How to Draw Teepees

Drawing authentic Native American tepees give viewers a window into a historical world.

Artists interested in Native American culture may want to learn to draw tepees in their free time. Historical and realistic depictions of tepees accurately present Native American traditions to modern viewers. Using basic drawing skills and attention to detail, even a novice artist can accomplish the task of sketching a tepee. Tepees are simple and primitive tent like structures that housed Native American communities and families. According to "Tipis, Tepees, Teepees: History and Design of the Cloth Tipi" by Linda Holley, "Buffalo-hide tipis were heavy, weighing about fifty to one hundred pounds on average." Today, tepees are still used by some tribes and campers in the same way a tent is often used.

Instructions

1. Collect images of the tepee from the library or the internet. Set up the print-outs or books around your desk or workspace.

2. Start a practice drawing highlighting the basic triangular structure of the tepee. Use aspects you like from the practice sketch to advise your final draft.

3. Sketch out a rough triangular shape. Use short, quick pencil strokes.

4. Draw an underlying support structure around the sides of the tepee. Make the two sticks poke out of the top so that both of them overlap and cross above the animal-skins.

5. Add an opening in the center of the tepee between the two animal-skin flaps. Have the two flaps overlap near the top.

6. Decorate the outside of the skins with different shades to add detail. Some tepees may also have animal designs on the outer portion.

References

• "Tipis, Tepees, Teepees: History and Design of the Cloth Tipi"; Linda Holley; 2007