How to Draw the Mayflower Ship (Easy Step by Step)
The Mayflower is a fun ship to draw because it is made of simple shapes you already know. You will use a long bowl-shaped curve, two puffy boxes, straight poles and wiggly lines. Each step adds one new part, so even a first-time artist can finish a whole sailing ship.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw the Mayflower ship step by step
How to Draw the Mayflower Ship · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: The hull
Draw a long straight line for the top of the ship. Then draw a big bowl-shaped curve under it with a flat bottom, and let the ends curl up into small points at the left and right of the top line.
Step 2: The big sail
Above the left side of the ship, draw a tall box with a straight top and bottom. Bend the two sides outward a little so it looks puffed by the wind.
Step 3: The small sail
Next to the big sail, on the right, draw a second puffy box that is a bit smaller and sits a little lower. It can tuck slightly behind the big one.
Step 4: Two short masts
Draw a short straight line from the bottom of each sail down to the top line of the ship. The one under the big sail is longer than the one under the small sail.
Step 5: Poles and flags
Draw a straight pole going up from the top of each sail. At the top of each pole, draw a little flag that looks like a small rectangle with a notch in its edge. Make the flag on the big sail a bit larger.
Step 6: Lines on the hull
Inside the hull, draw two long gentle curves that follow the shape of the ship. Make the top one a bit longer than the bottom one.
Step 7: Wavy water
Under the ship, draw wiggly wave lines like a snake lying down. Draw one short wave on the left, one short wave on the right, and a longer one in the middle, just lower down.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your Mayflower ship? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a turkey leg or how to draw an apple pie next.
Tips for drawing the Mayflower ship
- Draw the top line of the hull first and make it long and straight. Then add the curve underneath so the two ends curl up into small points.
- Make the sails with a straight top and bottom and sides that bow outward. If the sides come out too straight, draw them again with a little belly.
- Let the short masts touch the bottom of the sails and the top line of the ship. If the lines do not quite meet, just draw them a bit longer.
Free Mayflower ship coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this Mayflower ship 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 Mayflower ship drawing
Try warm brown for the hull and cream or soft yellow for the sails, with a deep blue sea. For a creative twist, give each flag its own color, or color the waves in a rainbow.
Mayflower ship fun fact for kids
The real Mayflower carried 102 passengers across the Atlantic Ocean in 1620. The trip took about 66 days, and many of the travelers were families with children.
Questions about drawing the Mayflower ship
What shapes do I need to draw the Mayflower?
You need a big bowl shape for the hull, two puffy boxes for the sails, and a few straight lines for the masts and poles. Two little flags, two curved lines on the hull and wiggly water lines finish it off.
How do I make the sails look puffy?
Draw the top and bottom lines straight, then curve the two sides outward instead of making them straight. That small bend makes the sail look full of wind.
How do I make my ship look like it is floating?
Draw the wavy lines below the hull, with a little gap between the ship and the water. Put a short wave on each side and a longer one in the middle so the ship seems to sit on top of the sea.
