Learn how to draw a great looking Monarch Butterfly with easy drawing instructions and video tutorial.
By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Monarch Butterfly.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Monarch Butterfly
How to Draw a Great Looking Monarch Butterfly for Kids and Beginners - Step 1
1. Begin by drawing the basic shapes of the butterfly's body. Draw a circle for the head, an oval for the thorax or midsection, and a long narrow oval for the abdomen. Each of the shapes should overlap the ones beside it.
Drawing Step 2
2.Erase overlapping lines from the head and thorax. Then, extend two long curved lines from the head to form the antennae. From each side of the thorax, extend a long curved line and double it back upon itself to form the wing.
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Drawing Step 3
3. Extend a long curved line from the bottom of each wing and double it back to attach to the abdomen. This encloses the remaining wings.
Drawing Step 4
4. Band the abdomen with short curved lines.
Drawing Step 5
5. Detail the forewings of the butterfly. Within each wing, extend a pair of curved lines from the thorax, and let them meet at a point. Then, draw teardrop shapes near the top of the wing and ovals along its side.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
Drawing Step 6
6. Detail the hindwings. Within each wing, draw a curved line roughly parallel to the outline of the wing. Then, draw teardrop shapes and ovals along the edge of the wing.
Drawing Step 7
7. Add further detail to the forewings. Draw curved horizontal lines from the thorax to the edge of the wing section. Then, draw curved lines between them.
Add More Details to Your Monarch Butterfly Picture - Step 8
8. Detail the hindwings. Extend a curved line into the inner section of the hindwing. Double it back upon itself. Then, draw curved lines from this shape to the edge of the inner section.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
Complete the Outline of Your Monarch Butterfly Drawing - Step 9
9. Detail the head and thorax of the butterfly. Enclose a wavy shape between the antennae to indicate the proboscis or mouth. Enclose ovals overlapping the sides of the head to form the eyes. Erase as necessary. Then, draw small ovals and teardrop shapes on the butterfly's back.
Color Your Monarch Butterfly Drawing
Color your cartoon monarch butterfly. This beautiful species is orange, black, and white.
Give your butterfly a safe place to live - learn to draw a butterfly garden.
For more great Bug drawing tutorials, see the 17 Easy Bug Art Projects for Kids post.
Learn More About The Monarch Butterfly Drawing
According to National Geographic, "The monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable and well-studied butterflies on the planet."
It is famous for its epic seasonal migration, in which "millions of monarchs migrate from the United States and Canada south to California and Mexico for the winter."
Monarch butterflies also live in Europe, Australia, and several Pacific islands.
Each butterfly begins its life as a caterpillar. Caterpillars hatch from eggs and feed on the milkweed plant - the only plant which these young butterflies can eat.
After a few weeks, the caterpillars encase themselves in a chrysalis. Their bodies practically dissolve and reform into that of the adult butterfly.
Did you know? Milkweed gives monarch butterflies a special defense. The butterfly stores toxins from the plant in its body. This makes them taste bad and even poisonous to birds.
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Butterflies have long been seen in artwork. Some of the oldest dates from 3,500 years ago. In many cultures, the butterfly symbolized the soul.
Today, butterflies are still a common motif in jewelry, clothing, décor, and other items.
Butterflies are also seen in animation. In Disney's A Bug's Life, Heimlich the caterpillar dreams of becoming a butterfly. When he finally does, his wings are tiny compared to his large body.
Would you like to draw a cartoon of a regal monarch butterfly? This easy, step-by-step cartoon butterfly drawing tutorial is here to show you how.
All you will need is a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of paper. You'll likely want to color your creation, so have some crayons, markers, or colored pencils handy.
If you liked this drawing tutorial, see also the following guides: Butterfly in Cartoon Style drawing, Cute Caterpillar drawing, and Flower Garden drawing.
Monarch Butterfly Drawing Tutorial - Easy & Fun Printable Pages
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See a Google Web Story of this Monarch Butterfly Drawing Tutorial.