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How to Draw a Canyon
Draw a canyon 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 ground.
Step 1: The ground
Low on your paper, draw a long straight ground line from edge to edge.
Step 2: The left wall
Start at the left edge. Draw a flat top, then a steep cliff down. Stop on the ground.
Tip Canyon walls are flat on top and steep at the front.
Step 3: The right wall
Start at the right edge, a little lower. Draw a flat top and a cliff down. Stop on the ground.
Tip Leave a wide gap between the 2 walls.
Step 4: Rock layers
On each wall draw 3 bowed lines across, from the paper's edge to the cliff, like cake layers.
Step 5: The river
Low in the gap, start on the left cliff. Draw one gently wavy line across to the right cliff.
Step 6: The sun
High in the gap between the walls, draw a round sun with 8 short rays.
Step 7: A cactus
Start on the left wall top. Draw a small cactus with one arm bending up, and stop on the top.
Step 8: A bird
In the sky above the right wall, draw a bird: 2 little curves like a soft M.
Step 9: Ripples
On the river draw 2 short bowed ripple lines.
Step 10: Yellow sun
Go over your lines, then colour the sun yellow.
Step 11: Ginger walls
Colour both rock walls ginger, right to the edges of the paper.
Step 12: Green cactus, blue river
Colour the cactus green. Colour the river blue between its wavy top and the ground.
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a canyon, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
