Butterfly Drawings

Copy the simple butterfly drawings on this page with your favorite pencil. Doing this simple little task contributes to your improvement as an artist.

You might say butterflies are more beautiful in color but you can learn the basics here and color your drawing later.

It is important to focus on one thing at a time when you learn to draw and a good old pencil is the best medium for you to use. Can you imagine trying to erase color pencil if you make a mistake?

Visualize putting these easy drawings of butterflies down on paper. Look at the simple lines and have a go at copying only the outline before you try to draw a butterfly complete with all effects.

Don't give up on your first drawing attempts with the outline, keep copying, you'll get it right. That's all I did, I kept copying until I was happy with my drawing.

If you struggle to draw both sides of the butterfly equally, it may help to read some tips about symmetrical drawings.

Butterfly Facts

As usual, before you go further into doing a butterfly drawing, I am going to acquaint you with your subject.

A butterfly is one of the most beautiful of all insects.

We are charmed by their gorgeous colors and very delicate wings.

You can find butterflies almost anywhere in the world.

A butterfly begins its life as a tiny egg and it hatches into a caterpillar.

The caterpillar sheds and grows a new skin several times.

When it reaches it's full size, it forms a protective shell.

Inside this shell, an amazing transformation occurs - the caterpillar becomes a lovely butterfly!

The shell breaks open and the butterfly comes out to find a mate and to produce another generation of butterflies.

Butterflies mainly feed on the nectar of flowers and don't do any harm.

Most adult butterflies live only a week or two, but some species may live up to eighteen months.

The butterfly also plays a part in religious beliefs...

The ancient Greeks believed that the soul left the body after death in the form of a butterfly.

I believe that little snippet to be true! It makes me feel better about continuing with everyday life and that's all that really matters.

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Be Creative

Ok, now you have some background, you can start doing butterfly drawings. If you wonder how this information could possibly help you draw better, well, it helps to promote inspiration and creativity and all artists ultimately need those things.

Ask for some feedback on your drawing attempts and let your critics know if you don't want any negative feedback. That's what I do!

Actually, it's a good idea to ask what the viewer likes about your drawing and that way you will only hear positive things.

My family have been fantastic with their encouragement for me to continue drawing and I have found that to be very motivating.

These drawings of butterflies are for you to copy and to feel the wonderful satisfaction that happens when you copy something successfully.

When I drew this simple butterfly outline, I didn't use any measuring guides so it is not quite symmetrical. When I start a drawing, I like to see what I am capable of producing first, without using any drawing aids.

It isn't too bad for something that I drew within minutes. Of course, I do erase and re-draw some wayward lines and then I declare it is finished.

Butterflies are certainly simple to draw and you can add whatever detail you like to the wing pattern to finish off your butterfly drawing.

You can find links to more butterfly sketches via the links at the top right side of this page.

To take a shortcut, click here to see more butterfly pencil drawings on this site.

Please help yourself and use the search box to find more drawings.