Learn how to draw a lighthouse with an easy step by step tutorial. This one is located on a tiny island, full of story-telling possibilities.
How to Draw a Lighthouse
When children learn how to draw a lighthouse, it can be the perfect starting point for imagining life by the sea. This composition includes a cozy little house off to the side, a small island setting, and plenty of open space for students to add their own details—boats in the distance, rolling waves, or even a dramatic stormy sky.
Here’s a quick lighthouse history connection, too: the first lighthouse in America was built in Boston Harbor on Little Brewster Island in 1716. The original structure was later destroyed, but it was reconstructed in 1784. And one of the oldest still standing today is the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey, first lit in 1764—and it’s still operating.
This lighthouse drawing is built from simple shapes, but it also sneaks in an important lesson about dimension. If students want their lighthouse to look cone-shaped instead of flat, the stripes can’t be perfectly straight—they need to curve slightly around the form. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference, and it’s a great way to help students see how a few thoughtful lines can turn a basic shape into something that feels real.
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Lighthouse Coloring Page
Materials to Draw a Lighthouse
Crayola Watercolor Pan Set
Crayola Watercolor Paint Set (16 Count), Washable Paint for Kids, 1 Paint Brush, Arts & Crafts Supplies, Assorted Colors Real watercolor paper always makes the watercolor paintings much more vibrant *affiliate link
Watercolor Paper
Real watercolor paper always makes the watercolor paintings much more vibrant *affiliate link
Non-Spill Paint Cups
Train your students to return brushes to the cup they came from and you have an easy system with very little cleanup *affiliate link
Paint Brush
A good paint brush can make a big difference and this style with a sturdy rounded tip is my favorite. *affiliate link
Sharpie Marker
Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Black
Pencils
Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils, Unsharpened, #2 HB Soft
Directions to Draw a Lighthouse Step by Step
Time needed: 1 hour
How to Draw a Lighthouse in 9 Easy Steps
- Start the building.
- Add the top and curved lines.
- Add windows and details.
- Draw building behind lighthouse.
- Add windows and island.
- Add horizon line.
- Draw waves, larger ones in front.
- Add light ray lines.
- Trace with a marker and color with crayons.
More Lighthouse and Seaside Drawing Lessons
