How to Draw a Picnic Table

Modern picnic tables are typically made of chemically treated pine or redwood pieces that are connected and reinforced with steel bolts and struts. Rectangular tables seat four to six people and are usually about 8 feet long, 2.5 feet high and 5 feet wide. The most common shapes for picnic tables are rectangles and circles, although more exotic designs aren't unheard of.

Instructions

1

Turn a standard sheet of drawing paper (8.5 inches by 11 inches) so that the length runs left to right. Draw the first of two 3-inch vertical line segments to begin the framework. Position the segment midway between the top and bottom of the paper and about 1.5 inches from the paper's right edge (see Resources).

2

Draw another 3-inch vertical line segment to the left of the first one. Locate the new segment's top endpoint as follows: Position your pencil point 4 inches to the left of the top endpoint of Step 1's line segment. Move your pencil tip 2 inches higher and plot the top endpoint of the new segment. Draw directly down from that top endpoint for 3 inches to complete the second vertical segment. Draw two new line segments--one connecting the top endpoints of the two vertical segments, the other connecting the bottom endpoints of the vertical segments.

You'll now see a parallelogram shaped like the one in the "Parallelogram" Resources link. The parallelogram you just completed will aid in placing the table's parts.

3

Draw two reference lines--the first will connect the midpoints of the parallelogram's left and right sides (These sides are the two vertical segments you drew earlier). The second connects the midpoints of the parallelogram's top and bottom line.

4

Form the seat support by drawing a second edge parallel to and slightly below your first reference line. Draw two vertical lines connecting this new edge's left and right points with the corresponding points on the reference line.

5

Draw the seats. Sketch ovals atop both left and right ends of the seat support. The ovals should be about 1/2 inch wide and 1/8 inch high.

6

Sketch the legs. Extend a line from the parallelogram's bottom right corner to the parallelogram's top line segment, 1/4 of the length of the top segment, measured from its right endpoint. Make the left leg with the corresponding points on the parallelogram's left side. Ensure that the top points of both legs are an equal distance from the parallelogram's vertical reference line.

7

Create the tabletop by drawing a line segment parallel to--and 1/8 of an inch under--the parallelogram's top line segment. Connect the new line segment's left endpoint to the left endpoint of the parallelogram's top line segment. Connect the new segment's right endpoint to the right endpoint of the parallelogram's top line segment. This completes the tabletop and the table's cross-section. You'll now duplicate this section, then connect the two sections to complete the table.

8

Make a duplicate of the completed cross-section on the same page as the cross section: Trace onto a new page the cross section you completed in Step 7, then trace the image you just traced back onto your original page, ensuring that the top left point of the new parallelogram is 4 inches left of and 1.5 inches below the top left point of the original parallelogram.

9

Connect the left and right ends of the tabletop and the left and right ends of both seats between the original and the new parallelogram. Widen the leg lines and erase all guidelines to complete your picnic table. Erase any parts of the drawing that are hidden by the tabletop.