How to Draw the Sydney Opera House in 5 Steps

Australia's Sydney Opera House is one of the mo­st recognizable buildings in the w­orld. You'll have a great time learning how to draw this unique and beautiful building.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the Sydney Opera House. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

1. Rectangles and Triangles

Sketch the basic shape of the building with two horizontal lines, rectangles, and triangles.

2. Arches

Add different levels to the rectangles using straight lines. Form arches on the triangles and below using curved lines.

3. Curve Lines

Detail the arches using curved lines that join at the top. Draw a curved line under the lower left-hand arch. Add additional curved lines to the arches on the right-hand side as shown.

Draw straight horizontal lines to two sections of the left-hand rectangle. Sketch an odd-shaped diamond. Add the door with an incomplete rectangle.

4. Ribs and Water

Sketch ribs on the arches with curved lines. Draw squiggles for the ­water line. Detail the building with rectangles, a V-shaped figure, and horizontal lines.

5. Details

Finish the drawing by adding many straight vertical lines for the wood and arches. Draw diagonal lines inside the arches and windows to show depth.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don't get it right the first time, keep practicing until you're happy with your drawing. A classic diner is a great place to meet for food and fun

How to Draw a Rural Lane in 5 Steps

With a forest silhouette in the background and a canopy of trees in the foreground, this rural lane is a peaceful nature scene. This landscape is a wonderful drawing challenge for nature lovers.

In this article, we'll show you how to draw this rural lane landscape. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out the article to get a closer look at each step.

On each page, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Ready to get started? It all begins with a horizontal line ...

1. Sketch the Horizon and Road

­L­ightly draw a horizon line just above the center of the page. Rough in two long, curving lines that come together somewhat for the outline of the road. Draw a few large ovals for rocks, placing them randomly along the sides of the road. Make three bushes with squiggly lines to define the roadway and distinguish it from the surrounding fields.

2. Fill in the Trees

Sketch a tree and branches on the left, with a tall main trunk. Show the bark on the side of the trunk with long up-and-down lines. Use short horizontal lines for the tree on the right, a birch, which has a smaller main trunk.

When filling in lines on the birch, notice that the lines are roughly horizontal, not vertical like the other tree's. These trees look pretty bare, so we'll give them leaves in the next step.

3. Add Leaves

­D­raw a squiggly line across the page, just above the horizon line, to indicate the tops of distant trees. Add smaller branches to the trees with a few crooked lines.

Arrange dozens of leaves in random clumps by sketching shapes like teardrops. Place one more tree in the background and another bush by the roadway with squiggly, circular lines. Sketch several irregular oblong shapes on the road to look like rocks and stones.

4. Roughen the Roadway

­Make a series of roughly parallel lines to look like ruts on the surface of the roadway. Sketch several clumps of tall grass at the edge of the road and around the bushes. Shape them like spikes: mostly upright, but a few are bent over.

We're almost finished! On the next page, we'll put the finishing touches on your rural lane landscape.

5. Add Shading

­Heavily shade the area between the horizon and the top of the tree line. Add short, squiggly lines to the distant tree. Use the same method for the bushes along the roadway. Sketch a few very short lines to look like tufts of grass in the field. As the last step, lightly shade the rocks.

Your landscape drawing is finished! Even if you don't get it right the first time, keep practicing until you're happy with your drawing.

How to Draw Cement Trucks in 10 Steps

For big jobs that need lots of cement, this truck carries it right where it is needed. Once you learn how to draw this cement truck, you can drive it all over your imagination.
In this article, we'll show you how to draw the above cement truck. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

Ready to get started? Check out the next page for the first step.

1. Draw the Fender and Hood

­ For the cement truck, start by drawing the shapes that make up the front fender, hood, and grille.

On the next page, we'll start drawing the cab.

2. Begin Drawing the Cab

­Draw a square with rounded corners behind the shape you just drew. This is the cab. Just below the grille, draw a slightly curved rectangle to make the front bumper.

Next, we'll add the windshield

3. Add the Windshield and Tires.

Put windows in the cab. The front windshield is a curved rectangle, and the side window is a rounded, squarish shape. Draw one of the front wheels facing you, as shown; draw a half-circle on the other side of the truck for the other front wheel.

Next, we'll add the gas tank.

4. Draw the Gas Tank

Draw a square shape below the cab; add a small rectangle at the top of this square. Draw a rounded shape with a circle at the front end for the gas tank. Draw the rear fender, outlining it to add depth.

Up next, we'll draw the rear wheels.

5. Draw the Rear Wheels

Draw the rear tires (there are three rear tires visible from this angle). Draw the arm that holds the cement barrel in place. This piece starts behind the gas tank and goes up to behind the cab -- it is slightly bent where it touches the cab. Add a very small straight line right behind the door.

