How to Draw a Desert
In this lesson, you will learn how to draw a desert landscape. The process is straightforward, starting with outlines of key features like the desert sand, rocks, and buttes. After you have your outlines, you can add color to make your drawing more interesting.
Remember, practice is important when it comes to drawing. If your first attempt doesn’t look exactly how you want it, that’s okay! You can always come back to this lesson and try again. Each time you practice, you will improve your skills.
Focus on the main parts of the desert scene: the sandy ground, the rocky formations, and the tall buttes in the distance. By paying attention to these elements, you will create a nice representation of a desert landscape.
Materials
- Pencil
- Drawing Paper
- Crayons | Colored Pencils | Markers (you choose)
- Black Marker (optional)
In this lesson, you’ll discover how to create your very own desert scene! While I’ll share some ideas for colors, feel free to choose whatever shades you like. This is your artwork, and you can make it unique! Think about the warm sand, the tall buttes, and the little patches of grass that might peek through. You can start by imagining how the soft curves of the dunes flow across the page and how the rocks stand proudly against the sky. As you draw, feel free to customize your drawing. Remember, it’s all about having fun and expressing yourself on paper. So grab your pencil and let’s get started on this desert drawing!
Time Needed: 45 minutes
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Outline the Desert Sand
First, draw a wavy horizontal line to create the desert sand in the foreground.
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Form a Rock
Draw a large rock on the sand and erase any overlapping lines.
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Add Sand Dunes
Draw more long, curved lines to add sand dunes.
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Outline the Slopes
Add short, curving lines along the dunes to outline the slopes of the sand.
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Add Grass Patches
Draw small patches of grass scattered around the desert.
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Form the Buttes
Form the outline of tall, jagged rocky buttes in the distance.
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Add Rocky Texture
Draw short lines following the shape of the buttes to create a rocky texture.
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Outline the Background Terrain
Draw a jagged horizontal line behind the buttes to form the distant background terrain.
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Add Color to the Desert Drawing
First, color the sky light blue. Next, use rich shades of orange to color the rocks and desert sand. Now, shade the buttes and background terrain light brown. Finally, color the grass patches green.
How to Draw a Desert PDF Download
You can check out the link below to see or download this drawing lesson. The PDF is a handy resource you can print out. At the end of the PDF, you’ll find a coloring page with just the outlines and a fun exercise to spark your imagination!