How to Draw a Spaceship | a Step-by-Step Guide

Here are seven easy steps that will teach you how to draw a spaceship with little to zero stress. The best part? You only need regular drawing materials and about half an hour to transfer the image from your screen onto your paper!

First developed in the early 20th Century, spaceships were designed to expand human knowledge on outer space and facilitate missions to other planets, the moon and celestial bodies within our solar system.

Designed to carry people or cargo beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, spaceships are equipped with various systems to provide life support, propulsion, communication, and navigation in the harsh environment of space.

What you will need

• A4 sheet of paper
• Pencils (HB, 2h and 3b)
• An eraser
• A ruler
• Coloring kit 
• 30 minutes

how to Draw a Spaceship

I recommend that you first gather all of your drawing materials. You want to limit the amount of breaks you take in between each step, so ensuring you have the proper tools with you beforehand will make the process all the more easy.

Then, study the outline we provide to get yourself ready for each step. In this way, you will already have an insight into what will be expected of you, which increases the likelihood of a great result.

Step 1: Draw the body of the spaceship

Start by figuring out which way you would like to angle your drawing paper. A landscape orientation might be great for a scenic background, however a portrait orientation will give you more room to expose the details on your spaceship.

Then, grab your pencil and draw a long vertical oval on the center of your drawing paper to represent the body of your spaceship. This is the structural element that holds all the other parts together.

Erase both the top and bottom sections of the oval. Then, connect the upper part with a sharply pointed tip, while connecting the bottom part together with a curved horizontal line, leaving you with something that should look like this.

• Draw a long vertical oval on the middle of your page
• Erase both the top and bottom sections of the oval
• Draw a sharp tip on the top and a curved horizontal line on the bottom

Step 2: draw the cockpit window

The driver cabin of any vehicle is often called a cockpit, and it’s no different with a spaceship. Located at the front of the spacecraft, the cockpit is used to view surroundings and operate the craft through outer space.

To complete this step, draw a small circle across the upper part of the spaceship’s body. For a bit of depth, add another circle inside the first one to indicate a frame, and you’re all set for the next step!

• Draw a small circle on the spaceship’s body
• Draw a smaller circle inside the first circle for the frame
• Follow the image below for a guide

Step 3: Draw the Wings   

Like an aircraft, spaceships possess elevons and rudders to help steer the craft through the air. These features are commonly called wings, and I think it’s about time you’ve added them onto your spaceship.

Start by drawing a small vertical oval with sharp edges on the bottom-center of the spaceship’s body for the rudder. Then, add the elevons by drawing two curved triangles coming outward from each side of the spaceship.

The rudder should overlap with the bottom of the spaceship, and the corners of each wing should match the base of the rudder. Erase the line of the body that remains visible inside the rudder, and you’re good to go!

• Draw a small vertical oval with sharp tips for the rudder
• Draw two curved triangles on each side of the body
• Erase the line of the body that’s left behind inside the rudder

Step 4: Draw the body’s upper shape

Your spaceship drawing should be coming together quite nicely now, but it would be incomplete without a few extra details. Like the external tank – a structural support item that braces the whole shuttle stack.

While its function is complicated, drawing it is not. Draw a wide upside-down “V” across the upper part of the spaceship’s body. Make sure that there’s enough space between the shape and the cockpit window to keep up a neat design.

• Draw a wide upside-down “V” above the cockpit window
• Maintain a decent amount of space between the shape and window
• Make sure the lines do not overlap on the sides of the spaceship

Step 5: Add the flames

When spaceships travel, they burn fuel, which comes in the form of flame just like it does in a rocket. Let’s add some action to your drawing by including the exhaust flames.

Draw the fire or flame at the bottom of the spaceship, and do so by drawing a series of curved lines which, after very small intervals, make corners and go inwards and continue as curved lines again.

• Draw a series of curved lines at the bottom of the spaceship for flames
• Add two layers of flame of extra detail
• Follow the image below for a guide

If you followed along with each step, you should now have a black-and-white spaceship drawing, equipped with exhaust flames. Great job! Use this time to evaluate whether or not you’re happy with the way your drawing looks.

If there is anything you’d like to fix, be sure to grab your eraser and do so now. Use the image we provide below as a guide on what to correct and what to leave as is. Once you’re ready, check out the rest of the tutorial!

Taking your Spaceship Drawing to the next level

Now that you’ve got all the technical stuff out of the way, it’s time to let your imagination out to play and have some fun!

Step 6: Adding a background

Adding a background can almost instantly liven up the state of your drawing. Not only does it make a drawing more eye-catching, it adds a hint of storytelling to art, as well.

What is happening in your drawing? Is your spaceship still on base, having just been launched? Is it a night-time or day time exploration? Are there any people around to watch your spaceship lift off?

You can allow your imagination to roam free as you select a background for your spaceship! We have gone the minimalistic route and outlined our ship with a border plus a few stars around the spacecraft to depict a night-time scene.

step 7: Adding color

Set aside your drawing pencils and grab your coloring kit! It’s time to bring this drawing to life. Just like a background, color immediately makes a drawing more visually appealing by conjuring up associated emotions.

If you selected a similar background to the one we have, then color the general backdrop of your drawing dark blue to indicate the time of day. Color the stars with white to ensure they contrast against the blue of the sky.

You are more than welcome to pick any colors you’d like for the spaceship. The only rule of thumb to follow would be to color different sections on your spaceship with different colors.

Like, red for the external tank, yellow for the cockpit window, beige for the rest of the body, and so forth. Doing so will create a nice contrast and make each element stand out.

Bonus Tips

Write your name and the date of completion on the corner of your page to create a timestamp and document your progress.

Add some more distinctive features by drawing a solid rocket booster on each side of your spaceship. This can be done by drawing an elongated oval.

Add a personalized touch to your drawing by either drawing your country’s flag somewhere on the spaceship, or a logo or brand name of your choosing.

Connect with other budding artists on platforms like YouTube and Pinterest to share your experiences with art and gain some extra tips!

Conclusion

In seven simple steps, you have learned how to ace a spaceship drawing! Starting with body of the spaceship, you added the cockpit window, the wings, the upper space and the flames.

Taking things a step further, you have also implemented a background and a splash of color! Creating something out of nothing is always a commendable feat, so job well done!

Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t pack those drawing tools away just yet. Your next drawing adventure might be right around the corner. See you next time!

Thanks for reading & feel free to check out more of our articles!