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How to Draw a Heliconia
Draw a heliconia 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 arching stem.
Step 1: The arching stem
Start low on the left. Draw a stem arching right like a fishing rod, and stop at a thin tip.
Tip A heliconia hangs its flowers down in a zigzag, like little red lobster claws.
Step 2: The zigzag stalk
From the stem tip, draw a thin stalk zigzagging down to 5 bends, stopping well above the ground.
Step 3: The top claw
At the first bend draw a big boat-shaped claw pointing right, with a sharp point and a round bottom.
Step 4: Zigzag claws
At the next bend draw a claw pointing left, then one pointing right, each a little smaller, zigzagging down.
Step 5: The last claws
Draw 2 more claws at the last bends, left then right, smaller again, so 5 claws zigzag down the stalk.
Step 6: Claw tips
Across each claw near its point draw one short line from top to bottom edge, where the yellow tip starts.
Step 7: Two paddle leaves
From the bottom of the stem draw a huge paddle leaf rising up left, and another rising up right.
Tip Keep a little gap between each leaf and the stem.
Step 8: Leaf veins
Inside each leaf draw one long vein up the middle, starting above the base and stopping near the tip.
Step 9: Ground and grass
Draw a soft ground line through the bottom of the stem, stopping short of both edges. Add 3 grass blades.
Step 10: Yellow tips, red claws
Colour the tip of each claw yellow, then the rest of each claw red up to the fold line.
Step 11: Green leaves and stem
Colour the leaves and the stem green, and your heliconia is done!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a heliconia, drawn by you.