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How to Draw a Kerala Boat

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw a Kerala boat 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: long hull.

Step 1: Long hull
From a point at the left draw a deck, up into a tall curling neck, and back to the point.
Tip Long and low, with the tall curling back high above the deck.
Step 2: The rim
Start near the front, just under the deck. Draw a second line along under it, stopping where the neck begins.
Step 3: Three round heads
Above the deck draw 3 round heads in a row, a little way apart.
Tip Leave air between each head and the deck for the bodies.
Step 4: Hair and faces
On each head draw a hair cap with a wavy fringe. Add 2 big dark eyes and a U smile.
Tip Colour each eye in, but leave a little white shine near the top.
Step 5: Bodies
Under each head draw a body from the deck up to the chin, round, and back down to the deck.
Step 6: Arms and fists
From each shoulder draw a short arm bending down toward the front. Add a round fist on the deck.
Step 7: Paddles
From each fist draw a straight paddle down over the boat's side, ending in an oval blade.
Step 8: Waves
Start at the left edge. Draw gentle bumps across the boat's bottom and the blades, stopping at the right edge.
Tip Rub out the lines under the waves, so the boat sits in the water.
Step 9: Stripes on the neck
On the tall neck draw 2 short curved stripes, one above the other, like bands on a snake.
Step 10: Peach faces, white shirts
Colour the faces, arms and fists peach. Leave the shirts white.
Step 11: Blue sea, brown paddles
Colour the sea blue from the waves down to the bottom of the paper, and the paddles dark brown.
Step 12: Wood boat, red rim
Colour the boat wood brown and the band under the deck red, around the fists and paddles.
Step 13: Black hair
Colour the 3 caps of hair black. Your snake boat is done!