Easy drawing · step by step

How to draw a whale

Meet Tide. In 14 easy steps you’ll draw a whale with long flippers, a bumpy snout and lines along the throat, using a pencil and paper: a big circle and one long curve to start, then the details and soft shading.

14 steps
Beginner
Pencil and paper

Or follow the steps

A finished pencil drawing of a whale with long flippers, a bumpy snout and grooves along its throat — Tide, finished

You’ll need

A pencil (an HB is fine)
Paper
An eraser

Draw a whale, step by step

This step’s lines
Already drawn

Draw everything in pencil: the blue only shows what’s new in each step. Save all 14 steps to Pinterest

STEP 1Guide lines
Head and back guides
Start light: a big circle for the head on the right, and one long curve over the top for the back, sweeping down to the tail on the left.

Draw these lightly: they’re only there to help, and you’ll rub them out in step 10.
STEP 2Guide lines
Belly and flipper guides
A long curve underneath for the belly, and two lines for the flippers: a long one hanging down, and a short one further forward.

Draw these lightly: they’re only there to help, and you’ll rub them out in step 10.
STEP 3Outline
The back and tail
Now the outline: one long line from the top of the head, all along the back, out to the pointed tail.
STEP 4Outline
The head
The long line of the mouth, from under the eye out to the tip of the snout, then back up over the bumpy snout to the top of the head.
STEP 5Outline
The belly
From the tip of the snout, down the chin and all along the belly, back to the tail.
STEP 6Outline
The eye
A curved brow, then a small almond eye with a round pupil and a little glint, and a couple of wrinkles underneath. Just outlines for now.
STEP 7Outline
The flippers
The long flipper hanging down, going slowly round its bumpy edge, then the short one, a curve over the top, and the flat fin on the far side.
STEP 8Outline
Throat grooves
Long lines along the throat, from the chin back to the flipper, following the curve of the belly.
STEP 9Outline
Bumps and blowhole
A small oval for the blowhole, and little bumps along the top of the head.
STEP 10Clean lines
Erase the guides
Rub out the circle and guide lines. Only the whale stays.
STEP 11Clean lines
Go over the outline
Now press harder and go over the outside edge of the whole whale, so it stands out from the lines inside.
STEP 12Shading
Shadow side
The light comes from above. Shade the underside with a soft, even tone. Keep most of the whale white.
STEP 13Shading
Deep shadows
Press a little harder in the deepest places: under the flippers and along the tail.
STEP 14Shading
The darks
Last of all, fill in the pupil, leaving the glint white.

Tips for a better whale

A circle and one long curve
A big circle for the head and one long sweeping curve for the back, down to the tail. Keep them light: they get rubbed out in step 10.
A long line for the mouth
The mouth runs from under the eye right out to the tip of the snout.
Follow the belly
The throat grooves are long lines from the chin back to the flipper, following the curve of the belly.
Little bumps on top
Small bumps along the top of the head and an oval blowhole finish the head.
Shade underneath
The light comes from above: shade the underside softly and keep most of the whale white.

Tide’s world has 7 more drawings

DrawRabbit has 95 narrated drawings in 10 worlds, from axolotls to dragons. You draw each one with a real pencil and paper, and the first drawing in every world is free.

First breath
The song
The big breach
Icebergs

Free to start · iPhone and iPad

Questions

Is this whale easy to draw?

Yes, it’s one of the shortest: 14 steps, starting from one circle and one long curve, so the shape is right before you add any detail.

What do I need?

A pencil, paper and an eraser. Draw the first steps lightly: the guide lines are rubbed out in step 10.

How do I draw a whale’s flippers?

A long flipper hanging down, drawn slowly round its bumpy edge, then a short one further forward, and the flat fin on the far side.

Can kids draw it?

Yes. It’s made for beginners of any age. If reading the steps is hard, the draw-along talks you through each line while it draws.

What is DrawRabbit?

A drawing app for iPhone and iPad: narrated, step-by-step lessons you follow with a real pencil and paper. 95 drawings in 10 worlds, free to start, no account needed.

Made by DrawRabbit, from the app’s own narrated lesson: the step pictures are drawn by the same stroke-by-stroke player. Updated 21 October 2026.