How to Draw a Rainbow (Easy Step by Step)
A rainbow is one of the friendliest things to draw, and this one has two smiling clouds holding it up. It is built from a few simple shapes: big arches that get smaller, two puffy clouds, and some dots and curves for the faces.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a rainbow step by step
How to Draw a Rainbow · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The big outer arch
Draw a big upside-down U shape, like a giant bridge. Start low on the left side, curve up over the top, and come down to the same height on the right.
Step 3: Two inner arches
Draw a slightly smaller arch inside the big one, keeping the same distance all the way around. Then draw another arch just inside that one, so you have a stack of rainbow bridges.
Step 4: Two smaller arches
Add two more arches inside the others, each a little smaller. Make the last one the smallest, leaving an open space in the middle.
Step 5: The left cloud
At the bottom left, draw a puffy cloud shape with a flat bottom and a round bumpy top. Let the ends of the arches tuck in behind the top of the cloud.
Step 6: The right cloud
Do the same on the bottom right: draw a puffy cloud with a flat bottom and a round top. Try to make it about the same size as the first cloud.
Step 7: Left cloud face and tuft
Inside the left cloud, draw two little dot eyes and a tiny curved smile between them. Then draw a small curved cap on top of the cloud with a short line hanging down from it, where the rainbow meets the cloud.
Step 8: Right cloud face and tuft
Give the right cloud two dot eyes and a tiny curved smile that match the first face. Finish with a small curved cap and a short line on top of the cloud, like the one on the left.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your rainbow? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a cactus or how to draw a sun next.
Tips for drawing a rainbow
- Draw the biggest arch first and keep each new arch the same distance inside the last one. Following the curve with your finger before you draw can help.
- Let the ends of the arches stop at the cloud tops. Tucking them behind the clouds hides any wobbly endings.
- Make the two clouds about the same size, and put the eyes at the same height on both. Draw the dots first, then the smile in the middle below them.
Free rainbow coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this rainbow 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 rainbow drawing
Color each arch a different color, using the classic order from the outside in: red, orange, yellow, green, then blue. Keep the clouds pale blue or white. For a creative twist, try a sunset rainbow in pinks and golds.
Rainbow fun fact for kids
A rainbow is really a full circle of color. From the ground we usually only see the top part, because the ground gets in the way. People in airplanes can sometimes see the whole circle.
Questions about drawing a rainbow
What shapes do I need to draw a rainbow?
You need five arches, which are like upside-down U shapes, each one smaller than the last. Add two rounded cloud shapes with flat bottoms, plus two dots and a small curve for each face.
How do I draw a rainbow arch that looks smooth?
Draw slowly in one go, moving your whole arm and not just your fingers. If you like, lightly sketch a half circle first and trace over it.
How do I make my rainbow clouds look cuter?
Give them round, puffy tops and two small dot eyes set wide apart. Put the smile small and low between the eyes.
