Drawing a cactus

Learn how to draw this fun cactus illustration using coloured pencil!

Anyone can draw!

In this step-by-step plan, we show you how to draw this cute cactus using coloured pencils. Try out this simple drawing yourself!

What you need

  • Bruynzeel Expression pencils in the colours light green, dark green, yellow, brown and red
  • White paper

Start with a sketch.

Step 1

Draw an arche with the light green pencil. Draw smaller arches on the large arch with the light green pencil. Now you have the shape of a cactus.

Colour the cactus softly with the light green pencil.

Time for some details!

Step 2

Draw the stripes of the cactus with the dark green pencil.
Advanced tip: for each arch, make an imaginary line in the middle and bend the lines on the left side slightly to the left and the lines on the right side slightly to the right.

Draw spikes on the cactus using the dark green pencil. Draw them in different directions for a more realistic effect.

First sentence paragraph

Now for the final touches.

Draw a jar with the yellow coloured pencil. First draw a square and then on top of it draw two opposite vertical lines upwards to the right. 

Draw a horizontal line between the two points. Use the brown pencil to create shadow on the jar by adding the colour brown to the horizontal lines. Do not do this on the lowest horizontal line.

Draw a flower with the red pencil. Great job, you finished your cactus!

Have you tried making this cactus? We would love to see it! Share your drawings with us by tagging @bruynzeel_holland and use the hashtag #stepbystepwithbruynzeel.

Fancy more inspiring step-by-step plans?

Check out the blogs using the same technique!