How to Draw a Spooky Halloween Tree
Nothing says creepy like a spooky-looking tree at Halloween. Most trees have shed their leaves by Halloween, and this is the core of what makes for a haunting appearance. Trees are easy and fun to draw and can be decorated several ways for Halloween.
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Things You'll Need
- Drawing pencils (HB, B, 2B) Eraser Scratch paper Heavy white drawing paper (recommended 50# or heavier) Reference photographs or illustrations
Instructions
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The basics of spooky art
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Delve into reference material. While it is possible to draw a spooky Halloween tree from your imagination, it should improve your drawing to look at photographs, clip art, drawings, models or paintings of spooky trees. Flip on an episode of classic "Scooby Doo" to see the key elements that comprise a spooky tree. If it is autumn, go for a walk in the woods and examine the different types of bare trees you see.
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Analyze the elements that make up the tree. There is an overall shape to the tree. Several shapes make up the parts of the tree, including the trunk, the large branches and the smaller branches. Think of the shapes of the branches as gestures. Artists often try to capture the gesture of the human figure. You will try to capture the gesture of the branches.
Keep in mind that the gestures of the various branches make up the shape of the tree. -
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Practice sketching your tree on scratch paper. Lightly sketch the underlying shape of the tree. Then sketch in the large shapes, such as the trunk. Then sketch the gestures of your branches within the overall shape of the tree. Try a few different quick sketches. Do not spend a lot of time on this. Keeping the lines sharp and fast adds spontaneity to the drawing.
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Execute your work on nice drawing paper. Sketch the parts of the tree in the same order as before, erasing and redrawing until you are satisfied with your work. You can also add in background elements such as a full moon, a gravestone or a claw reaching out from a hole in the ground. For Halloween theme art, the spookier the better!
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Use the HB pencil to add spooky Halloween details to the tree, such as gnarled, twisted branches, knot holes housing owls, bats hanging by clawed toes or shadows encroaching upon the trunk. Consider adding a spooky figure, such as a zombie, witch, werewolf or vampire. For a nighttime sky, use your 2B softer lead pencil, or finish in watercolor or black India ink.
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Tips & Warnings
Bare, leafless trees have the spookiest connotations.
If you use copyrighted material, your artwork should be for personal use only.
