How to Draw a Whale

Step 1: Huge round head

Start near the top, left of the middle. Draw a big arc down like a huge ball. Stop below halfway.

Tip The head is biggest. The face is round and blunt, like a bumper.

Step 2: Back

Start at the top of the head. Draw a long line, flat at first, then sloping down to the right.

Tip One smooth hill. Stop a little above the middle, well before the right edge.

Step 3: Chin and smile

From the arc's end draw a short chin. From low on the face, draw a long smile into the cheek.

Tip The smile curls up at the end.

Step 4: Big eye

Above the smile, draw a big round eye. Add a big black dot and a little shine.

Tip Leave the eye white around the dot.

Step 5: Belly

Start at the chin. Draw a deep belly smile, rising up to stop just below the end of the back.

Tip Leave a gap about one eye tall for the tail.

Step 6: Hump fin

Start on the back, well behind the head. Draw a small fin leaning back, down to the back line again.

Tip A whale's fin is small and far back, like a little hump.

Step 7: Belly band

Start where the smile curls up. Draw a long curve along the body, down to the belly near the tail.

Tip The band marks the pale tummy.

Step 8: Tail fins

From the end of the back draw a fin up to a notch. Add another down to the belly.

Tip The 2 fins match and lean back, like a sideways bow tie.

Step 9: Water

Draw wave bumps right across the paper, over the whale's tummy. Rub out the lines under the waves.

Tip The whale sits in the sea, with its back and tail up high.

Step 10: Spout

Start on top of the head. Draw a tall V spout splashing out both ways. Stop on the head.

Tip Add 3 little raindrops, one inside the V and one above each tip.

Step 11: Sky belly, blue sea

Colour the tummy, chin, spout and drops light sky blue. Colour the sea under the waves blue.

Step 12: Colour it blue

Colour the head, back, fin and tail blue, around the sky-blue tummy. Keep the eye white.