Sketch a Leafy Tree

For my third post I decided that I wanted to draw a tree. I chose to do a tree because they are often in many pictures and drawings, so it would be very useful to me to learn how to draw one in a much better way than how I normally do. According to Mark and Mary Willenbrink, "Trees may be the center of interest in a scene or just a background element. Each tree has a character all its own" (Willenbrink 56).

There are three main steps to drawing the perfect leafy tree, and they're all relatively easy.

Step 1: Basic shape

The first step is to sketch the basic shape of the tree. To do this, "start with the basic  overall shape of the tree. Place the trunk toward the bottom of the page" (Willenbrink 56). This is the easiest step, you get to be creative with the shape of the tree and you can make it as big as you want it. Having the basic shape will help you figure out how you want the tree to be and how you're going to go about that.

Step 2: branches and leaves

Now that we have our tree outline, we can move on to step two. Yay! For the second step, sketch the branches and refine the shape. The way to do this is to, "sketch in some of the branches. Add more definition to the outer form of the tree by outlining the edges of the leaves" (Willenbrink 56). Doing this step is very important because it will help you understand the structure of the tree and where to place the leaves.



We've finally made it to the final step. This is where the tree starts to look like a real tree. In this last step, we're going to add the leaves and add shading. The best way to start this is too clean up the tree and erase any lines that are unnecessary. To create shadows, "Use a variety of back and forth lines to suggest leaves. Make some lines darker than others" (Willenbrink 56). This is going to add depth to your tree and make it look a lot more realistic.

Step 3: Add details

Overall, I think that I did an alright job doing this tree. But it does look a lot better than how I would normally draw a tree. I'm going to use the information and the skills from drawing this to help me later on.

Question: Do you think that adding depth is important when trying to draw a realistic object? Why or why not?

Willenbrink, Mark, and Mary Willenbrink. Drawing for the Absolute Beginner: A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Drawing. Cincinnati, OH: North Light, 2006. Print.