How to draw a butterfly

Butterflies are the best way to practise symmetry: whatever you draw on the left, you draw again on the right. The guides make that easy.

They are also wonderful for colour — no two species have the same pattern, so there is no wrong answer.

Step-by-step: how to draw a butterfly

1. 

   1Body line and wing guides

   Draw a vertical line for the body, two large circles above for the upper wings and two smaller circles below for the lower wings.

2. 

   2Body, head and antennae

   Draw a long thin oval for the body, a small circle head on top and two curved antennae ending in dots.

3. 

   3Upper wings

   Draw each upper wing as a big rounded shape from the top of the body out over the guide circle and back to the middle.

4. 

   4Lower wings

   Draw two smaller, rounder lower wings underneath, tucked in under the upper ones.

5. 

   5Pattern and erase

   Add matching circles in each wing and a curved line across the upper wings. Whatever you do on one side, copy on the other. Erase the guides.

6. 

   6Colour it

   Bright upper wings, a contrasting colour on the lower wings, yellow spots and a dark body.

Tips for a better butterfly

• Upper wings bigger. They are about one and a half times the size of the lower ones.
• Mirror as you go. Draw one spot on the left, then its twin on the right straight away.
• Use the marker for colour. Its translucent fill lets the pattern lines show through.

Try a variation

Draw it from the side with the wings together, or scatter small butterflies around the flower tutorial.

More things to draw

Level up

• Basic shading
• Colour theory for beginners
• Drawing ideas
• Easy things to draw