
Watch it draw itself · tap to replay
How to Draw a Cartouche
Draw a cartouche in 11 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 big loop.
Step 1: The big loop
Draw a tall loop with round ends and straight sides, filling most of your paper.
Tip A cartouche is a loop of rope around a name.
Step 2: The rope
Inside the loop draw a second loop, a finger in all the way round.
Tip Keep the gap the same all the way round.
Step 3: The bar
Under the loop draw a long thin box, touching the loop and poking out both sides.
Tip The bar is where the two ends of the rope are tied.
Step 4: The sun
At the top inside the loop draw a round sun.
Step 5: The bird
Under the sun draw a bird: round head, pointed beak, plump body, tail and 2 legs.
Tip Add a dot for its eye.
Step 6: Water
Under the bird draw a zigzag from left to right, with 4 points on top.
Tip A zigzag was the sign for water.
Step 7: The basket
At the bottom draw a flat line. Hang a deep U from it to make a basket.
Step 8: The ground
Draw a ground line under the bar, poking out on both sides.
Step 9: Yellow and orange
Colour the rope and the bar yellow. Colour the sun orange.
Step 10: Sandy middle
Colour the middle sandy yellow, going around every sign.
Step 11: Blue and green
Go over your lines. Colour the bird blue and the basket green. Your cartouche is done!

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