Draw a Butterfly(step-by-step)

Follow these steps to draw a butterfly and use light,smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: 

            Draw a long oval as a guide for the butterfly's body.The oval does not have to be perfect.Its just a guide.

Step 2:

            Draw a small circle on top of the oval as a guide for the head.

Step 3:

            Draw a triangle on the either side of the body as a guide for the top portion of the wings or the forewing.

                  Try to draw both sides similarly so your drawing has symmetry.

Step 4:

             Draw the bottom portion of the wings or hindwings right below the top.The shape is similar to the letter U.Start at the corner of the forewings and end at the bottom of the body.

Step 5:

               Draw a curved line inside the circle for the head.Add a few more lines inside for extra detail.

Step 6:

            Draw two half circles on top of the head for the compound eyes.

Step 7:

            Draw the top part of the head and the antennae as two curved lines on the head.

Step 8:

            Use the oval as a guide to draw the middle segment of the body or thorax.

Step 9:

            Use the lower part of the oval as a guide to draw the bottom of the body or abdomen.

Step 10:    

                Use the initial triangles as guide to draw the forewings. Bend the top part of the forewings for a more organic feel. Draw a series of curves and arcs for the sides of the wings and bend the bottom part a bit.

Step 11:

                Use the U shaped lines as guide to draw the hindwings. Draw a series of way lines along the edges for a more organic feel.

Step 12:

                Draw a series of lines inside the forewings for the veins. 

Whatever you draw on one side, be sure to also  draw it on the other side for a symmetrical look.

Step 13:

                Draw a series of lines inside the hindwings for the veins. Start with a long U shaped vein on each side, then add the remaining veins attached below it.

Step 14:

                You can stop here for a sketchy look or erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines for a cleaner look.

Step 15:

                Add some value throughout your drawing for extra detail. 

This is the basic shape for most butterflies. So, you can add different amounts of value to get the wide varieties of patterns on butterflies. 

You can add spots, dots, stripes or anything else you want when designing your own pattern.

                                            Be Creative!