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How to Draw a String Puppet

14 steps · Medium · about 11 min

Draw a string puppet in 14 easy steps, about 11 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 cross bar.

Step 1: The cross bar
Near the top draw a long thin bar. Cross it with a short bar in the middle.
Tip A hand holds this bar to make the puppet dance.
Step 2: Head on a string
From the middle of the bar draw a short string down. Hang a big round head on it.
Step 3: A happy face
Below the middle of the head draw 2 oval eyes with black dots, and a small U smile under them.
Step 4: Painted hair
Start on the left side of the head. Draw 3 dips across the forehead, ending on the right side.
Step 5: Shirt and shorts
Under the head draw a shirt block with round shoulders. Under it draw a shorter block for the shorts.
Step 6: Upper arms
From each shoulder draw an arm piece sloping down and out. Draw a small round elbow on its end.
Step 7: Lifted hands
From each elbow draw a thinner arm piece going up and out. Add a mitten hand with a thumb.
Step 8: Upper legs
From under the shorts draw a leg piece sloping down and out on each side. Add a round knee.
Step 9: Legs and shoes
From each knee draw a leg piece hanging straight down. Add a shoe with its toe pointing out.
Step 10: Four more strings
From the bar draw a straight string down to each hand and each knee.
Tip The knee strings hide behind the arms, so skip over them.
Step 11: Tan wood, pink cheeks
Colour the face, lower arms, hands, lower legs and joints tan. Add 2 pink cheeks. Leave the eyes white.
Step 12: Red shirt
Colour the shirt and both upper arms red.
Step 13: Blue shorts
Colour the shorts and both upper legs blue.
Step 14: Brown hair and shoes
Go over your lines. Colour the hair, the shoes and the cross bar brown. Your puppet is ready to dance!