How to Draw a Humpback Whale (Easy Step by Step)
A humpback whale is a friendly giant that is easy to build from simple shapes. You start with a big bean for the body, add a tail with two curled tips, then finish with a small flipper, a long mouth line, and a tiny round eye. It is a nice drawing for practicing smooth curved lines.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 6 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 humpback whale step by step
How to Draw a Humpback Whale · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: The big body
Start with a big, wide bean shape that is rounder at the bottom, with a rounded head on the left. Leave the right end open where it narrows toward the tail, and draw a small pointed flipper on the bottom of the belly.
Step 2: The tail flukes
At the open, thin end of the body, draw a tail that opens into two curled tips, one on each side, with a small dip between them.
Step 3: A belly line
On the belly, near the small flipper, draw a short curved line that slants down and back.
Step 4: The front flipper
Under the front of the body, draw a small rounded flipper shaped like a teardrop that hangs down. Connect the top of it to the belly line.
Step 5: The mouth line
Starting at the top of the head, draw a long curve that slopes down and back along the side of the head, like a big smile line.
Step 6: The eye
Add one small, round dot for the eye just behind the end of the mouth line.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your humpback whale? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a dolphin or how to draw a shark next.
Tips for drawing a humpback whale
- Draw the big bean body light and smooth first, so there is room for the tail at the end.
- The tail is the trickiest part. Draw the two tips as little hills with a small dip where they meet.
- Keep the eye small and place it just behind the end of the mouth line so the whale looks calm and friendly.
Free humpback whale coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this humpback whale 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 humpback whale drawing
Try deep blue on top and light blue or white on the belly, with a gray flipper. For a creative twist, color the water around the whale with swirly waves and add a few tiny fish.
Humpback whale fun fact for kids
Humpback whales sing long songs that can last many minutes, and the males in one area often sing the same song. Their long flippers can be about a third as long as their whole body.
Questions about drawing a humpback whale
What shapes do I need to draw a humpback whale?
You need a big bean shape for the body, a pointed leaf shape and a rounded teardrop for the flippers, and a tail with two curled tips. A small dot makes the eye.
How do I make my whale look cuter?
Make the eye a little bigger and keep the lines smooth and round. Soft, rounded tail tips also help a lot.
Why is the humpback whale tail so wavy?
Real humpbacks have tails with wavy, bumpy back edges, and each whale has its own pattern. Drawing small curves along the edge gives your whale that look.
