How to Draw a Santa Maria Ship

Step 1: The water

Below the middle, start near the left edge. Draw a long wavy line across to the right edge.

Tip Keep the bumps small and all the same size.

Step 2: The hull

Start on the waves. Draw a curved bow up, a long deck across, a back down. Stop on the waves.

Tip The deck sags a little in the middle.

Step 3: Two castles

Start on the deck. Draw a low front box and a tall back box. Stop on the deck.

Tip The Santa Maria had a raised castle at each end.

Step 4: 3 masts

Draw 3 tall poles: the tallest up from the middle of the deck, a shorter one from each castle.

Step 5: Big main sail

On the middle mast draw a short crossbar. Hang a big square sail from it, bulging at the sides.

Tip Rub out the mast line inside the sail.

Step 6: Front sail

On the front mast draw a crossbar and a smaller square sail the same way.

Step 7: Triangle sail

Across the back mast draw a long slanted bar, low at the front. Hang a triangle sail under it.

Step 8: Two crosses

In the middle of each square sail draw a fat plus sign cross with square ends.

Tip The red crosses are how you know this ship.

Step 9: Basket and flag

Above the big sail draw a small lookout basket on the mast. At the very top draw a pointed flag.

Step 10: Bowsprit and plank

Add a fat pole poking out of the front castle. From the bow draw a line along to the back.

Step 11: Cream sails

Colour the 3 sails cream, around the crosses.

Step 12: Wooden hull, blue sea

Colour the hull light brown. Colour the sea blue, from the wavy line down to the bottom of the page.

Step 13: Dark brown wood

Colour the 2 castles, the masts, the bars, the basket and the bowsprit dark brown.

Step 14: Red crosses

Colour the 2 crosses and the flag red. Your Santa Maria is ready to sail!