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Create stunning desert landscapes featuring cacti. This guide will teach you how to illustrate these resilient plants thriving under the blazing sun.
Publications International, Ltd.
This desert scene includes everything: cacti, rocks, sand, and the blazing sun.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through drawing this desert cacti landscape. You can sketch it freehand while referencing your screen or print the article for a detailed step-by-step view.
Each step includes a detailed illustration followed by instructions on how to draw it. Follow the red lines in the images to understand what to sketch in each step, with previous steps highlighted in gray for reference.
Ready to enhance your drawing abilities? Let’s dive in ...
1. Sketch the Horizon
Step 1: Begin by lightly drawing a horizon line near the center of the page. On the left, outline a tall, pencil-like trunk for a cactus, adding four upward-curving, slightly narrower branches. Next, sketch two additional cacti—one in the background and another positioned between the foreground and background plants.
2. Add Rocks and Boulders
Step 2: Use ovals and irregular shapes to outline rocks and boulders. Add wavy lines to depict sandy mounds. Illustrate two additional cacti using elongated, curved ovals. Modify the horizon line to give it a gentle, wavy appearance.
3. Add Background and Texture
Step 3: Sketch elongated, uneven shapes to represent clouds. Use a partial circle to depict the sun. Above the horizon, add a jagged, angled line to illustrate a far-off mountain range. Add rib-like lines along the cacti to emphasize their texture. In the right foreground, draw a small plant with thick, short leaves. Enhance the rocks by adding curved lines to define their forms.
4. Add Shading
Step 4: Lightly shade the lower parts of the rocks using diagonal lines. Add shading to the stalks of two cacti with a mix of vertical and diagonal lines.
Your desert landscape is complete! Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect on the first try—keep practicing until you’re satisfied. Sand, sun, and adventure await in the Tropical Beach Scene up next. Dive in to discover how to sketch this vibrant scene in just five easy steps.
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