Start with a simple oval for the body
Draw a large oval or egg shape in the center of your page. This is the main body of the piggy bank. Use a pencil so you can erase if needed. The oval should be wider than it is tall—think of it as a sideways egg that will hold coins.
Don't worry about making it perfect. A piggy bank is round and lumpy by nature, so slight wobbles in your line actually make it look more realistic. If you want to check your proportions, you can lightly draw a vertical line down the middle of the oval to help keep both sides balanced.
Key Takeaways
- Start with a large oval for the body and four short legs underneath to create the basic pig shape.
- Add a snout, ears, eyes, and a curly tail to make it recognizable as a pig.
- Draw a slot on top of the body where coins would go into the bank.
- Use shading or color to bring your piggy bank to life and show dimension.
Add four short legs at the bottom
Draw four small cylinders or rectangles below the oval, one at each corner. These are the pig's legs. Make them short and sturdy—they should be about one-quarter the height of the body. Space them evenly so the piggy bank looks stable.
You can make the legs slightly thicker at the bottom to look like little hooves. Pigs have short, thick legs, so don't make them too thin or spindly. If your legs look uneven, erase and redraw until they feel balanced.
Draw a snout on the front
On the front of the oval, draw a smaller circle or oval that sticks out slightly. This is the pig's snout. Make it about one-third the size of the main body. Add two small dots or circles inside the snout for nostrils.
The snout should be positioned in the lower half of the face, not dead center. This gives the piggy bank a more natural, pig-like appearance. You can make the nostrils simple dots or small circles—either way works. The snout is what makes people immediately recognize your drawing as a pig rather than just a round shape.
Add ears, eyes, and a coin slot
Draw two triangular or rounded ears on top of the head, one on each side. Make them small—about the size of your pinky nail on the finished drawing. Add two dots or small circles for eyes above the snout, positioned symmetrically on either side of the face.
On the very top of the oval body, draw a thin rectangular slot. This is where coins go into the bank. Make it about the width of a coin and slightly longer than it is wide. You can make the slot look three-dimensional by drawing a thin shadow line underneath it to show depth and create the illusion of an opening.
Draw a curly tail on the back
On the back or side of the piggy bank, draw a thin curved line that spirals or curls. This is the pig's tail. Pig tails are naturally curly, so make yours loop and twist. You can make it as simple or as detailed as you want—even a simple spiral works well.
The tail should be thin compared to the body and positioned toward the rear. If you want it to stand out more, you can make it thicker or add a little tuft at the end. The curly tail is a recognizable feature that helps viewers understand what they are looking at.
Add shading and details to finish
Once your outline is complete, you can erase any pencil lines that show through. Then add shading to make the piggy bank look three-dimensional. Shade the underside of the body and the shadowed side to show depth. You can use a pencil, colored pencils, markers, or paint depending on what materials you have available.
Add a small shadow under each leg to show where the piggy bank sits on a surface. You can also shade inside the coin slot to make it look like a real opening rather than just a line. If you want to add color, pink is traditional for a pig, but piggy banks come in every color imaginable—use whatever you like or whatever materials you have on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can't draw a perfect oval?
A perfect oval is not necessary. Real piggy banks are lumpy and uneven. Draw your oval freehand, and if one side is slightly bigger than the other, that actually makes it look more natural and less stiff. You can also trace a plate or bowl if you want a guide to work from.
Should I use pen or pencil?
Start with pencil so you can erase mistakes and adjust proportions as you go. Once you are happy with the outline, you can trace over it with pen or marker if you want a cleaner final line. Then erase the pencil underneath to reveal your finished drawing.
How do I make the piggy bank look shiny or realistic?
Add a small white highlight on one side of the body to show where light hits it. Shade the opposite side darker. This contrast makes it look round and three-dimensional. You can also add a thin line of shadow under the coin slot to show it is a real opening.
Can I draw a piggy bank from the side instead of the front?
Yes. From the side, you see one ear, one eye, and the full curve of the body and tail. The snout sticks out to one side. A side view can actually be easier because you do not have to worry about symmetry as much.
What materials work best for coloring a piggy bank drawing?
Colored pencils give you control and blend smoothly. Markers are fast and bright but harder to blend. Watercolor or acrylic paint creates a more finished look but requires more drying time. Pencil shading alone works fine if you do not have color materials available.