How to Draw a Plant

The basic form of a plant is that of growth. If you look at how things grow, they will lead your hand and eye to draw them better. Here are a few tips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Look at the form of a leaf. You might want to start with a simple shaped leaf. Draw the outline. Notice how it grows from the bottom up and unfurls.

2. 

   All leaves have midribs where the water and food is conducted to the rest of the leaf. This area is usually somewhat depressed or accented. Use a little darker coloring around it.

3. 

   New leaves usually grow out of the base of the plant or the tip of the twig. These leaves will be on slightly different angles from each other.

4. 

   If you look closely at a leaf, you will see how the main veins branch out to other parts of the leaf, just like branches extend from the limb of a tree or our veins branch out in our bodies.

5. 

   Include this branching in some of your leaves. If your plant has a lot of leaves, not all leaves need to show veining. Some can remain blank while just a few strokes can be suggested on others to leave something of your drawing to the imagination of the viewer. I then add a touch of yellow to the edges of the green to warm up the color.

6. These same concepts can be used in sketching or painting as well.

[JMKnudson]

on 11/5/2008 Almost makes me feel like I can actually draw!

[MIghtyDreamer]

on 11/4/2008 What a pretty looking article. Nice layout and tips that if you keep ones like this up, a writer may begin thinking about an art career too.