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How to Draw a Whale (Easy Step-by-Step for Kids)

To draw a whale, start with a big round body that tapers at the back. Add a raised tail with two flukes, an eye and a smile. Finish with a flipper, belly lines and a water spout.

Finished cartoon whale facing right, blue with a light blue striped belly, white eye, pink cheek and a white and light blue spout
The finished whale
Steps
6 easy steps
You need
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Black marker
  • Blue, light blue and pink crayons

Updated

Teaching this to a class?

Show one step at a time on the board and wait for the class before the next. The directed drawing for kids page explains how to run it.

How to draw a whale step by step

  1. A big round body, round at the front on the right and tapering to a point at the back on the left

    Step 1 of 6: Draw a big round body, round at the front on the right and pointed at the back on the left.

  2. A raised tail with two flukes at the back, replacing the pointed end

    Step 2 of 6: Add a raised tail with two flukes. Erase the old pointed end and curve the back up into it.

  3. A round eye with a shine dot and a long smile near the front

    Step 3 of 6: Draw a round eye with a shine dot and a long smile near the front.

  4. A flipper over the bottom edge of the body, with the body line inside it erased, and three curved belly lines

    Step 4 of 6: Add a flipper over the bottom edge and three belly lines. Erase the body line inside the flipper.

  5. A water spout with three drop shapes coming from the top of the head

    Step 5 of 6: Draw a water spout with three drop shapes on top of the head.

  6. The whale colored blue with a light blue striped belly, a white eye, a pink cheek and a white and light blue spout

    Step 6 of 6: Color the whale blue, belly and side drops light blue, cheek pink. Leave the eye and top drop white.

Tips for little artists

  • Tip: Press lightly with the pencil first. Trace the lines you like with the marker, then erase the rest.

  • Tip: Make the front of the body big and round. A round head makes the whale look friendly.

  • Tip: Draw the belly lines so they follow the curve of the bottom of the body.

Make it yours

  • Whale in the waves

    Draw blue wavy lines under the whale and a few bubbles around it.

  • Mom and baby whale

    Draw a second, smaller whale swimming next to the big one.

  • Sleepy whale

    Draw the eye as a closed curved line and add a small moon above it.

Common mistakes and easy fixes

  • It looks like a fish

    Make the body much rounder and add the water spout on top.

  • The tail points down

    Curve the back of the body up so the tail flukes sit high.

  • The spout floats away

    Start the spout right on the top line of the head.

Fun facts about the whale

  • The blue whale is the largest animal that has been proven to have ever existed on Earth. (Source: National Park Service)

  • Blue whale blows, also called spouts, consist of air and water and rise about 30 feet high. (Source: National Park Service)

  • A blue whale's aorta, its main blood vessel, is large enough for a human to crawl through. (Source: National Park Service)

Questions grown-ups ask

How do you draw up a whale?

Draw a big round body that tapers at the back, then a raised tail with two flukes. Add a face, a flipper, belly lines and a water spout.

How to draw a whale easy?

Use one big round shape for the body and curve the back up into the tail. A smile, belly lines and a spout make it a cute whale.

How to draw a whale for kids?

Start with the body, then the tail, the eye and smile, the flipper and belly lines, and the spout. Color it blue with a light blue belly last.

If your whale's spout came out extra big, that's fine. Your whale is saying hello. More easy drawings for kids are on the home page.

Step 1 of 6

A big round body, round at the front on the right and tapering to a point at the back on the left
Draw a big round body, round at the front on the right and pointed at the back on the left.