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A butterfly with big pink top wings, smaller purple bottom wings, yellow spots, a dark purple body and two feelers.
The finished drawing.

How to draw

How to Draw a Butterfly

  • Starter (level 1 of 5)
  • 8 min
  • 6 steps
  • Ages 3–7 (a guide, not a rule)
Start Drawing Draw on Screen Print

Draw on paper: Paper, Pencil. Optional: Eraser, Bright crayons or markers.

Draw it on the screen

A butterfly has two wings on each side: big ones on top and smaller ones below. Draw the body first, right in the middle, so both sides have room. Then make each wing match the one on the other side, like a mirror.

Rather color it? Print the butterfly coloring page.

Step by step

  • New lines: purple, thick and glowing
  • Lines you already drew: gray
  1. Step 1 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 1 of 6 Draw a long, thin oval down the middle of your paper for the body.
  2. Step 2 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 2 of 6 Draw a small circle on top of the body for the head.
  3. Step 3 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 3 of 6 Draw two feelers on the head, each with a dot at the end.
  4. Step 4 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 4 of 6 Draw a big round wing on each side, near the top of the body.
  5. Step 5 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 5 of 6 Draw a smaller wing on each side, under the big wings.
  6. Step 6 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 6 of 6 Draw a round spot in each wing.
A butterfly with big pink top wings, smaller purple bottom wings, yellow spots, a dark purple body and two feelers.

You did it!

Your drawing does not have to look like this one. Every artist draws a little differently.

Color it on screen Print a practice sheet

Tips for this drawing

Helpful hints

  • Draw one wing, then look at it while you draw the matching wing on the other side.
  • The big wings touch the body near the top. The small wings touch it lower down.

Common mistakes

  • The wings float away from the body. Start and end each wing on the side of the body so it stays attached.
  • The bottom wings are bigger than the top wings. Make the top wings big and the bottom wings smaller.

Make it simpler

Draw the body and just the two big wings, then decorate them with spots.

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