How to Draw a Desert Island (Easy Step by Step)
A desert island is a cozy little world with a hill of sand, a bendy palm tree, a sunny sky and a few small friends. This drawing is built from simple shapes: a dome for the island, curved lines for the trunk and leaves, circles for the sun and coconuts, and wavy lines for the sea.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 10 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a desert island step by step
How to Draw a Desert Island · 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 island hill
Draw a wide dome shape, like a hill, starting low on the left and ending low on the right. Then draw a wavy line along the bottom of the hill to close it.
Step 3: Start of the trunk
At the top of the hill, draw two short curved lines side by side that lean to the left as they go up. Keep them close together so the trunk is not too fat.
Step 4: Palm leaves
At the top of the trunk, draw two big curved leaves that sweep out left and right like wings. Then add a small pointy leaf standing up in the middle, shaped like a long teardrop.
Step 5: Coconuts
Draw two tiny circles side by side under the leaves, right next to the trunk. Add a short curved line above them to connect them to the leaves.
Step 6: The sun
In the top left corner, draw a small circle. It does not need to be perfect, so go slowly and round the corners.
Step 7: Sun rays
Draw short lines around the sun, like the numbers on a clock. Put one at the top, bottom, left and right, then four more in between.
Step 8: A little crab
On the left side of the island, draw a small wide oval for the crab body. Add two little loops on top for the eyes and little legs sticking out on each side.
Step 9: The starfish
On the right side of the island, draw a small star with five points. Start at the top point and zigzag down and around until the lines meet again.
Step 10: Ocean waves
Draw two wavy lines under the island, like gentle hills going up and down. Make the first one long and the second one a little shorter, just below it.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your desert island? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a picnic basket or how to draw a canoe next.
Tips for drawing a desert island
- Draw the trunk as two curved lines that lean the same way and stay close together. If they drift apart, the trunk gets too fat, so check the gap as you go.
- Sketch the palm leaves as long, pointy curves that start at the same spot at the top of the trunk. Make the two side leaves sweep out wide and the middle leaf stand tall.
- For the waves, draw one gentle hill, then one gentle dip, and keep repeating. Try to keep the hills about the same size, and let your hand relax.
Free desert island coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this desert island 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 desert island drawing
Try golden yellow for the island, green for the leaves, brown for the trunk and coconuts, and different blues for the waves. For a creative twist, color the sky pink and orange like a sunset and give the crab a bright red shell.
Desert island fun fact for kids
Coconuts can float on the ocean for weeks, and that is one way coconut palms have spread to sandy islands far from where they first grew.
Questions about drawing a desert island
What shapes do I need to draw a desert island?
You need a dome for the island, circles for the sun and coconuts, and curved teardrop shapes for the palm leaves. The waves are just gentle wavy lines.
How do I make my palm tree look bendy?
Draw the trunk lines with a soft curve instead of a straight line, leaning to one side. Then let the leaves sweep out from the top to match.
How do I make my island look cuter?
Add a little crab and a starfish on the sand. Small friends make the island feel full of life.
