In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Stick Insect in 5 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.
The images above represent how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.
Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.
At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Stick Insect.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw a Stick Insect - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Let's draw a stick insect! To draw the body, simply trace a tube-like figure across your page. Make it long and skinny.
Step 2: Trace some lines at the head of the body for tiny antennas, then draw some tiny circles on either side of the stick body for little eyes.
Step 3: Draw the front legs by tracing upside down letter V shapes, making sure that they stay skinny. Here's a tip: it might help if you turn your page upside down to draw your Vs!
Step 4: Next, draw the middle legs the same exact way you drew your front legs on either side of the body. Don't forget the little feet! To create them, you can trace a small line along the bottom of the leg.
Step 5: Last, draw the back legs exactly like you drew the first two pairs of legs. Here's a tip: make the V of these legs a lot deeper than the first two! Your stick insect is now done! Did you know that stick insects can grow back their limbs? If they get caught in the teeth of a predator, they will simply break off the part of their leg that is the weakest and grow it back later!
Interesting Facts about the Stick Insect
Stick Insects are one of the most appropriately named creatures in the world because not only do they look like sticks, but they also act like them, too! Their coloring and the shape of their bodies helps them to blend in with the plants on which they like to feed.
Did you know?
- Stick Insects are able to grow back their limbs. This helps them make a getaway from any predators who might grab a hold of them. How do they do this? Well, if a bird, for example, grabs a Stick Insect’s leg, the Stick Insect will simply break off the leg at one of its weaker spots and grow another one back later on.
- Stick Insects can be green, brown, or black, and any of these colors can easily blend in with most vegetation. They even sway with the wind to mimic the movement of leaves on the tree!
- Even Stick Insect eggs are hidden from predators in that they look like seeds that just happened to be scattered across the ground.
With regard to the Stick Insect’s eggs, a mother Stick Insect is not the nicest of creatures. She will randomly drop her eggs in various places along the forest floor, and whatever happens to her babies happens.
How To Draw A Stick insect – Step-By-Step Tutorial