How to Draw a Light Bulb (Easy Step by Step)
A light bulb is a fun first drawing because it is built from a few simple shapes: a round bubble, a neck and base, and some short lines. Add a smiling face and little rays of light, and your bulb looks like it just had a bright idea. It is a great way to practice curves, straight lines, and drawing things that match on both sides.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a light bulb step by step
How to Draw a Light Bulb · 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: Bulb and base outline
Start with a big round shape for the glass, like a balloon. Let the sides curve in to a narrow neck, then go straight down and finish with a flat bottom with softly rounded corners.
Step 3: Line across the neck
Draw one straight line across the narrow neck, from the left side to the right side. It splits the glass from the metal base below.
Step 4: Base stripes
Draw three straight lines across the base, from one side to the other. Keep them parallel and evenly spaced, like the rungs of a ladder.
Step 5: The little tip
At the very bottom, draw a small curved smile shape that peeks out below the base. It is the tiny metal contact of the bulb.
Step 6: The filament
Just above the base, draw a shape like two little bumps side by side with a dip in the middle. Pull two straight lines down from the bumps to the top of the base.
Step 7: The happy face
Draw two small round dots for eyes in the middle of the glass. Then add a small curved smile below them, like a little bowl.
Step 8: Top rays
Draw two short slanted lines above the bulb, one on each side of the top. They should lean away from each other like the top of a letter V.
Step 9: Side rays
Add short lines pointing outward from the left and right sides of the bulb. Draw two on each side, one higher up and one lower down, so the light shines all around.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your light bulb? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a rocket or how to draw a shooting star next.
Tips for drawing a light bulb
- Draw the glass as a big round shape first, then curve the sides in to make the neck. This is the trickiest part, so go slowly and use light lines.
- Make the base stripes the same distance apart. Draw the top and bottom stripes first, then put the middle one halfway between.
- Keep the rays short and about the same length. Space them evenly around the bulb so the light looks like it is shining in every direction.
Free light bulb coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this light bulb 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 light bulb drawing
Color the glass a soft yellow and the base a cool gray or silver, with a bright orange filament inside. For a creative twist, make each ray a different rainbow color, or turn the bulb into a night-time scene with a dark blue background.
Light bulb fun fact for kids
Thomas Edison and other inventors worked on light bulbs in the 1800s. Edison's team tried thousands of materials to find a thin thread, called a filament, that would glow for a long time without burning up.
Questions about drawing a light bulb
What shapes do I need to draw a light bulb?
You need a big round shape for the glass, a narrow neck and base with straight sides, and a few short straight lines for the stripes and rays. A small curve at the bottom and a two-bump shape inside finish it.
How do I make my light bulb look cuter?
Give it a face with two dot eyes and a small smile. The short rays around it make it look happy and glowing.
How do I draw the glass part so it looks round?
Start with a big curve across the top and let it bulge out on both sides. Then curve the lines in toward the neck, and go over it with a darker line once you like the shape.
