Rain Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas
Rain drawings are one of the most-loved sketching subjects, and for good reason — the basic version comes together from a horizon line and two or three big simple shapes in just a few minutes. Follow the nine steps below to get the foundations right, then browse the ideas list for your next rain sketch.
- Difficulty Medium
- Time ~15 min
- Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
- Starts with a horizon line and two or three big simple shapes
How to Draw Rain Step by Step
Step 1 of 9
Cloud guide
Draw one wide light oval in the upper middle of the page for the rain cloud.
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Cloud guide
Draw one wide light oval in the upper middle of the page for the rain cloud.
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Cloud outline
Trace a bumpy outline on the oval, made of a few rounded lobes across the top and a flatter bottom edge.
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Friendly face
Add two small round eyes and a short curved smile on the lower part of the cloud.
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Large raindrops
Below the cloud, draw three large teardrop-shaped raindrops with pointed tops and rounded bottoms.
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Small raindrops
Add four smaller teardrop raindrops staggered between and below the large ones.
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Falling streaks
Add six short diagonal streak lines below the smaller drops to show rain still falling.
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Puddle and ripples
Draw a wide flat puddle shape at the bottom of the page, then add two thin curved ripple lines above it.
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Ink the lines
Go over every kept line with dark ink, then erase the light cloud guide oval.
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Color the rain
Fill the cloud gray, the raindrops light blue, and the puddle darker blue.
Rain Drawing Ideas to Try Next
Once the basic rain clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.
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Rain at golden hour
Same drawing, warm palette, long shadows — light does the heavy lifting.
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Day and night split rain
Divide the page down the middle and render the same rain in both lightings.
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A tiny rain in a glass jar
The miniature-world trend: your rain scene bottled with a cork on top.
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A postcard-style rain
Frame it in a rectangle with a hand-lettered greeting — vintage travel poster energy.
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A minimalist one-line rain scene
Reduce rain to its simplest continuous line — modern, framable, and fast.
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Rain with a wanderer figure
One tiny silhouette person gazing at your big rain — instant scale and story.
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Rain through a window frame
Draw a simple window and place rain outside it — built-in composition and cozy mood.
Tips for Better Rain Drawings
- Detail only the focal area and let the edges stay loose. The viewer’s eye goes where the detail is; detail everywhere means focus nowhere.
- Squint at your reference until it blurs into 3–4 big shapes — draw those shapes first. Every landscape that "looks off" skipped this step.
Not feeling rain today?
Let the generator pick your next subject — filtered by mood and difficulty.
🎲 Random Drawing GeneratorRain Drawing FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw rain?
Start with a horizon line and two or three big simple shapes, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable rain on their very first try with it.
How long does rain drawing take?
A simple rain drawing takes about 15 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.
What supplies do I need for rain drawings?
Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.
Is rain easy to draw for beginners?
Yes — rain is very manageable once you use construction shapes, and this method was written for first-timers. Kids can follow the same steps; just expect wobblier lines and more charm.
