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How to Draw a Pirate Ship
Draw a pirate ship 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: the hull.
Step 1: The hull
Start at the pointy front tip. Draw a saggy deck, a tall cabin behind, then a banana back to it.
Tip The back is tall and square, the front low and pointy.
Step 2: Mast and yard
From the middle of the deck draw a tall pole up, stopping near the top. Add a short bar across.
Tip The sail hangs from the bar, a third down. Rub out the pole inside.
Step 3: The big sail
From each end of the bar draw a big C bulging out and down. Join the corners with a curve.
Tip The biggest shape, puffed full of wind. Rub out the pole inside.
Step 4: The skull
In the middle of the sail draw a big round skull. Hang a U jaw under it, cheek to cheek.
Tip Now it is a pirate ship!
Step 5: Skull face
Give the skull 2 big black eye holes, a black heart nose and 3 tooth lines hanging into the jaw.
Tip Big round eye holes make the skull look friendly, not scary.
Step 6: Crossbones
Behind the skull draw 2 fat dog bones in an X, corner to corner. Rub them out behind the skull.
Tip Keep the bones inside the sail with a finger of space all round.
Step 7: Crow's nest and flag
Near the pole's top draw a little barrel. From the pole's tip draw a notched flag back to the pole.
Tip The flag blows forward, the same way as the sail.
Step 8: The front pole
From the front tip of the ship, draw a fat pole poking forward and up, back down to the deck.
Tip The pole sits on the deck, so the ship's front line stays whole.
Step 9: Stripe and portholes
Carry the deck line across the cabin. A finger under it, draw a stripe front to back. Add 3 portholes.
Tip The stripe follows the saggy deck curve. Add a round window in the cabin.
Step 10: The sea
Start under the front pole's tip. Draw wave bumps, stopping just past the ship's back. Add a second row.
Tip Rub out the bit of ship hiding under the waves.
Step 11: Cream sail
Go over your lines. Colour the sail cream, leaving the skull and bones white.
Step 12: Blue sea, red band
Colour the sea blue. Colour the band red, leaving the portholes white.
Step 13: Brown ship, black flag
Colour the ship, poles and barrel brown, around the red, leaving the window white. Colour the flag black.
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a pirate ship, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
