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How to Draw a Dhow
Draw a dhow in 12 easy steps, about 9 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 waves.
Step 1: The waves
Start at the left edge, below the middle. Draw gentle wave bumps across to the right edge. Add ripples below.
Step 2: The wooden hull
Draw from the waves to a pointy front, along the deck to a tall back, then down to the waves.
Tip The back of a dhow is taller than the front.
Step 3: Porthole eyes and smile
On the hull draw 2 round portholes with a black dot and a shine in each, and a smile below.
Step 4: Back cabin
On the high back draw a low box cabin with a small rounded window.
Step 5: Mast and huge pole
Draw a mast up from the deck. Slant one HUGE pole across it, from the front to the top right.
Tip The slanted pole is longer than the whole boat!
Step 6: The big sail
Start at the pole's bottom. Follow it to the tip, curve down to the cabin, then back to the start.
Step 7: Little sail and flag
On the cabin draw a short mast, little pole and triangle sail. Add a flag to the big pole's tip.
Step 8: The sun
In the top corner draw a circle for the sun, with 8 short rays pointing out all round.
Step 9: Cream sails, pink cheeks
Colour both sails cream, and 2 pink cheeks beside the smile.
Step 10: Sky window, yellow sun
Colour the cabin window sky blue and the sun yellow.
Step 11: Blue sea, red flag
Colour the sea blue from the waves down to the bottom, and the flag red.
Step 12: Brown wood
Go over your lines. Colour the hull, cabin, masts and poles brown, around the window, portholes and cheeks. Sail away!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a dhow, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
