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How to Draw a Sun: Easy Step-by-Step Guide [2026]

Learn how to draw a sun with our easy beginner-level tutorial. Step-by-step instructions, tips, and common mistakes to avoid.

Written by

Sketchso Team

Read time

6 min read

Published

October 25, 2025

Updated

February 7, 2026

Premium studio workflowArtist-first guidanceClear, practical steps

About Drawing Suns

Draw the sun from simple cartoon style to more detailed artistic representations.

This beginner-level tutorial will teach you everything you need to know to draw a beautiful sun.

Basic Shapes You'll Need

Circle for sun bodyTriangle or wavy raysCorona effectsFace features (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1Draw a perfect circle
  2. 2Add rays evenly spaced around
  3. 3Vary ray lengths for interest
  4. 4Add face details if cartoon style
  5. 5Add glow effect or gradient

Pro Tips

  • 💡Use a compass for perfect circles
  • 💡Space rays evenly
  • 💡Rays can be triangles, lines, or waves
  • 💡Add warmth with yellow/orange gradients

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Uneven ray spacing
  • Circle not round
  • Rays all same length
  • Missing the glow effect

Recommended Tools

To draw a realistic sun, we recommend:

2B PencilFine Liner PenEraserRulerSketchbook

Frequently Asked Questions

What basic shapes do I need to draw a sun?

Start with circle for sun body and triangle or wavy rays. Breaking the sun down into simple forms makes it much easier to draw.

What is the hardest part about drawing a sun?

Many artists struggle with uneven ray spacing. Take your time with this part and check your reference often.

How long does it take to learn?

This is a beginner tutorial, so you should be able to get a good result in about 30-45 minutes of practice.

How do you draw a sun?

To draw a sun: Draw a perfect circle. Add rays evenly spaced around. Vary ray lengths for interest. The key shapes are circle for sun body and triangle or wavy rays.

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Want Perfect Sun Proportions?

Use Sketchso to convert any sun photo into a traceable outline.

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