Draw a desert landscape

What can we use if we don't have a tissue or cotton swab for blending the pencil shading?

If you don't have a tissue or cotton swab for blending, gently smudge the pencil shading (from the 'Gently blend the pencil shading with a tissue or cotton swab' step) with a clean fingertip or a cotton ball instead.

My dune lines look too dark or messy after sketching—how can I fix that?

If your horizon or dune lines become too dark after the 'Lightly draw a horizontal line' and 'Draw big wavy curved lines' steps, lift excess graphite with a kneaded eraser and redraw more lightly or practice the curves on scrap paper before marking the final sheet.

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

For younger children, pre-draw the horizon and large dune and cactus shapes and let them color with crayons, while older kids can follow the full steps—adding layered darker and lighter tones, blended shadows with a tissue, and fine-pencil cactus spines—to create more realistic depth.

What are some ways to extend or personalize the desert landscape once it's finished?

To enhance and personalize the finished desert, sprinkle craft sand glued along the lower dunes for texture, add tiny painted clay footprints or a paper cutout lizard near the rocks, then sign and share a photo on DIY.org as the final step.