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How to Draw a Bonsai
Draw a bonsai 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 tray pot.
Step 1: The tray pot
Low on your paper draw a wide flat tray rim. Start under it; draw down, across, and up to it.
Step 2: The twisty trunk
From the rim draw a lazy S wiggling up to the top third. Add a second line beside it.
Tip Chunky at the bottom, slim at the top.
Step 3: Two branches
From the trunk's middle draw 2 lines right, then lower down 2 short ones left. Stop above the tray's ends.
Tip Each pair gets closer at the end. Rub out the trunk line between each pair.
Step 4: The top pad
Start left of the trunk top. Draw 4 bumps over to the right, 3 shallow bumps back to the start.
Step 5: The right pad
On the right branch draw a smaller cloud. Start left: 4 bumps over, 3 shallow bumps back to the start.
Step 6: The left pad
On the left branch draw the smallest cloud. Start left: 3 bumps over, 2 shallow bumps back to the start.
Step 7: The table
Draw a long straight table line along the bottom of the tray, from well left to well right.
Step 8: Green pads
Colour all 3 cloud pads leaf green, right to the bumpy edges.
Step 9: Wood trunk
Colour the trunk and both branches wood brown, stopping at the pads.
Step 10: Teal pot
Colour the tray pot teal. Go over your lines and your bonsai is done!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a bonsai, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
