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How to Draw a Mkeka
Draw a mkeka in 13 easy steps, about 10 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 mat.
Step 1: The mat
In the middle of your paper draw 1 very wide rectangle with soft corners, nearly touching the sides.
Step 2: The border
Inside it draw a second rectangle, a thumb in all the way round.
Step 3: Two big eyes
Draw 2 big egg eyes in the middle of the mat. Add a black dot and a shine in each.
Step 4: Smile and cheeks
Under the eyes draw a wide U smile. Add a small flat cheek beside each end.
Step 5: Top stripe
Above the eyes draw 2 straight lines across the mat from border to border, a finger apart.
Step 6: Bottom stripe
Below the smile draw 2 more straight lines across the mat from border to border, a finger apart.
Step 7: Left fringe
On the left end of the mat draw 5 short lines sticking straight out, evenly spaced.
Step 8: Right fringe
Do the same on the right end: 5 short lines sticking out.
Step 9: Weave dashes
Along the middle of the top and bottom borders draw a row of short dashes, so the mat looks woven.
Step 10: Sparkles
Draw 4 sparkle stars off the corners of the mat.
Step 11: Pink cheeks, yellow sparkles
Go over your lines, then colour the cheeks pink and the sparkles yellow. Leave the eyes white.
Step 12: Cream middle, tan border
Colour the middle cream around the face, skipping the 2 stripes. Colour the border tan.
Step 13: Red and green stripes
Colour the top stripe red and the bottom stripe green. Your mkeka is done!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a mkeka, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
