How to draw a submarine - a free submarine drawing guide
Draw a simple submarine step by step using shapes, add windows, a periscope, and color to learn proportions, shading, and perspective.
Photos of submarine drawing examples
Step-by-step guide to draw a submarine
How to Draw a Submarine | Easy Submarine Drawing for Kids | Drawing with Sparsh 🚢✏️
Step 1
Draw a light horizontal guideline across the middle of the page to help place your submarine.
Step 2
Sketch a large horizontal oval centered on the guideline for the submarine's main body about two-thirds of the page wide.
Step 3
Add a rounded nose at the left end by drawing a short curved line to close the front of the oval.
Step 4
Draw a tail fin at the right end by sketching a vertical triangle attached to the back of the oval.
Step 5
Draw a small rectangle on top of the oval slightly forward of center to make the conning tower.
Step 6
Draw a periscope rising from the conning tower by sketching a thin vertical rectangle with a short horizontal rectangle at the top.
Step 7
Draw three round porthole windows along the side of the oval spaced evenly on the guideline.
Step 8
Sketch a small propeller at the back by drawing a tiny circle and two curved blades.
Step 9
Add a curved contour line along the top of the oval to show the submarine's rounded shape and perspective.
Step 10
Shade the bottom half of the submarine lightly with pencil strokes to show shadow and roundness.
Step 11
Draw small rivet dots or short lines along the hull for extra detail and to check proportions.
Step 12
Trace the final outlines and important details carefully with a black marker.
Step 13
Erase any leftover pencil guidelines so your drawing looks clean.
Step 14
Color the submarine's body with your chosen colors and then color the portholes and add lighter highlights on the top.
Step 15
Share your finished submarine drawing on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of a black marker for the final outlines if I don't have one?
If you don't have a black marker for tracing the final outlines and important details, use a fine-tipped dark pen, a Sharpie, or a dark colored pencil and press firmly when tracing.
My submarine looks unbalanced—how do I fix proportions and evenly spaced portholes?
Redraw a light horizontal guideline, make the large horizontal oval about two-thirds of the page wide as instructed, then mark three evenly spaced dots on that guideline before sketching the portholes to keep proportions correct.
How can I adapt this drawing for younger or older kids?
For younger kids, have them color a pre-drawn large horizontal oval and add sticker portholes and a glued-on paper rectangle for the conning tower, while older kids can follow all steps including shading the bottom half, adding rivet dots, and tracing with a black marker for more detail.
How can we extend or personalize the submarine drawing after coloring it?
Personalize the colored submarine by drawing an underwater scene with waves, fish and seaweed, make the tiny circle propeller movable with a small brad, add lighter highlights on the top as in the instructions, and then share your finished submarine drawing on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to draw a submarine
Learn How to Draw A Submarine | Kids Drawing Lesson | Step By Step
4 Videos
Learn How to Draw A Submarine | Kids Drawing Lesson | Step By Step
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How to Draw a Submarine Easy (using the Number 6) For Kids!
🚢 How To Draw A Submarine | Easy and Fun for Kids | Chiki Art
Facts about basic drawing and perspective
✏️ One-point (linear) perspective was formalized during the Renaissance and helps make drawings look 3D.
⚓ The first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat was the Confederate H.L. Hunley in 1864.
🔭 A periscope uses mirrors or prisms to let people see above the surface while staying hidden underwater.
🎯 Artists often start vehicle drawings with simple shapes (ovals, rectangles, cylinders) to get proportions and shading right.
🪟 Most military submarines don’t have big windows because deep-water pressure would crush them — tourist subs use thick acrylic viewports instead.
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