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How to Draw an African Mask
Draw an African mask in 12 easy steps, about 9 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 long face.
Step 1: The long face
Draw a tall egg shape, wide near the top and narrow at the chin.
Tip Make it tall and thin, like a shield.
Step 2: Arched brows
Below the top, draw an arch from each edge. Stop both near the middle, leaving a gap.
Tip Round arches make a friendly face.
Step 3: Long nose
Start at one arch end. Draw a long thin nose down, round the tip, up to the other end.
Step 4: Almond eye holes
Under each arch draw a pointed almond eye. Colour both in black, like holes to look through.
Tip Keep the eyes clear of the nose and the edge.
Step 5: Smiling mouth
Under the nose draw a small smile: a dipping line on top, a deeper U under it. Colour it black.
Step 6: Forehead band
Above the brows draw 2 lines across. Start each on the left edge and stop on the right.
Tip Let each line dip a little in the middle.
Step 7: Zigzag pattern
Inside the band draw a zigzag from the left edge to the right edge, down and up 4 times.
Step 8: Cheek triangles
On each cheek draw a triangle. Start on the edge, point it at the nose, go back to the edge.
Tip Masks like this are carved from wood and painted with bold shapes.
Step 9: Yellow band
Go over your lines. Colour the zigzag band yellow.
Step 10: Light brown face
Colour the cheeks and chin light brown. Go around the eyes, the mouth and the cheek triangles.
Step 11: Red paint
Colour the top of the mask and the 2 cheek triangles red.
Step 12: Dark brown carving
Colour the forehead and the long nose dark brown. Your mask is done!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: an African mask, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
