How to Draw a Microscope in 11 Easy Steps

Microscope drawing — easy step by step for kids

This tutorial draws a cartoon microscope in 11 steps with a pencil, paper and something to color with. You build it from the bottom up: the base in steps 1 to 4, the arm and tube in steps 5 and 6, the eyepiece in step 7, the details and mechanical stage in steps 8 to 10, and color in step 11.

What parts of a microscope does this drawing show?

The finished drawing shows 5 real microscope parts: the base, the arm, the tube, the eyepiece and the mechanical stage. The eyepiece is the part you look through, and on a real microscope it usually holds a 10X or 15X lens. Step 10 adds two eyes and a smiling mouth to the tube, so the result is a friendly character rather than a lab diagram.

Base: steps 1 to 4, starting with two oblong shapes about 1 inch apart
Arm and tube: steps 5 and 6
Eyepiece: step 7
Details and mechanical stage: steps 8 to 10
Color: step 11

How to Draw a Microscope

No Ratings

Materials

Pencil
Paper
Coloring material

Instructions

Step 1: Draw the Base

Begin your invention by sketching the base of the microscope. On the bottom part of your paper, Sketch two horizontal elongated oblong shapes. These two oblongs should have one inch apart. Then, draw a vertical line in the middle of the two-oblong shapes. Make sure that this line will overlap with the oblongs. See the image above for you to be guided.

Step 2: Add Details

In continuation of step one, we will add some important parts of your microscope. Sketch a small elongated oblong shape in the center of the second big elongated oblong shape. See the image above for you to be guided.

Step 3: Add more Details

In this step, we will connect the elongated oblong with the use of the vertical line. I want you to draw a vertical line from the left edge of the upper elongated oblong shape and then connect it to the oblong shape below. Then do the same on the opposite side. For the small oblong shape above, draw a vertical line on both sides of the small oblong. These two vertical lines will overlap in the upper portion. See the reference image above for you to be guided.

Step 4: Remove Extra Lines

Let’s remove extra lines from your drawing to see the improvement of your invention. First, erase the long vertical line in the center. Connect the two vertical line that is found in the center of the big oblong shape. Then erase all lines that are found inside the small rectangle in the center.

Step 5: Draw the Arm and the Tube

The microscope has an arm wherein we use this part as we are going to hold the microscope in our experiment or even transfer the microscope from one place to another. For the arm, just simply draw a long curve line from the right side of the rectangle to the bottom then go up. On the upper portion of the base, draw a long, diagonal rectangle then connect it to the tip of the long-curved line above. If you are confused, please see the image above for you to be guided.

Step 6: Add Details

Let’s add more details to your invention, I want you to draw a curve line on the top portion of the small rectangle that is found in the center of the base. Then, draw another set of a curved line on the top and bottom of the long, diagonal rectangle above. For the arm, just simply follow the first long curved line earlier and always connect it to the base and the top part of your invention.

Step 7: Draw the Eyepiece and Remove lines

The eyepiece is where you found the lens that the viewer looks through to see the specimen. This lens usually contains a 10X or 15X power lens. Now, draw a half-small rectangle with round edges on the top of the tube. After that, erase the lines inside the tube then, on the bottom part of the tube draw a half small square. See the reference image above for you to be guided.

Step 8: Add Details

The microscope has a tiny part so let’s start adding a horizontal small-thin capsule shape on the upper portion of the eyepiece. Make sure that the capsule will slightly go beyond on both sides. Draw another longer-horizontal capsule shape on the lower portion of the tube. Again, this should slightly go beyond on both sides of the tube. After that, draw another smaller capsule on the lower portion of the half square located below the tube. Again, this should go beyond the half-small square. Lastly, draw a big circle on the upper portion of the arm. This big circle will go beyond the arm of your microscope.

See the reference image above for you to be guided.

Step 9: Remove Extra Lines and add the Mechanical Stage

Remove the lines that are found inside the capsules and the big circle that you’ve drawn in step 8. Then, draw a small curved line on the left side of the tube. This is the part of the arm of the microscope. Add two slanting lines on the left side of the half capsule shape that is found in the center of the base. Then, enclosed the two lines with a short line.

Step 10: Add Details

In this step, add a small circle inside the big circle that you’ve drawn earlier. Also, add a small circle to the half capsule found in the center of the base. On the top of the mechanical stage, draw a short slanting line then enclose it with a horizontal line.

To make drawing more attractive and cuter let’s draw the eyes and mouth of your invention. I want you to draw two circles inside the tube then add a shaded crescent shape inside each circle. Make sure that the circle should slightly overlaps on both sides. Under the eyes, draw an inverted letter C for the mouth of your microscope.

Step 11: Finish up!

To do the final step, let’s think about the color of your microscope. But in a real scenario, the microscope isn’t typically that brightly colored usually they used lighter greys, and black to the color it’s in. Since this art is yours, then you can freely decide what color you like for your microscope. Congratulations on your invention!

How should you color a microscope drawing?

Real microscopes are usually light grey and black, which step 11 suggests if you want a realistic look. Because this microscope has a face, bright colors work just as well; keep the eyepiece and tube one color so the 5 parts still read clearly.

Why were the first microscopes called flea glasses?

Some of the first microscopes were used to study insects such as fleas, which earned them the nickname flea glasses. The word microscope comes from 2 ancient Greek words meaning small and to see. Once microscopes made bacteria visible, scientists could connect germs with disease.

Microscope drawing FAQ

How do you draw a microscope step by step?

Draw it from the bottom up in 11 steps: the base, then the arm and tube, then the eyepiece, then the small details and the mechanical stage, and color last. Every step in the card above has its own reference image.

What do you need to draw a microscope?

A pencil, paper and something to color with. An eraser also helps, because steps 4, 7 and 9 remove guide lines.

How do you draw a microscope eyepiece?

In step 7, draw a small half rectangle with rounded edges on top of the tube, erase the lines inside the tube, and add a small half square below the tube. Step 8 then adds a thin capsule shape across the top of the eyepiece.

Is this an easy microscope drawing for kids?

Yes. It uses only simple shapes: oblongs, rectangles, curved lines, capsules and circles, with no shading steps. The face in step 10 can be left off for a plain microscope.

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