How to Draw a Shovel (Easy Step by Step)
A shovel is a fun first object to draw because it is built from just a few simple shapes: a rounded handle, a long straight stick, and a flat-topped blade. Adding a little pile of dirt on each side makes it look like it is ready to dig. You can finish it in a few minutes with only lines and curves.
- Easy
- 10 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 shovel step by step
How to Draw a Shovel · 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 handle outline
Draw a wide U shape with a flat top at the upper middle of your paper. Start with a short flat line across the top, then curve both sides down and in, and leave a small gap at the bottom.
Step 3: The inner grip
Inside the handle, draw a smaller U shape that hangs down from the top. Keep a little space between it and the outer curves.
Step 4: The long shaft
Starting at the gap at the bottom of the handle, draw two long straight lines going down, side by side. Close the bottom with a rounded end, like a long skinny finger.
Step 5: Two little bars
Draw a short straight line across the inside of the grip, near the top. Then draw another short line across the shaft, low down, to make a band.
Step 6: The blade
Near the bottom of the shaft, draw a flat line out to the left and another out to the right. Then draw each side going down and slightly in, ending in a short point.
Step 7: The dirt piles
Draw a bumpy, wavy line on each side of the blade, starting at the bottom of the blade and rolling out to the side. Make the bumps soft and round.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your shovel? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a rocket or how to draw a shooting star next.
Tips for drawing a shovel
- Draw the two sides of the shaft with a slow, steady hand so they stay straight and the same distance apart.
- The handle is the trickiest part. Sketch the big outer U first, then fit the smaller inner U inside it so the two curves follow each other.
- Make the blade wider than the shaft, and let the shaft end inside the blade so it looks like they are joined.
Free shovel coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this shovel 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 shovel drawing
Try a brown or red wooden handle, a gray or silver blade, and dark brown dirt. For a creative twist, draw tiny flowers or a worm popping out of the dirt piles.
Shovel fun fact for kids
The word "shovel" comes from an Old English word and is related to the word "shove," which makes sense because you shove a shovel into the ground.
Questions about drawing a shovel
What shapes do I need to draw a shovel?
You need a U shape for the handle, two long straight lines for the shaft, and a flat-topped blade with two slanted sides. Wavy bumps make the dirt.
How do I make my shovel look like it is standing in the ground?
Draw the blade first, then add rolling dirt piles that start at the bottom of each side of the blade. The dirt piles hide the lower part of the blade and make it look buried.
How long does it take to draw a shovel?
Most kids finish this drawing in about 10 minutes. The handle curves take the longest, so go slowly there.
