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How to Draw a Stick Insect

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw a stick insect 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: a small head.

Step 1: A small head
Right of the middle, draw a small egg head lying on its side, with round cheeks and a smaller chin.
Tip A stick insect is mostly stick: its body is much longer than its head.
Step 2: Two big eyes
In the middle of the head draw 2 big eggy eyes. Add a black dot and white shine in each.
Step 3: Smile and cheeks
Under the eyes draw a smile, a flat line with a U below. Add 2 small oval cheeks.
Step 4: Long thin feelers
From the top of the head draw 2 long thin feelers curving up to the right, ending in tiny balls.
Step 5: A long twig body
From low on the head, draw a long thin twig body going left, nearly level, to a soft round end.
Tip Keep it about as thick as a pencil.
Step 6: Twig joints
Across the body draw 4 short curved lines, spaced out, for the twig joints.
Step 7: Front legs
Under the head draw a leg forward to a knee, then down to a hook. Add a thin leg behind.
Tip The thin leg is on the far side of the body, so its top is hidden.
Step 8: Middle legs
From the body's middle, draw a leg to a knee, then down to a hook. Add a thin leg behind.
Step 9: Back legs
Further back, draw a leg back to a knee, then down to a hook. Add a thin leg behind.
Step 10: Branch and leaf
Under the hooks, draw a branch, 2 wavy lines edge to edge. Add a pointed leaf between the legs.
Step 11: Pink cheeks, red mouth
Go over your lines. Colour the cheeks pink and the mouth red. Leave the eyes white.
Step 12: Brown insect
Colour the head, body, feeler balls and all 6 legs brown, around the eyes, cheeks and mouth.
Step 13: Green leaf, brown branch
Colour the leaf green and the branch brown. Your stick insect is done!