I have found the easiest way to learn to draw something is to visually break it down into it’s basic shapes. When drawing leaves, I like to start with a very simple outline shape. I then divide it up into smaller sections, which makes it easier to give the leaf it’s detail. In this post I will share with you my easy process of drawing leaves using simple shapes. We will start with a framework and create our leaf inside of it. There is also a FREE worksheet for you to download and print to get you started drawing your own beautiful leaf designs easily.
Drawing Leaves – Start With A Basic Leaf Shape
To choose your basic leaf shape, you can gather inspiration from nature, or you can go abstract and pick a shape that speaks to you. Snap pictures on your next outing to the park, or in your own back yard or garden. You will start to notice similar shapes showing up again and again. Take note of the outer shapes as well as the inner shapes that make up the leaf texture. Below I have two examples of common leaf shapes you can start with.
NOTE: I suggest you draw all of these steps in pencil, as you will want to erase all these guide lines when you are finished with your final leaf sketch.
Draw In A Centre Line
There are many different ways , that you can divide up your main shape when drawing leaves. One of the simplest is to divide the shape in half. Draw a line down the centre of your shape. This line can be straight or have a slight curve to create some flow and an organic feel to the shape.
Create Sections
With your centre line in place the next step is to divide each half of your shape into multiple sections. These next lines will provide a guide, making it easier to draw in the details of your leaf. These are not part of your final leaf design and you will be removing them later. In the examples below, I use curved lines starting from the centre line and moving outward to the edge. These can be spaced as far apart or as close together as you would like. It will depend on the final look you are going for.
Choose Your Fill Shape
Up to this point you have been creating a grid or framework that you will use for drawing leaves. Now you want to choose a shape that will make up the detail in your leaf. Depending on your design, this shape may be the small petals that make up your leaf, or it may create detail inside your larger leaf shape. The shape you choose can be the same or similar to your original outer shape, or it can be completely different.
Using the segments you created as a guide, start drawing in your shapes. I will draw one shape into each section, using it just as a guide. The shape does not have to touch all edges of the section, just use the section as a guide for placement.
Make your shapes flow together in the same direction as they would on a real leaf, as though they are growing. In most leaves, they are larger at the bottom and smaller at the top as the new growth is always forming at the top of your leaf. This is mostly the case, but if you take a look at nature there are always exceptions. Use your photos as a guide to help you with the flow and placement or just draw what feels right to you.
In the two examples above, my outer shapes are different, but the inner ones are the same. I used a wavy diamond shape to fill the sections in both examples.
Remove Your Guides
Once you have your leaf sketched into your shape using the guides and you are happy with your placement, you can now ink or darken your lines. You can erase your guides at any point of your drawing, however, I like to leave them in place until my design is finished.
Below I have removed the guides and I am left with a beautiful, simple, leaf design.
One Guide, Many Leaf Ideas
Now that you know the basics of drawing leaves, you can use the same shape idea for many different leaf styles. Play with this same shape and your guide lines but try different placements of your inner shapes.
Try drawing your shapes so that they join to the centre line or have them floating in space. Another idea is to stack them on each other, or you could also overlap them.
Play and Explore With Your Leaves
Once you have your shapes in place, add in details such as stippling, fills and contour lines. Now you have a beautiful design, and you started with just one shape. Try the FREE worksheet above and get started making your own fun and easy leaf designs.
Play around with leaf styles you like, then draw them into a design. Make one long stem and draw multiple leaves off of it. Or add them to your favourite flower sketch. Check out my previous post on how I use this same concept to create different flowers
Have fun experimenting with your shapes. If you like to share your creations on instagram, use the hashtag #jspcreate and I will be able to see them too.
Thanks for joining me and getting creative. ~ Jane ~
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
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