How To Draw Sun Rays

This tutorial shows how to draw the sun in four different ways. Each examples includes step by step drawing instructions and illustrated examples.

Above are the styles that will be shown in this tutorial.

Drawing the Sun Step by Step

This first example of drawing the sun is fairly simple but it may take some time to draw all of the sun rays.

Step 1 – Make a Line Drawing

Start by making a circle using and then drawing a the sun rays projecting from it in different directions. It's recommended that you do this using a pencil and and raw very light lines.

Also try and make the sun ray lines of slightly different lengths.

Step 2 – Apply Color

Color the circle of the sun yellow and the rays orange. The easiest way to do this is with a marker but you can also use colored pencils. If coloring with markers you can wait for them to dry and then go over your drawing with an eraser to remove any hints of the pencil lines.

If you want a simpler drawing you can leave it at this stage or you can move on to the next step.

Step 3 – Add Gradient

To make the sun look a little more interesting add some color gradients. Start by first burring the outer edges of the sun itself. An easy way to do this is with a yellow pencil.

Step 4 – Finish the Sun Drawing

Using an orange pencil create another gradient that forms a sort of yellow outline around the edge of the sun. Make the gradient darker as it moves away from the edge of the sun and then again lighter as it moves towards it's center.

Drawing a Stylized Sun Step by Step

This example of the sun is slightly more stylized and closer to something that may be used by a designer.

Step 1 – Make a Line Drawing

Similar to the previous example start by drawing a circle. Around the circle draw the sun rays as basically a set of randomly sized zigzags that wrap around the circle.

Step 2 – Apply Color

Again same as the previous example color the circle of the sun yellow and the rays orange. You can do this with markers, paints or colored pencils.

You can leave it at this stage for a simpler looking drawing move on to the next step.

Step 3 – Add Gradient

Using an orange pencil blend the outer edges of the sun with the orange of the sun rays so that the circle looks blurred.

Step 4 – Finish the Sun Drawing

Again using an orange pencil create another gradient that leaves a sort of yellow outline around the edges of the sun. It should get darker going away from the yellow outline and then lighter again towards the center of the sun.

Drawing a Cartoon Sun Step by Step

This example shows how to draw a cartoon style sun.

Step 1 – Make a Line Drawing

Same as the previous examples start by drawing a circle and then draw the outline of the sun rays around that. Draw the rays by basically making a bunch of curves around the sun.

Step 2 – Apply Color

Again color the sun yellow and the rays orange with either colored pencils, paints or markers.

Step 3 – Add Gradient

Blend the edges of the sun into the rays using an orange pencil so that the circle looks blurred.

Step 4 – Finish the Sun Drawing

Again using an orange pencil add another gradient that leaves a yellow outline between the sun and the rays. This gradient should be first get darker as it moves away from the yellow outline and then lighter again towards the middle of the sun.

Drawing a Realistic Sun Step by Step

This final example is for drawing a slightly more realistic looking sun.

Step 1 – Make a Line Drawing

For this first step simply draw a light circle using a pencil.

Step 2 – Apply Color

Color the sun itself with paints colored pencils or markers. For the rays you can use either a pencil or pastels to create a smooth orange gradient that gets lighter as it goes away form the sun.

Step 3 – Add Gradient

Add a smaller orange gradient going in the opposite direction and blends the outer edges of the sun into the rays.

You can leave the drawing at this stage and still have a nice and somewhat realistic looking sun or you can go on to the next step.

Step 4 – Finish the Sun Drawing

Same as the other examples use an orange pencil and create a gradient that leaves a yellow outline between the sun and the rays. The gradient should get darker as it moves away form this yellow outline and then again lighter as it moves towards the center of the sun.

Conclusion

These examples can help you draw the sun in four different styles. Hopefully you've found one that you like. For more similar tutorials see:

How to Draw a House Step by Step
How to Draw a Tree Step by Step
How to Draw a Cloud Step by Step
How to Draw a Pine Tree Step by Step
How to Draw a Palm Tree Step by Step