How to Draw a Family Tree With Monkeys

Family trees can be done in many different formats. You can draw them as simple branching lines or illustrate an actual tree and make the fruit itself the individual members of the family. Another idea is to construct a family tree from a bundle of silly monkeys. This would make a great class project for children or a present for someone who is fond of animals. Drawing a family tree with monkeys relies on creating a frame that will work logically as a family tree. For the example in this article, the monkeys will be stacked on top of each other and their tails, hands and feet will act like the branches of a traditional family tree.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Draw a large "U" shape in the center of the page. Attach a short vertical line to the bottom of the "U." Draw two curved lines coming out of the middle of the U's right and left sides. Add two diagonal lines coming out of the top right and left sides of the U. Add a vertical line coming off the end of these lines. Attach a sideways "L" shape to the right side and a diagonal "V" shape to the left side.

2. 
    

   Draw the monkeys' stomachs with five small circles on the U shape. Place the first at the bottom on the vertical line. Place the next two on the U section just before the curved lines. Place the last two on the diagonal lines extending from the upper right and left of the U shape. Add the monkey heads with small circles that are just a bit smaller than the stomachs. Place these directly on top of the first three monkey bellies. Place the last two heads below and towards the center of the "U" shape on the upper right and left monkeys. This will show the top two monkeys as being upside down.

3. 
    

   Draw four tails on the monkeys. Do this by drawing an "S" shape coming out of the backs of all of the left side monkeys and a reverse "S" shape for all the right side monkeys. The bottom monkey does not have his tail exposed in this picture so you don't have to draw it. Draw parallel lines around the lines extending from the "U". These will be the monkeys' arms and legs. Add a curved line in the shape of a "?" to the outside of the bottom right and left monkeys to show their folded legs. Add two triangles to the bottom center monkey for his folded legs. Place these triangles on the bottom right and left side of his belly.

4. 
    

   Draw a small circle at the bottom of each head to make the monkey's mouth. Attach a semicircle to each side of the head. Draw a curved "M" shape above the mouth. This mask-like shape will act as the eyes for the monkeys. Draw two small circles inside for pupils. Add two small curved lines at the top of the mouth circles for nostrils. Add a large curved line below the nostrils for the smile.

5. 
    

   Erase all of the guidelines. Ink the entire drawing. Let the ink dry and erase your pencil lines. You can place photographs or names of people in your family at each hand, tail or foot of the monkey. Place the grandmother and grandfather on the bottom right and left sides of the lower most monkey. Next place the child of the grandparent and his or her spouse in the second row monkey's hand. Lastly, place pictures of the grandchildren on the top monkey's feet and hand. When you are finished all of the grandchildren should be on the top level, the parents on the middle and the grandparents at the bottom.

Tips & Warnings

• You can color the entire drawing after you are finished. Make a photocopy first, so that you don't damage the original.
• Let the ink dry before erasing the picture or you will smear the illustration.

Resources

• A website with free downloads of different family tree templates.