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How to Draw a Hornet Nest

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a hornet nest 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: branch and leaf.

Step 1: Branch and leaf
Across the top, draw a thick branch with round ends. From its right, draw a twig up to a leaf.
Tip Leave all the space under the branch for the nest.
Step 2: The top layer
Start on the branch, left of the middle. Bow down, wave 4 bumps along the bottom, back up to it.
Tip A nest is paper wrapped in layers, so we build it top to bottom.
Step 3: A wider layer
Under that, draw a wider layer: start on its left side, bow down, 5 bumps along, up the right side.
Tip Each layer peeks out from under the one above, like frills on a skirt.
Step 4: The widest layer
Under that, draw a third layer the same way, the widest of all, with 5 bumps along its bottom.
Step 5: The round bottom
Under the widest layer, start on its left side. Curve down to a round bottom and up the right side.
Step 6: The door hole
Near the bottom of the nest, draw a round hole for the door, a little bigger than a fingertip.
Step 7: A hornet
Up to the left, draw a hornet: a long pointed body, a round head, 3 stripes and an oval wing.
Step 8: Another hornet
To the right of the nest, low down, draw a slightly smaller hornet, facing the other way.
Step 9: Dotted flight paths
Behind each hornet, draw a curving trail of 3 little dots to show where it has flown.
Step 10: Stone and sand layers
Go over your lines, then colour the top and widest layers light stone grey. Colour the other 2 pale sand.
Tip 2 colours taking turns make the paper layers easy to see.
Step 11: Yellow hornets, dark hole
Colour the hornets' bodies yellow, then the hole and their heads slate grey. Leave the wings white.
Step 12: Brown branch, green leaf
Colour the branch brown and the little leaf green. Your hornet nest is done!