How to Draw a Phoenix (Easy Step by Step)
Learn to draw a magical phoenix using simple shapes like curves for the body, circles for the head, and triangles for the beak. You'll create fiery wings with zigzag tips and pointy leaf-shaped feathers.
- Begin your phoenix drawing with simple shapes.
- Use a curve for the body and a circle for the head.
- Form the beak with a simple triangle.
- Draw pointy leaf shapes for the feathers.
- Add zigzag tips to the wings for a flame effect.
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A phoenix is a fiery bird from old stories, and it is a fun one to draw because it is mostly simple shapes. You will use a curve for the body, a circle for the head, a triangle for the beak, and pointy leaf shapes for the feathers. The zigzag wing tips look like flames, which makes it feel magical.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 7 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 phoenix step by step
How to Draw a Phoenix · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Curved body line
Start low on the page and draw one smooth curved line like a smile or a bowl. It will be the belly of the bird.
Step 2: The head
Draw a small circle at the upper left end of the curve, so the curve leaves from the bottom of the circle like a neck. Put a small dot inside for the eye, and add a little pointed shape on the upper right of the circle for a feather.
Step 3: The beak
On the left side of the head circle, draw a small pointy triangle sticking out, with its wide end touching the circle.
Step 4: Head feathers
Draw two or three tall, skinny leaf shapes standing up from the top of the head. Make each one pointed at the tip.
Step 5: The first wing
Above the back, draw a tall wing shape that stands up near the head. Make the top edge zigzag into pointy flame tips, and let the two sides come down toward the back.
Step 6: The big flame wing
Draw a second, bigger wing right beside the first. Start low on the body, go up tall, then zigzag the outer edge like jumping flames.
Step 7: Tail feathers
At the right end of the body, draw three long pointed leaf shapes that fan out like a tail. Draw one pointing up and right, one pointing right, and one drooping down.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your phoenix? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a unicorn or how to draw a dragon next.
Tips for drawing a phoenix
- Draw the curved body and round head first. Everything else attaches to them, so a good start makes the rest easy.
- For the flame wings, make the zigzag points one at a time, like drawing a row of little mountains. Go slowly and keep the points different heights.
- Draw each tail feather as a leaf: two curved lines that meet at a point at each end. Fan them out so they do not overlap.
Free phoenix coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this phoenix 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 phoenix drawing
Use red, orange, and yellow for the wings and tail so the phoenix looks like it is on fire. For a twist, color each feather a different shade of the rainbow or add golden sparkles around it.
Phoenix fun fact for kids
The phoenix is a bird from ancient Greek and Egyptian legends. In the stories it burns up in flames at the end of its life and is born again from the ashes.
Questions about drawing a phoenix
What shapes do I need to draw a phoenix?
You need a curved line for the body, a circle for the head, and a small triangle for the beak. The wings and tail are made from tall shapes and pointy leaf shapes.
How do I make my phoenix look like it is on fire?
Give the wing tips a zigzag edge so they look like flames. Then color them in red, orange, and yellow, with the brightest color at the tips.
What is the hardest part of drawing a phoenix?
The zigzag wing edges are the trickiest. Draw them slowly, one point at a time, and it is fine if they are not exactly the same.
