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Saturday, December 29, 2012

How To Draw A Totem Pole Worksheet

How to draw a totem pole drawing lesson and printable worksheet.

This free printable drawing worksheet will give the young artist confidence in drawing. Parents and teachers are welcome to print for their personal and class use. it can be part of a lesson or a stand-alone art project.

If you have problems printing CLICK HERE to visit my how-to-print page for some suggestions.


How to draw a Totem Pole Worksheet.

Sometimes it takes me hours but I create these how to draw worksheets but I do it so that I can give back because I believe that when you have been given a gift it is so you can be a gift to others, and I hope these worksheets are a means of blessing to you. You are welcome to print as many as you like.


Thank you!

CLICK HERE for a link to a file (JPEG) that may print better on some printers.

INTRODUCTION
Learning to draw takes practice; basically, if you sketch something every day you will get better as an artist. If the totem pole does not turn out the way you like do not give up, it may be that you will be more successful with a landscape or a still life. I have lots of worksheets to choose from find a few that offer variety and try them. Come back every day for a few weeks and print off a few and you will be surprised at how good an artist you have become.

OVERVIEW
How to draw a totem pole worksheet is easy to use and breaks down some of the problems young artist have with a project that has multiple themes.  The Totem pole I offer is inspired by tradition but simplified for the young artist.

The hand-carved totem pole is not a perfect representation of the people and creatures shown but are icons so the young artist does not need to worry about being perfect because it is more realistic if it is not perfect.

BEGINNING
Start with the basic shape and draw this lightly since it may need to be erased later on. The basic shape is a tall rectangle. If one wants an eagle at the top draw large wing shapes on both sides a little lower than the top.

Divide the rectangle into three or four units of squares and rectangles. Remember variety is interest so have two rectangles or two squares.

The totem pole tells a story or describes a family, so think of the story or family you want to illustrate.

DESIGN DETAILS
You might want to use scratch paper to work out the designs. Draw the designs to fit inside the squares and the rectangles of the totem pole. Your designs can be an owl, bear, beaver, dog, person, walrus or anything you want it to be.

The style of art used in totem poles is a style that fills in blank spaces with lines and shapes, so if you have a space that is empty put something in it. The easiest way is to outline things with another line.

FINISHING TOUCHES
When you have worked out the design go over it in a fine-tipped marker or colored pencils. The colors used in totem poles were made from natural sources so they were limited to white, black, red, brown, a very little bit of blue.

You can make a totem pole that tells the story of your family or of a person in your family.

I hope you draw a masterpiece!
(c) Mr. Adron D. 12/29/12