How to Draw a Sunset (Easy Step by Step)
A sunset is a fun drawing because a few simple lines tell a whole story about the end of the day. You will build it from a half circle for the sun, straight lines for the rays, a wavy line for the sea, bumpy cloud shapes, and a little palm tree on a hill.
- Easy
- 15 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 sunset step by step
How to Draw a Sunset · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Waves and island hill
Start at the left edge and draw a long, gentle wavy line across the page, like a calm sea. Near the right side, let the line climb up into a round, soft hill and slope back down.
Step 2: The setting sun
Draw a half circle sitting on the wavy line, like a big round sun peeking over the sea. Start on the line at one side, curve up and over, and come back down to the line on the other side.
Step 3: Sun rays and birds
Draw six short straight lines around the top of the sun like the spokes of a wheel, leaving a small gap between each ray and the sun. Then add two tiny birds in the sky, each one a short wiggly line.
Step 4: Fluffy clouds
Draw three clouds in the sky. Give each one a flat bottom line and a bumpy top made of little hills.
Step 5: The palm trunk
Start on top of the hill and draw a slightly curved line going up, like a bendy stick. Stop where the leaves will go.
Step 6: Palm leaves
At the top of the trunk, draw a small leaf that sweeps out to the left and another that sweeps out to the right. Then add a pointed leaf standing up between them.
Step 7: Shimmer on the water
Under the sun, draw flat lines stacked one below the other. Start with a long line and make each new one shorter, to show the sun sparkling on the sea.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your sunset? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a pond or how to draw a tree stump next.
Tips for drawing a sunset
- Draw the sun as a half circle that sits right on the wavy line, so it looks like it is sinking into the sea.
- Keep the rays short and leave a little gap between each ray and the sun, so they look like they are shining outward.
- Make each shimmer line shorter than the one above it, and keep them lined up under the sun so they look like a sparkly path on the water.
Free sunset coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this sunset 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 sunset drawing
Color the sky and sun in warm oranges, pinks and yellows, and the sea in blues and purples. For a creative twist, make the clouds pink and fade the sky from yellow near the sun to deep purple at the top.
Sunset fun fact for kids
The sun looks orange and red at sunset because its light has to travel through much more air to reach your eyes. The air scatters the blue light away, so the warm colors are what is left for us to see.
Questions about drawing a sunset
What shapes do I need to draw a sunset?
You need a half circle for the sun, short straight lines for the rays, a wavy line for the water, and flat-bottomed clouds with bumpy tops. A long curved line makes the palm tree trunk.
How do I make the sun look like it is setting?
Draw only the top half of the circle, sitting right on the wavy water line. Then add shimmer lines below it so the light seems to reflect on the sea.
How do I draw clouds that look puffy?
Start with a flat line for the bottom, then add a few small bumps along the top, like little hills. Make the bumps different sizes so the cloud looks soft and natural.
