How to Draw a Circus Tent (Easy Step by Step)
A circus tent is a happy thing to draw because it looks like a party. It is built from simple shapes: a box for the walls, a pointed roof, little bumps along the edge, an arch for the door, and tiny pennants for the flags. Once you can draw those, you can draw the whole tent.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a circus tent step by step
How to Draw a Circus Tent · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: Walls and wall stripes
Draw a wide box with no top, with straight sides and soft bottom corners. Then add two tall straight lines inside it, one on the left and one on the right, to make the wall stripes.
Step 3: The roof outline
Draw a small round knob high above the walls. From just beside it, draw a slanted line down to the left and another down to the right, leaving a little gap at the top. Let each line curl under at the bottom where it meets the top corner of the walls.
Step 4: The scalloped edge
Draw a row of round bumps, like little rainbows, along the bottom edge of the roof from one side to the other. Make them all about the same size.
Step 5: The roof stripes
Draw long curved lines from the knob at the top down to the bumps on the roof edge. Start with the straight one in the middle, then add a curved one on each side.
Step 6: The doorway
Draw a tall arch in the middle of the walls, like an upside-down U that reaches the ground. Add a small oval at the bottom of each side of the arch for the door flaps.
Step 7: The flag
Draw a short straight pole going up from the knob on top of the roof. At the top of the pole, draw a small triangle flag that points to the right.
Step 8: The bunting string
Draw one long line that starts out on the left, rises up to meet the pole, and then slopes down to the right. It should pass above the roof like a wide, gentle hill.
Step 9: The party pennants
Hang a row of little pointed pennants from the string on each side of the pole. Make each one a small U or triangle shape with the point facing down.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your circus tent? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a piggy bank or how to draw a satellite next.
Tips for drawing a circus tent
- Draw the roof outline first, then add the stripes. If every stripe starts at the knob on top, the roof will look like it folds together.
- The bumps along the roof edge are the trickiest part. Make the first one, then try to match its size for the rest, and let each stripe end at a bump.
- For the bunting, draw the long string first and add the pennants after. It is easier to hang the flags on a line that is already there.
Free circus tent coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this circus tent coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your circus tent drawing
Red and white stripes on the roof look very circusy, with a bright yellow flag on top. For a creative twist, give every little pennant a different color, like a rainbow party banner.
Circus tent fun fact for kids
Many big circus tents are held up by tall center poles called king poles. The strong poles in the middle let the cloth roof stretch out wide on all sides.
Questions about drawing a circus tent
What shapes do I need to draw a circus tent?
You need a box for the walls, a pointed roof with a row of bumps along the edge, an arch for the door, a small triangle for the flag, and a row of tiny pennants.
How do I make the roof stripes look even?
Start every stripe at the knob on top and end each one at a bump on the roof edge. Draw the middle stripe first, then work out to each side.
How can I make my circus tent look more fun?
Color each little pennant a different color and paint the roof stripes red and white. You can also color the flag on top in a bright shade.
