How to Draw a Butterfly

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Butterflies are beautiful, fascinating insects. Drawing butterflies can be intimidating because of their colorful, complex wings and segmented bodies. Fortunately, drawing a butterfly doesn’t have to be that hard if you break it down into smaller, easier steps. Whether you’re looking to draw a cartoon butterfly or a realistic butterfly, the key is to focus on one part of the butterfly’s body at a time.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Drawing an Easy Cartoon Butterfly

PDF download Download Article
  1. Don’t make it too big since you want to have room for the body and wings. About the size of a nickel or quarter will work. [1]

    Tip: Try tracing something small and round, like a coin, if you want your circle to be perfectly round.

  2. Make each circle about half the size of the head. Draw one eye on the top left half of the head and the other eye on the top right half. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. Make these circles about ¼ the size of the eyes. Draw the circle in the left eyes at the top of the eyes٫ both circles should be facing the opposite way. [3]
  4. When you’re finished, your butterfly will have two big bug eyes that look like they're reflecting light. [4]
  5. Make the line on the left side of the head curve out to the left, and make the line on the right side of the head curve out to the right. Draw each line about 1 ½ times as long as the head is tall. [5]
    • You can make the antennae symmetrical, or you can have one antenna curve down more than the other!
  6. Make the oval about half the width of the head, and center it underneath the head. Draw the oval so it’s about the same height as the head, or slightly taller. [6]
  7. Start the mitten shape at the top of the body on the right side, and end on the bottom of the body on the right side. Make the mitten shape about 3 times the width of the head. [7]
  8. Draw this wing just like you drew the first one, except mirrored. Try to make each wing about the same size. [8]
    • Don’t worry if the wings aren’t completely identical.
  9. Draw a circle in the upper half of each wing and then the lower half of each wing. Make the circles about the same size as the head, with the circles in the lower halves of the wings slightly smaller. [9]
  10. On each side, draw a line coming off near the top, middle, and bottom of the body. Angle the top legs slightly up, and angle the bottom legs slightly down. Make each line about the same length as the width of the eyes. [10]
  11. You can use any colors you want. Choose bright colors, like purple, pink, blue, and green if you want your cartoon butterfly to really pop. Color the body and head using the same color. Then, choose a different color for the wings. Use a third color to fill in the circles on the wings, or use the same color you chose for the body and head. [11]
    • Once you’re done coloring your butterfly, you’re finished!
    12. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Sketching a Realistic Butterfly

PDF download Download Article
  1. 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. Make the circle the same width as the body and about ¼ the height. [13]
  3. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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!
    14. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I make the second wing like the first?
    Caroline Delgado
    Community Answer
    Try to draw a light line with a ruler. Be careful, though, the pencil will only erase what it can. Anyway, sketch a line lightly in the middle of the butterfly. Once you have done that, try your best to just look at the other side, and again, sketch lightly because you are not sure if you can do the other side right in just one try. So when you finish the other side of the butterfly, see if you got it right. If you didn't get it right, erase your errors, and keep sketching until you get the other side right. If you get it right, however, use the pencil or a fine black marker and outline the lines of the butterfly. And in my opinion, I think that strategy is the simplest one. Another way is to use tracing paper or other thin paper, put it over your butterfly and trace the first wing. Cut that out, line it up on the other side, and trace it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 13 Helpful 41
  • Question
    How can I draw a butterfly with pointed wings and stripes?
    Community Answer
    After you've drawn the wings (step four), extend the top right and left corners into points. Follow the same steps on the bottom corners. Once you've decided whether you want vertical or horizontal stripes, grab a ruler. Very lightly draw lines, vertical or horizontal, spaced evenly apart. Step back for a moment, if the lightly drawn lines look good, fill them in more heavily.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 34
  • Question
    How I can draw a butterfly without a body?
    Community Answer
    Just draw a thick line where the body would be and then extend the wings out from there.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 25 Helpful 29
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Reader Videos

      Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • I like to place my drawing against a window to trace it during the day and get a clean copy. Using tape to secure it with a blank sheet on top works well for me. Outlining in black ink first allows me to then flip, refine, or make a symmetrical drawing by matching the halves. For this method, tracing paper works best in my experience.
      • Erasing any initial sketch lines once I finalize my drawing helps clean it up nicely. I'm never afraid of using bright colors since they make butterflies seem to pop off the page so vibrantly to me. Vivid hues bring excitement and life.
      • Consider loosely referencing a particular species if you want something recognizable. Whether monarchs, swallowtails, or another, incorporate a few distinct traits. But feel free to imaginatively alter reality too!
      • Use a ruler to measure wing alignment if struggling with symmetry. Mark equal distances from the body first. Then sketch freehand, checking proportions against your marks.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Draw a Fish
      How to
      Draw an Elephant
      How to
      Draw a Dragon
      How to
      Make a Cartoon or Realistic Fox Drawing
      How to
      Draw Animals
      How to
      Draw Dinosaurs
      How to
      Draw a Zebra
      How to
      Draw a Dragon Head
      How to
      Draw a Bunny Step by Step: Easy and Realistic Methods
      How to
      Draw a Horse
      How to
      Draw the Parts of a Butterfly Life Cycle
      How to
      Draw a Spider
      3 Easy Ways to Sketch a Frog
      How to
      Draw Zebra Stripes
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=48
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=58
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=68
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=76
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=81
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=111
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=123
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=151
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=173
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=210
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxtH-OkFxU&feature=youtu.be&t=230
      3. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html
      4. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html
      5. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html
      6. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html
      7. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=1
      8. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=1
      9. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=1
      10. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=1
      11. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=2
      12. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=2
      13. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=2
      14. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=2
      15. ↑ https://how2drawanimals.com/8-animals/55-draw-butterfly.html?start=2

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      One way to draw a butterfly is by starting with a small circle for the head, with two small ovals on either side for the eyes. Then, draw 2 long lines extended from the head with very small ovals at the end for the antennae. On the other side of the head, draw an oval extending from the back of the head, with another, elongated oval attached to the back of it. On each side of the body, draw two large triangles with rounded sides and edges for the wings that attach to the body. To finish the butterfly, fill in the wings with designs and add color. If you want to learn how to start your drawing with the butterfly's body, keep reading the article!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 780,287 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Rosa Lansard

        Oct 12, 2017

        "Since I was 10 years old I've been drawing a butterflies. Today I am 50 years old, and this is the passion of ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement