How to Draw an Ocean Wave (Easy Step by Step)
A wave is fun to draw because it is mostly one big curving line with a few swooshes inside. You will use a hill shape, a small curl, and three tiny circles for the spray. Each line is simple, but together they look like moving water.
- Medium
- 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 an ocean wave step by step
How to Draw an Ocean Wave · 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: Wave outline
Start at the bottom left and draw a big curved hill that rises up and to the right. Make a few small bumps across the top, then curve the line around to the right into a hook that ends in a short tail.
Step 3: Bottom line
Draw a long, nearly straight line along the bottom. Start at the bottom of the hill on the left and go all the way to the right.
Step 4: The curl
Under the hook on the right, draw a small curl that spirals in like a tiny snail shell. Then draw a smooth S-shaped line from the curl down to the right end of the bottom line.
Step 5: Two water lines
Inside the wave, draw one long curved line that follows the shape of the big hill. Add a second one next to it, curving the same way.
Step 6: Short water line
Add one more short curved line near the bottom, curving the same way as the other two. It makes the water look like it is moving.
Step 7: Sea spray dots
Draw three tiny circles in a column to the right of the wave. Put a small dot in the middle of each one.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your ocean wave? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a desert island or how to draw a picnic basket next.
Tips for drawing an ocean wave
- Draw the big outer curve in one slow, smooth stroke. If you stop in the middle, the wave can look wobbly.
- The curl on the right is the trickiest part. Practice a small spiral on scrap paper first, then add it to your wave.
- Make the three lines inside curve the same way as the outside hill, and leave small gaps between them so they look like flowing water.
Free ocean wave coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this ocean wave 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 ocean wave drawing
Use light blue, dark blue, and a bit of green for the water, and leave the spray circles white or pale blue. For a creative twist, add a tiny sailboat or a surfer riding the wave.
Ocean wave fun fact for kids
Waves are mostly made by wind blowing across the surface of the ocean. The harder and longer the wind blows, the bigger the waves can grow.
Questions about drawing an ocean wave
What shapes do I need to draw a wave?
You need a big curved hill shape with bumps on top, a small spiral for the curl, and three tiny circles for the spray. Curved lines inside make it look like moving water.
How do I make my wave look bigger?
Make the hook at the top lean far over to the right and draw the lines inside long and sweeping. Keeping the spray circles close to the curl also makes it feel powerful.
How do I draw the foam on top of a wave?
Draw a row of small, round bumps along the top of the hill, like a cloud. Make the bumps different sizes so the foam looks natural.
