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How to Draw a Plateau
Draw a plateau 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 flat top.
Step 1: The flat top
High on your paper, start on the left. Draw a long flat line across and stop on the right.
Tip A plateau is flat on top, like a table.
Step 2: Steep cliffs
Start at each end of the flat top. Draw a steep line down and stop a thumb's length below.
Tip Make both cliffs the same length.
Step 3: Sloping base
Start at the bottom of each cliff. Draw a long sagging slope out and down. Stop low on the paper.
Tip The base is much wider than the top.
Step 4: The ground
Start at the left edge. Draw a straight ground line under the slopes and stop at the right edge.
Step 5: The ledge
Start at the bottom of the left cliff. Draw a gently bowed line across to the right cliff.
Step 6: Cliff cracks
Start on the flat top. Draw 3 lines straight down the cliff, each a different length.
Tip Stop each crack before the ledge.
Step 7: The sun
High in the sky on the right, draw a round sun with 8 short rays.
Step 8: A cactus
Start on the ground line. Draw a small cactus with one arm bending up, and stop on the ground.
Tip Keep it small, so the plateau looks huge.
Step 9: A bird
In the sky on the left, draw a bird: 2 little curves like a soft M.
Step 10: Yellow sun
Go over your lines, then colour the sun yellow.
Step 11: Sandy ground
Colour the ground under the line sandy, right to the edges of the paper.
Step 12: Green cactus, tan base
Colour the cactus green. Colour the sloping base tan around it, up to the ledge.
Step 13: Ginger cliffs
Colour the cliff ginger, from the flat top down to the ledge.
Tip No ginger crayon? Mix orange and brown.
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a plateau, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