Next, we'll learn how to draw the cement barrel.

6. Add the Cement Barrel

Draw the cement barrel, which looks a bit like the body of a bee. It is made up of three overlapping circles with a rounded triangle at the end.

Up next, we'll add a ladder to the rear of the vehicle.

7. Add Hooks to the Bumper and a Ladder

Add details such as two U-shape hooks on the front bumper, oval wheel hubs, and part of a rectangle behind the rear wheels for a mud flap. To finish the cement barrel, draw two semicircles, one in front of the other, at the front of the cement barrel. Draw the ladder and platform at the back of the cement barrel. Study the picture, and use a ruler to make straight lines.

We'll add more detail to the cab on the next page.

8. Add Detail to the Cab

Finish the details of the cab. Draw rectangular side mirrors, with two narrow rectangles attaching each mirror to the side of the cab. Draw four wedge-shape lights above the windshield, and sketch a candy-cane shape for the exhaust pipe coming out between two of the lights. Inside the cab, draw two semicircles, one just inside the other, for the top of the steering wheel. Draw the side and back windows, adding the line of the cement barrel.

Up next, we'll draw the grill and headlights.

9. Add the Grill and Headlights

Draw and outline two squares for the headlights. Draw a large rectangle with five long rectangles inside it -- all have rounded corners -- on the grille. Add the small horizontal line behind the front tire.

We're almost done. We'll add the final touches next.

10. Add the Final Touches

­Use a felt-tip pen to trace over the lines you want to keep, and erase the extra pencil lines.

That's it! Even if you don't get it right the first time, keep practicing until you're satisfied with your drawing. Learn how to draw a roller, a great complement to the cement truck, in the next article­.

How to Draw a Horse in 5 Steps

You­ can draw this anim­al in a number of different settings: on a farm, on a racetrack, with a cowboy, pulling a carriage, and more. Let your imagination run wild!

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above horse. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. We'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

1. Draw the Body

Draw a kidney-bean shape for the body and a peanut shape for the head. Add a rectangular form between them for the neck.

2. Add the Legs

Draw the two front legs. Sketch the closest back leg in two pieces, one pear shape and one rectangular shape. Add a rectangular shape for the back leg on the far side of the horse. Put in ovals for the ears.

3. Draw Tail and Mane

Draw two long S shapes for the tail and mane. Add the small mane on top of the head. Next, we'll add some personality and detail.

4. Add the Details

Draw ovals for the eyes, nostrils, and ear details. Put pupils in the eyes. Add hooves at the bottom of each leg. Finish this step with lines for the mouth, tail, and mane details.

You're almost done -- see the next page to learn how to polish your artwork.

5. Trace with a Pen

Use a felt-tip pen to trace over the lines you want to keep, and erase the extra pencil lines.That's it -- your horse drawing is complete!

Now you can color it and display it proudly. If you'd like to learn how to draw other farm animals, you're in luck. Next, we'll teach you the easy way to draw a cow. Go to the next section for the details.

How to Draw a Spider Plant in 5 Steps

A spider plant is one of the mos­t popular houseplants in the world. They are very easy to grow and they are admired for their ornamental features and excell­ent filtering ability.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above spider plant. You can draw this plant freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

1. Outline the Plant

Lightly sketch the plant pot. First sketch a gently curving, four-sided shape for the rim. Underneath it, sketch a similar but shorter shape for the saucer. Connect the two with gently curving lines for the sides of the pot.

Sketch in many long, narrow, curving leaves. Have some of the leaves curving over the edge of the pot. Show that some leaves are behind others.

Do this by interrupting the lines for some leaves where they meet the lines for the front leaves. Sketch in three long, curving stems that come down below the bottom of the pot.

2. More Leaves

Fill in the plant with more leaves around and behind the ones you have drawn. At the end of the stem lines, draw more long, narrow leaves for the baby plants.

Add the second side to each of the stems. Add a fourth stem at the bottom of the pot. Give it long, narrow leaves that go behind the stem next to it.

3. Pot and Roots

­Redraw the po­t, interrupting the lines of the pot where the leaves cover it. Draw tiny oval roots at the bottom of each of the babies.

4. Veins

­Draw a center vein in most of the leaves with a long line that follows the curve of the leaf.

5. Details and Shading

Shade the undersides of the leaves with lines that follow the curve of the leaf. Darken the leaves close to the pot with many short lines. Shade the sides of the pot with short, curving lines.

That was a tough one, but the spider plant is quite detailed, so give yourself a pat on the back. In the next section, learn how to draw an orchid.