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How to Draw a Mountain Lake

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw a mountain lake 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 far shore.

Step 1: The far shore
Across the middle of your paper draw a long flat line, nearly from edge to edge.
Tip This is the far shore of the lake.
Step 2: Big mountain
Start on the line at the left. Go up to a sharp point, then straight down to the line.
Tip Make both sides the same steepness, like a tent.
Step 3: Second mountain
Start on the big mountain's right side. Go up to a lower point, then down to the shore line.
Tip It hides behind the big one, so it looks further away.
Step 4: Snow caps
Below each point draw a zigzag from one side across to the other for the snow.
Step 5: Pine trees
On the shore draw 3 pine trees, 2 on the left and 1 on the right. Zigzag down each side.
Tip Rub out the mountain lines inside the trees.
Step 6: Tree trunks
Under each tree draw a short trunk standing on the shore line.
Step 7: Near bank
Start near the bottom left and draw a gently wavy line across to the right for the near bank.
Tip Leave lots of room for the water in between.
Step 8: Mirror mountains
Under each mountain draw it upside down with wobbly sides. Start and stop on the shore line.
Tip The mirror mountains are shorter than the real ones.
Step 9: Ripples
Draw 4 short ripple lines on the open water.
Step 10: Pale blue lake
Colour the lake pale blue, around the mirror mountains. Colour the near bank light green.
Step 11: Grey mountains
Colour both mountains grey, from the snow down to the shore. Leave the snow white.
Step 12: Blue reflections
Colour the 2 mirror mountains a deeper blue.
Step 13: Green pine trees
Colour the 3 pine trees green and their trunks brown. Your mountain lake is done!