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Finished drawing of an abacus

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How to Draw an Abacus

10 steps · Medium · about 8 min

Draw an abacus in 10 easy steps, about 8 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the frame.

Print

  1. Step 1: The frame

    In the middle of your paper draw a big rectangle, wider than it is tall.

  2. Step 2: The inside edge

    Inside it draw a second rectangle a finger in, all the way round, so the frame is thick.

  3. Step 3: Four rods

    Across the inside draw 4 straight lines from the left inner edge to the right inner edge, evenly spaced.

  4. Step 4: Top beads

    On the top 2 rods draw 5 beads each, pushed left and right. Rub out the rod inside each bead.

    Tip Let the beads touch but not overlap, and leave a little rod showing at each end.

  5. Step 5: Bottom beads

    On the bottom 2 rods draw 5 beads each the same way, pushed to different sides.

  6. Step 6: Two legs

    Under the frame draw a short leg leaning out at each bottom corner.

  7. Step 7: The ground

    Start out on the left and draw 1 long straight ground line under the legs. Stop out on the right.

  8. Step 8: Wood frame

    Colour the thick frame and the legs wood brown, leaving the inside white.

  9. Step 9: Red and yellow beads

    Colour the top row of beads red and the second row yellow.

  10. Step 10: Green and blue beads

    Colour the third row of beads green and the bottom row blue.

Your finished drawing

Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: an abacus, drawn by you.

Every step in one picture

How to Draw an Abacus step by step: all 10 steps in one picture

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