How to Draw a Wooden Barrel (Easy Step by Step)
A barrel is a great first object to draw because it is made from just a few simple shapes. You start with a plump barrel shape, then add curved bands and straight lines for the boards. The curves make it look round and solid, even though you are only using a pencil.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a wooden barrel step by step
How to Draw a Wooden Barrel · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The barrel body
Following the light oval, draw a tall barrel shape with a flat, rounded top and a gently curved bottom. The sides bulge out in the middle and curve back in toward the top and bottom.
Step 3: The front of the top
Near the top, draw a curved line that sags a little in the middle. It starts at the left edge of the barrel and ends at the right edge, making the front of the open top.
Step 4: The top metal bands
Below the top, draw two curved lines close together that go from one side of the barrel to the other. They sag a little in the middle, like gentle smiles.
Step 5: The bottom metal bands
Near the bottom, draw two more curved lines close together, just like the top ones. Make them sag the same way so the barrel looks round.
Step 6: Top wooden boards
In the small space between the top opening and the upper bands, draw three short up-and-down lines. Space them evenly, with one in the middle.
Step 7: Middle wooden boards
In the big middle part, draw three long lines from the upper bands down to the lower bands. The middle one is straight, and the two beside it bend out just a little.
Step 8: Bottom wooden boards
Under the lower bands, draw three short lines down to the bottom edge. Place them like the boards at the top so the barrel looks balanced.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your wooden barrel? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a rocket or how to draw a shooting star next.
Tips for drawing a wooden barrel
- Draw the curved bands so they sag a little in the middle, like gentle smiles. This makes the barrel look round instead of flat.
- Make the center board straight and the boards beside it bend slightly outward. A tiny curve gives the barrel its puffy belly.
- Check that the short boards at the top and bottom line up with the long ones in the middle. Even spacing makes the barrel look neat.
Free wooden barrel coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this wooden barrel coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your wooden barrel drawing
Try warm browns for the wood and gray or dark blue for the metal bands. For a fun twist, color the barrel like a pirate's barrel with a bright red stripe around the middle.
Wooden barrel fun fact for kids
Wooden barrels have been used for hundreds of years to carry and store things like water, wine, and fish. The curved sides and metal hoops squeeze the wooden boards tightly together, so a well-made barrel can hold liquid without glue.
Questions about drawing a wooden barrel
What shapes do I need to draw a barrel?
Start with a tall, plump barrel shape for the body. Then add curved lines for the bands and straight lines for the wooden boards.
How do I make my barrel look round?
Curve the bands so they all sag in the same direction, and make the sides bulge in the middle. Curved lines tell the eye the barrel is round.
How do I make my barrel look like real wood?
Color each board a slightly different shade of brown. Using a darker brown along the edges of each board also helps.
