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How to Draw a Bald Cypress Swamp
Draw a bald cypress swamp 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 trunk.
Step 1: The trunk
Start low on the left, curve up into a thin straight trunk, and stop high up. Same on the right.
Tip The trunk flares out wide at the bottom, like a bell.
Step 2: The top
On top of the trunk draw a tall bumpy cone: pointy on top, getting wider down to a round bottom.
Step 3: Feathery layers
Across the cone draw 3 gently bowed lines, one above the other, from edge to edge, like feathery layers.
Step 4: Bark lines
On the trunk draw 2 short bark lines, one on each side.
Step 5: The water
Draw a wavy water line from the left edge to the right edge, through the bottom of the trunk.
Step 6: Knee roots
Round the tree draw 5 knobbly knee bumps, 2 left and 3 right, each starting and ending on the water.
Tip Cypress roots push up little knees out of the water to breathe.
Step 7: Ripples
On the water draw 3 short wavy ripple lines, spread out, each starting and stopping on the water.
Step 8: Blue water
Go over your lines, then colour the water blue, all the way down to the bottom of the page.
Step 9: Wood trunk and knees
Colour the trunk and the knees wood brown.
Step 10: Green top
Colour the cone green, and your swamp is done!

Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a bald cypress swamp, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
