How to Draw a Leaf Step by Step

by easylinedrawing

This tutorial shows an easy way to draw a leaf in for steps. It provides simple illustrated example along with some quick drawing tips.

You can see a preview of the different steps in the example above.

It’s recommended that you start the drawing portion of the tutorial in pencil. You will also want it to be fairly sharp or have fairly thin lead to make it easier to draw the small veins.

Also try and keep the pencil lines light until you are pretty much done with the line drawing.

Step 1 – Draw the Outline of the Leaf

Begin by making an outline of the main shape of the leaf. Make this narrower towards the base and wider towards the middle ending with a pointy tip.

Next add the petiole/midrib running through it’s center. The petiole should be thicker near it’s base and get slightly thinner as it changes into the midrib. The midrib should then continue getting thinner as it goes up.

Also try and draw the overall shape of the leaf so that it has a bit of a curve. This will make it look more natural.

Step 2 – Draw the Veins

Branching out from the midrib add the larger veins. Generally these should be longer near the middle and get shorter as they go up or down the leaf.

Try and draw each vein to have a slightly different curve or set of curves in it so that it looks a bit different from the rest.

Step 3 – Draw the Smaller Veins

Add some smaller veins going out from the large ones. You can draw each with just a single line.

Once done you can trace over your drawing with darker pencil lines or a thin black pen/marker.

Step 4 – Color the Leaf

When coloring make the leaf a darker green and the petiole/midrib/veins a lighter yellow green.

If you want to have an autumn leaf you can make it yellow, red or brown making the petiole/midrib/veins a lighter variation of the same color.

Conclusion

Overall drawing a leaf like the one in this example is fairly simple. The only part that may get a bit more challenging is adding the smaller details of the veins. Using a sharp pencil or thin pencil lead can generally make that a bit easier.

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