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How to Draw Cloud Types
Draw cloud types in 13 easy steps, about 10 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: storm tower.
Step 1: Storm tower
On the right draw a cloud tower. Start high, puff down, flat across, puff up. Stop level with your start.
Tip Leave the top open. This giant storm cloud is called a cumulonimbus.
Step 2: Flat anvil top
From the tower's top left draw a wide flat top, round both ends, and back to the tower's top right.
Tip The top spreads out flat because the cloud has hit the roof of the sky.
Step 3: Puffy cumulus
On the left, halfway up, draw a puffy cloud: a flat bottom line with 3 round bumps over it.
Tip Cumulus clouds look like heaps of cotton wool.
Step 4: Small cumulus
A little higher, nearer the tower, draw a smaller puffy cloud: a flat bottom line with 2 bumps.
Step 5: Flat stratus sheet
Low on the left draw a long flat cloud like a blanket, with 4 low bumps on top.
Tip Stratus is a low grey sheet that covers the sky.
Step 6: Wispy cirrus
At the top left draw 3 thin wavy wisps. Each one is pointed at both ends and flicks up.
Tip Cirrus clouds are the highest of all. They are made of ice.
Step 7: The ground
Start near the left edge. Draw a gently rolling ground line near the bottom. Stop near the right edge.
Step 8: Falling rain
Under the storm tower draw 6 short slanting rain lines, 3 on each side, with a gap in the middle.
Step 9: Lightning bolt
In the gap draw a zigzag lightning bolt, from just under the cloud down to the ground.
Step 10: Light blue sky
Go over your lines. Colour the sky light blue around every cloud. Leave the clouds and the bolt white.
Step 11: Yellow and grey
Colour the lightning bolt yellow. Colour the long flat cloud light grey.
Step 12: Dark storm cloud
Colour the tall storm cloud dark grey, all the way up to its flat top.
Step 13: Green ground
Colour the ground green. The puffy clouds and the thin wisps stay white. Your sky is done!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: cloud types, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
