How to Draw a UFO
If you want to learn how to draw a UFO and give it its characteristic streamlined look in a simple way, you’re in the right place.
How to Draw a UFO: Introduction
UFOs have a familiar, classic shape that many of us recognize from childhood and from various works of fiction. This form usually resembles a large saucer or an oval hovering in the air.
Within this basic outline, UFOs can differ: some have a transparent upper dome that reveals the inside of the craft, while others are shown as solid metal from top to bottom.
In this lesson, I’ll show you how to draw a UFO with a traditional saucer-like design built from simple oval forms.
After that, in the bonus tutorial at the bottom of the page, you’ll find instructions on how to draw a UFO with a clear cabin and a small alien seated inside.
UFO Drawing Tutorial
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 25 minutes
How to draw a UFO step by step
- Sketch the upper edge of the saucer.
Creating the general outlines first makes the rest of the drawing easier and prevents the UFO from becoming asymmetrical. Start by sketching a long, gentle arc that will become the top half of the large oval base. Try to make the curve smooth and symmetrical.
- Complete the oval base.
Draw the bottom arc of the UFO by mirroring the curve you already made, forming a complete horizontal oval. A long oval shape suggests a classic flying-saucer silhouette, so try to give it a symmetrical and smooth look.
- Draw the dome arc of the UFO.
A UFO often includes a rounded dome on top, so sketch a smooth semicircle inside the edges of the main oval and try to make the dome appears centered. Let the arc rise above the basic oval of the vehicle. Try to imagine the dome as a glass cockpit or viewing bubble.
- Sketch the lower dome line.
To make the dome look as if it rests naturally on the UFO rather than floating above it, sketch the short curved line that connects the dome to the larger oval. This line follows the curve of the base. Think of the curve as the shadowed edge where the dome meets the base.
- Draw the side edge of the UFO body.
To give the UFO drawing more dimension, sketch an additional long arc on the side edge of the base. This second curve should closely follow the shape of the first one. This simple line is the side edge of the aircraft, the most protruding part of the body.
- Clean and refine the vehicle outlines.
Carefully trace over the oval and dome using smooth, confident strokes. Erase any overlapping construction lines, extra marks, or uneven curves that were useful while sketching but are no longer needed. Pay attention especially to areas where the dome meets the base.
- Add simple colors to the space vehicle.
To paint the UFO drawing, use a light green or pale blue for the dome to represent glass, and choose a cool gray for the saucer body. Keep the colors flat and even. To make the UFO look more dimensional, you can paint the bottom of the saucer a darker gray and add a few highlights on the dome.
Additional Content
To support this UFO drawing lesson, I’ve prepared a free PDF that includes a simplified version of the main instructions.
It’s designed for quick reference and for situations when you want to practice offline. You can keep it on your device and use it whenever you’d like to go through the basic steps again.
How to Draw a UFO with an Alien Inside
To expand the main lesson, I’ve prepared another simple method for drawing a UFO. This variation helps you practice the same core shapes in a slightly different way.
In this lesson, you will draw a UFO with a transparent dome and a small alien inside. You’ll see how to apply the same basic principles from the main tutorial while adding one additional element.
Draw the main body of the spaceship using a clean, elongated oval, then place another oval above it to form the dome.
Next, draw the alien using very simple shapes for the head and body. After this, refine the outlines of the UFO, define the dome, and add a few small features to complete the structure.
Conclusion
You’ve completed both UFO drawing lessons, and now you can apply the same approach to many other subjects.
If you’re interested in drawing the Earth or want to try drawing a spaceship, you’ll find dedicated lessons for those as well.
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