How to Draw a Steamboat

Step 1: The waves

Start at the left edge, below the middle. Draw gentle wave bumps right across, stopping at the right edge.

Tip Little hills, not spikes, all the same size. Add a few ripple dashes.

Step 2: The hull

Start on the waves. Sweep up for the round front, slope the deck down right, and stop on the waves.

Tip Never draw the bottom of the boat: it is under the water.

Step 3: Porthole eyes

On the hull draw 2 big round porthole eyes, one porthole apart. Colour a pupil in each, leaving a sparkle.

Step 4: The smile

Start under the left eye. Draw one big wide U smile across, and stop under the right eye.

Step 5: The cabin

Start on the deck left of the middle. Draw a big upside-down U, domed on top, down to the deck.

Tip Almost half as wide as the boat.

Step 6: Funnel and smoke

Start on the roof. Draw a short fat chimney, wider on top, back down to the roof. Add smoke puffs.

Tip Like an upside-down flower pot, with one sagging stripe near the top.

Step 7: Cabin window

In the cabin draw one wide pill window. Draw a line from its top edge down to its bottom edge.

Step 8: Paddle wheel

Draw one BIG circle over the back of the hull, with a hub. Add 8 spokes from hub to rim.

Tip The wheel reaches almost from the deck down to the waves.

Step 9: Paddle boards

At the end of each spoke draw a short flat board across the rim, 8 boards in all.

Step 10: Mast and flag

Draw a small oval on the front deck. From it draw a pole up to funnel height. Add a flag.

Tip The flag points backwards because the ship sails forward.

Step 11: Cream hull, pink cheeks

Colour the hull cream around the eyes and wheel. Add a pink cheek by each eye. Leave the cabin white.

Tip Keep the eyes white.

Step 12: Yellow funnel, sky window

Colour the flag and the funnel below its stripe yellow. Colour the cabin window sky blue.

Step 13: Blue sea, red wheel

Colour the sea blue from the waves down. Colour the funnel stripe and paddle wheel red, leaving the hub white.