Hand-Drawn Cactus Canvas
It’s Earth Month, which is the perfect time to celebrate the beauty and variety we find in nature. Today, I’m sharing a project that spotlights one of the most underrated biomes, the desert. Most of us think of it as a barren wasteland, but it actually has tons of fascinating plant and animal life. For example, did you know that there are more than 1750 different species of cacti? Let’s draw just a few of them together to create this fun cactus canvas!
How to Make a Cactus Canvas
This project only requires a few materials, plus your doodles. I’ve created two printable pages as a free download that will take you step by step through drawing all nine of these plants. Or, you can trace my images until you feel comfortable doodling your own. These pages are available, along with a full tutorial for the project, on the Tombow USA Blog.
Materials
- blank white canvas – mine is 9″x12″
- Tombow Lettering Basics Set
- Tombow Dual Brush Pens, assorted shades of green, plus yellow and pink
- ruler
Once you’ve downloaded and practiced the different cactus doodles, or even tried some others of your own, you’re ready to put them together to create your decorative canvas. Check out the step-by-step tutorial on Tombow’s blog, which will walk you through dividing the canvas, then sketching, outlining, and coloring your artwork.
Crafting Tips
- My project is 9”x12”, but feel free to use any size canvas you like. Try a larger canvas and make larger (or more) illustrations, or make a miniature version instead!
- It’s very important to have the right supplies, especially a permanent marker like the Tombow MONO Twin for outlining your doodles. If you use a water-based marker, the outline will smear when you add color and ruin the project.
- Looking for more inspiration? Try this same basic project, but use nine types of flowers, trees, or animals in place of the cacti!
More Canvas Art Projects
If you’re a fan of this project, check out these other fun ways to decorate a canvas and turn it into personalized home decor!
I’d love to see your canvas art projects, friend! If you try any of these, or something totally unique, be sure to share your photos in the Amy Latta & Friends Facebook Group so we can all be inspired. See you there!
