How To Draw A Butterfly (with Pictures) - WikiHow

  1. Step 1 Draw a tall, narrow oval near the middle of your page for the butterfly’s body. 1 Draw a tall, narrow oval near the middle of your page for the butterfly’s body. Make the oval small enough that you’ll have room for the wings on either side. If you’re using a standard 8 by 11 inch (20 by 28 cm) sheet of paper, about 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) tall should work.[12]
  2. Step 2 Sketch a small circle on top of the body for the head. 2 Sketch a small circle on top of the body for the head. Make the circle the same width as the body and about ¼ the height.[13]
  3. Step 3 Add an upside-down triangle on each side of the body for the upper half of the wings. 3 Add an upside-down triangle on each side of the body for the upper half of the wings. Start and end each triangle at the top of the body, right where it meets the head. Angle each triangle upward slightly so the top edge of each wing is at an angle. Make each wing about 10 times the width of the body.[14]
    • Try to make the triangles as symmetrical as you can. Use a ruler if you need help making the lines straight and even.
  4. Step 4 Draw a “U” shape underneath each triangle for the lower half of the wings. 4 Draw a “U” shape underneath each triangle for the lower half of the wings. Starting at the bottom corner of one of the triangles, draw a “U” shape that ends at the bottom center of the body. Then, do the same thing on the other side. Make sure each “U” shape is the same size.[15]
  5. Step 5 Sketch an arch across the middle of the head and add small details. 5 Sketch an arch across the middle of the head and add small details. Start near the center of the left side of the head, and draw an arch over to the right side of the head. Then, draw an upside-down arch underneath the first arch you drew on both the left and right sides. Finally, draw a small crescent shape underneath the first arch and in between the 2 upside-down arches.[16]
    • The arches and crescent shape will give the butterfly’s head dimension and make it look more realistic.
  6. Step 6 Draw 2 semicircles above the arch for the butterfly’s eyes. 6 Draw 2 semicircles above the arch for the butterfly’s eyes. Sketch one eye on the left side of the arch, and one eye on the right side. Make the semicircles big enough that the top of each semicircle touches the perimeter of the head.[17]
  7. Step 7 Add 2 curved lines on top of the head for the antennae and connect them at the base. 7 Add 2 curved lines on top of the head for the antennae and connect them at the base. Have the antenna on the left side of the head curve slightly to the left, and have the antenna on the right side of the head curve slightly to the right. Make each antenna about as long as the height of the body, or slightly shorter. Then, draw a small “M” shape between the bottom of each antenna, inside of the circle you drew for the head, to connect them.[18]
    • Try to make the antennae symmetrical.
  8. Step 8 Sketch a “V” shape near the middle of the body to create distinct segments. 8 Sketch a “V” shape near the middle of the body to create distinct segments. Start about ¼ of the way down the body on the left side. Then, draw a “V” shape inside of the body, with the peak of the “V” falling slightly above the center of the body. End the “V” shape about ¼ of the way down the body on the right side.[19]
    • Above the “V” shape is the butterfly’s thorax. Below the “V” shape is its abdomen.
  9. Step 9 Round out the triangles and add more detail to refine the upper half of the wings. 9 Round out the triangles and add more detail to refine the upper half of the wings. Using the upside-down triangles as a guide, either reshape the triangles so the sides are curved and the corners are rounded, or draw new wings over the top of the guidelines (you can always erase the triangles later). Either way, make the top and bottom edge of each upper portion of the wings curved. Then, draw a series of small arcs, about 5 or so, along the outermost edge of each wing. Draw the same number of arcs on each side.[20]
  10. Step 10 Draw a series of arcs along the “U” shapes to refine the lower half of the wings. 10 Draw a series of arcs along the “U” shapes to refine the lower half of the wings. Draw the small arcs over the top of the “U” shapes you drew earlier, starting at the end of each “U” shape and making your way to the opposite end. Draw around 10 arcs on each “U” shape.[21]
  11. Step 11 Add lines to the upper half of the wings for the veins. 11 Add lines to the upper half of the wings for the veins. First, draw a curved line from the body to the outer edge of the wing on each wing, following along with the curvature of the top of the wing. Then, draw a short straight line coming down off of the middle of the curved line you just drew. Angle this line to the left on the left wing and the right on the right wing. Connect the end of each of these angled lines to the body, ending at the same point where you started the first curved line. Finally, draw straight lines running from the bottom of this shape to the outer edge of each wing.[22]
    • Draw the same number of veins on each wing so they look symmetrical.
  12. Step 12 Draw the veins on the lower half of the wings. 12 Draw the veins on the lower half of the wings. First, draw a tall, narrow “U” shape near the top of each lower portion of the wings. Start the “U” shape at the side of the body, and end it about halfway across the top side of each lower wing. Then, draw straight lines extending from the “U” shape to the small arcs on the lower half of the wings. Angle the lines on the outer half of the “U” shape out away from the body, and angle the lines on the inner half in toward the body.[23]
  13. Step 13 Erase any of the leftover guidelines to clean up your drawing. 13 Erase any of the leftover guidelines to clean up your drawing. If you drew over the upside-down triangles and “U” shapes that you initially drew for the wings, erase those shapes now. Otherwise, you can skip this step.[24]
    • Once you're finished erasing any leftover guidelines, you're all done!
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