling overwhelming. Kids don’t have to draw everything at once—they just work square by square, and watch the picture come together like a puzzle.
And while the sheep page is a great place to start, every animal in the book offers the same kind of learning experience. If your child figures out how to draw a sheep, they’ll quickly discover they can also draw a llama, a pig, or even a panda.
Great for a Range of Ages
Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals is ideal for kids around 4–12 years old, but it’s flexible enough for younger or older artists as well. Younger kids can enjoy the simplicity of the designs, while older kids can challenge themselves by adding detail or using the finished drawing as inspiration for their own versions.
This also makes the book a good fit for classrooms, homeschool lessons, or art time at home. If you’re teaching your child how to draw a sheep or any animal, the book works just as well for independent or guided learning.

A Screen-Free Drawing Activity with Real Benefits
With so much of kids’ entertainment happening on screens, it’s important to find off-screen options that still feel fun. That’s why books like Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals are so valuable. They turn learning how to draw a sheep (and dozens of other animals) into a creative hands-on project.
Plus, grid drawing activities promote patience, quiet focus, and spatial awareness. Kids develop real drawing skills without even realizing it.
Wrap-Up: Start with a Sheep, Draw Them All
If you’ve been looking for a fun and beginner-friendly way to teach your child how to draw a sheep, this book is a great starting point. The free sample page offers a complete grid drawing activity that you can try right now. Once your child finishes their sheep, they’ll be ready to tackle the rest of the animals inside the book.
Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals is more than a one-time activity—it’s a full collection of lessons in disguise. Each page helps kids build confidence and skills while enjoying the process. And if they love this one, the Draw by Grid series has more books to explore, covering everything from monsters to mutant animals to fantasy creatures.
So print out the free page, grab a pencil, and let your child discover the joy of drawing—one square at a time. They’ll learn how to draw a sheep today, and who knows what they’ll be drawing next week.
Download the Free Grid Drawing Pages above and Try It Out
You’ll be surprised how simple and satisfying it is to learn how to draw a sheep using the grid method.
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Draw it 3 ways
Every FirstArtBooks theme comes in three formats. Trace it, draw it step by step, or copy it square by square: the more ways kids draw a character, the better they know it.
- How to Draw
How to Draw a ChickenSame theme · Ages 5+See all How to Draw books - Trace Then Color
Goat Coloring PageSame theme · Ages 3+See all Trace Then Color books - Draw by Grid
Copy it square by squareYou’re on this pageSee all Draw by Grid books
Fun facts about the real sheep
- A sheep's wool keeps growing, so farmers shear it every year.
- Sheep remember the faces of other sheep and people.
- Sheep stay together in a group called a flock.
Draw your sheep, then add one of these facts in a speech bubble or on the back of the page.
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw the place this animal lives: a jungle, a farm, a pond or a house.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
Today was the day it finally…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your sheep a name. Where does it live, and what does it love to do? Write two or three sentences.
Print a draw-and-write sheet: a box for the drawing and lines for the story. Primary lines (K–2) · Regular lines (grades 2–5)
Want to make it a whole story? Try the comic story starter or fold a mini-book in Story Studio.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- The head is too small for a cartoon look.
- Cartoon animals are cute because their heads are big. Make the head almost as big as the body.
- The eyes are too far apart.
- Keep the eyes close together near the middle of the face. Leave about one eye’s width between them.
- The legs don’t line up with the body.
- Draw the legs straight down from the bottom of the body, so the animal looks like it’s standing on the ground.
- Losing track of which square you’re on.
- Number the rows and columns on both grids, and put a finger on the example square while you draw.
More in 10 common drawing mistakes kids make.
Talk about it
For the grown-up: ask one or two of these while your child draws. There are no wrong answers.
- Where does this animal live, and what does it eat?
- If this animal could talk, what would its voice sound like?
- Which step was the trickiest? What did you do to get past it?
- What shapes can you find in your drawing?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this grid drawing
What age is this sheep grid drawing for?
Ages 5 and up (about grades K to 5). Kids new to grids can start with just the head, then come back for the rest.
How long does it take?
About 30 minutes. Kids who add their own details or a background often keep going longer.
What supplies do you need?
Both printed pages (the character and the blank grid); pencil and eraser; ruler (optional).
What size does it print?
US Letter (8.5 by 11 inches). Use Print this page or Download PDF above. On A4 paper, choose “Fit to page” in the print settings.
How does grid drawing work?
Copy what you see in one square of the example onto the same square of the blank grid, then move to the next square. Square by square, the whole drawing comes out the right shape.
For teachers: grade, timing and standards
Grades K–5, about 30 minutes. Grid drawing, intermediate level.
National Core Arts Standards (visual arts)
- VA:Re7 Perceive and analyze artistic work: students observe a drawing closely, square by square.
- VA:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: students use the grid method to plan a drawing.
See every lesson by standard, plus the math in grid drawing, on the arts standards map.
Copies: print as many as your class needs. More in the teacher resources, the Animals hub and our no-prep sub plans.
Get the free Animal Drawing Pack
12 printable animal pages to draw, trace and color, sent with your welcome email. After that, Kevin’s newsletter brings new free pages and book news.
Take the idea into a book
Want more characters to draw, trace or color? Explore these related books and see which approach fits your next creative session.

Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Draw by Grid: Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Draw by Grid: Silly Aliens
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 55 free animal drawing lessons and pages →
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