How to Draw a Lotus Flower (Easy Step by Step)
A lotus flower looks fancy, but it is really just a handful of pointy leaf shapes standing up from a flat oval. You will draw the lily pad first, then add the petals one pair at a time. Each petal is a simple curved line or leaf shape, so it is a good first flower for beginners.
- Easy
- 10 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 lotus flower step by step
How to Draw a Lotus Flower · 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 lily pad
Draw a wide, flat oval across the lower part of the page, like a squashed circle. Then add a little V-shaped notch on the right side, as if someone took a small bite out of the pad.
Step 3: The middle petal
Start at the top middle of the pad and draw a tall, pointy leaf shape, like a big teardrop standing on its end. Make the tip at the top and let both curved sides come back down to meet at the pad.
Step 4: The two inner petals
Next to the middle petal, draw one long curved line on each side. Start each one at the pad, right beside the middle petal, and sweep it up and a little outward, ending high up beside the middle petal.
Step 5: The two outer petals
On the far left and far right, draw a big curved line starting at the edge of the pad. Sweep each one up and outward like a wide smile, ending near the top.
Step 6: Outer petal tops
Close off each outer petal. From the top end of the big curve, draw a gentle curve that slides down and inward until it touches the inner petal.
Step 7: Little petal folds
Between the middle petal and each inner petal, draw a short curved line. It goes from the top of the inner petal down to the middle petal, so the petals look layered.
Step 8: Water ripples
Under the lily pad, draw two short curved lines that look like tiny smiles. Put one near the bottom left and one near the bottom right to show the pond water.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your lotus flower? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw lavender or how to draw a gardener next.
Tips for drawing a lotus flower
- Draw the lily pad light and wide first, then you will know exactly where every petal should start.
- Make the middle petal the tallest, then let the others get a little shorter as they move to the sides. This is what makes the flower look like it is opening.
- The little folds between the petals are the trickiest part. Draw them short and slow, and stop when they touch the next line.
Free lotus flower coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this lotus flower 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 lotus flower drawing
Try soft pink at the tips of the petals fading to white near the pad, with a bright green lily pad. For a creative twist, color the pond water in rainbow stripes.
Lotus flower fun fact for kids
Lotus flowers grow from muddy pond bottoms, but the petals come up clean and bright. Their leaves are so water-repellent that raindrops roll off them like tiny beads.
Questions about drawing a lotus flower
What shapes do I need to draw a lotus flower?
You need a wide oval for the lily pad and a pointy leaf shape for the middle petal. The other petals are just long curved lines that lean out to the sides.
How do I make my lotus look like it is opening?
Make the middle petal tall and straight, then tilt the outer petals farther to the sides. The more they lean out, the more open the flower looks.
Why does my lily pad look lumpy?
Try drawing it lightly in one smooth go, going around slowly. If it still looks lumpy, erase and try again, because ovals get easier with practice.
