How to Draw a Longhouse

Step 1: The front wall

On the left draw a tall arch with a flat bottom, like a slice of bread standing up.

Tip Make it a little taller than it is wide.

Step 2: Two long lines

From the arch top and its bottom right corner, draw 2 long lines slanting gently up. Stop near the edge.

Tip Keep the 2 lines the same slant and the same length.

Step 3: The far end

Start at the end of the top line. Curve over and straight down to meet the bottom line's end.

Tip It is the same curve as the right edge of the front wall.

Step 4: The doorway

Start on the bottom of the front wall. Draw a door with a rainbow top, back down to the bottom.

Tip Keep the door in the middle of the wall.

Step 5: Upright poles

Draw 3 poles over the long side, from the bottom line up to the top, curved like the front edge.

Tip Space them evenly so the side has 4 equal parts.

Step 6: Long poles

Draw a pole across the front above the door, then 2 poles from the front edge to the far end.

Tip Slant the 2 long poles like the roof. They hold big sheets of tree bark in place.

Step 7: Smoke

Start on the roof in 2 places. Draw a wiggly smoke line rising up from each, and stop high above.

Tip A longhouse had a row of cooking fires inside, and holes in the roof for the smoke.

Step 8: The ground

Draw a ground line out from the far corner and one the same height on the left. Add grass tufts.

Tip The left line runs from the paper's edge to the front wall.

Step 9: Tan front

Go over your lines. Colour the front wall tan, around the door.

Step 10: Green grass

Colour the ground green, from the ground line and the longhouse down to the bottom of the paper.

Step 11: Brown bark

Colour the long side wood brown, like big sheets of tree bark.

Step 12: Dark doorway

Colour the door dark brown. Leave the smoke white. Your longhouse is done!