How to Draw a Pinwheel (Easy Step by Step)
A pinwheel is a happy drawing because it looks like it is spinning right on the page. It is built from triangle-like sails, circles, and a few curved lines, so every part is easy to do one step at a time. Once you know how to draw one sail, you can repeat it all the way around.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a pinwheel step by step
How to Draw a Pinwheel · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: The center hub
Near the middle of your page, draw a small circle. Draw an even smaller circle inside it, like a tiny button.
Step 2: Top two blades
Start at the hub and draw a line going up and to the left, then a short edge across to a point, and come back down to the hub. Do the same on the upper right, so you have two triangle-like sails.
Step 3: Bottom two blades
Now draw two more sails below the hub, one pointing down and to the left, one pointing down and to the right. Start each at the hub, make a pointy tip, and come back to the hub.
Step 4: Folds in the sails
Inside each sail, draw one short curved line near the wide outer end. It goes from one side of the sail to the other and makes the paper look folded.
Step 5: The stick
Under the hub, draw two short straight lines going down, side by side. Near the bottom, draw a rounded U shape between them to close the stick. Leave a small gap in the middle for the bow.
Step 6: The bow
On the stick, about halfway down, draw a small circle for the knot. Add a loop on each side that looks like a sideways teardrop, to make a bow.
Step 7: Spinning lines
Draw three curved lines that look like pieces of a big circle around the pinwheel. Put one on the left, one at the top right, and one at the lower right, to show it spinning in the wind.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your pinwheel? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a piano or how to draw a trumpet next.
Tips for drawing a pinwheel
- Draw the hub first and keep it small. Every sail starts there, so it helps all four sails meet in the middle.
- Make the four sails about the same size. Try pointing them like a plus sign that has been tilted a little, so they look like they are turning.
- The curved fold lines are the trickiest part. Let your hand bend gently from one side of the sail to the other, and do not worry if each one is a little different.
Free pinwheel coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this pinwheel 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 pinwheel drawing
Color each sail a different bright color, like red, yellow, blue, and green, and make the stick brown or striped. For a creative twist, fill the sails with dots or zigzags so each one looks like patterned paper.
Pinwheel fun fact for kids
A pinwheel spins because moving air pushes against its tilted blades. The harder you blow, the faster it turns.
Questions about drawing a pinwheel
What shapes do I need to draw a pinwheel?
You need small circles for the center and the bow knot, triangle-like shapes for the four sails, and two straight lines with a rounded bottom for the stick. A few curved lines finish it off.
How do I make my pinwheel look like it is spinning?
Add curved lines around the outside, like pieces of a circle. Tilting each sail the same way also makes it look like it is turning.
How do I make my pinwheel look cuter?
Add a bow on the stick and color the sails in bright, happy colors. Patterns like polka dots or stripes on each sail make it extra fun.
