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How to Draw an Atom
Draw an atom in 11 easy steps, about 8 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the nucleus.
Step 1: The nucleus
In the very middle of your paper draw a round circle as wide as 3 fingers.
Tip The rings around it will make it look bigger.
Step 2: Two big eyes
In the circle, above the middle, draw 2 big egg eyes an eye apart. Colour a black dot in each.
Step 3: Smile and cheeks
Under the eyes draw a U smile from eye to eye, and a small oval cheek beside each end.
Step 4: First ring
Round the nucleus draw a long thin oval lying flat, much wider than the nucleus, passing behind it.
Tip Like a hula hoop seen from the side.
Step 5: Second ring
Draw the same long thin oval again, tilted so it leans up to the right, crossing the first.
Step 6: Third ring
Draw it once more, tilted the other way, so the 3 rings make a star shape.
Step 7: Three electrons
On each ring draw one little round electron sitting on the line at the ring's far end.
Step 8: Sparkles
Draw 4 sparkle stars round the atom, one near each corner.
Step 9: Pink cheeks, yellow sparkles
Go over your lines, then colour the cheeks pink and the sparkles yellow.
Step 10: Blue electrons
Colour the 3 electrons blue.
Step 11: Red nucleus
Colour the nucleus red around the pink cheeks, leaving the eyes white. Your atom is buzzing!

Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: an atom, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
