How To Draw Trees How To Draw Trees Step By Step

How to Draw Trees

Updated: 24 Feb 2022

In this guide, I will demonstrate how I simplify the cartoon process, and I promise that by the end of it you will exist able to depict your favorite tree.

In order to depict realistic trees with pen and ink, it is important to pay attention to accuracy of the grade (structure), and to acquire how to create the illusion of brightness values and transitions with pens.

Bamboo

When looking at Whatever tree, examine its basic shapes.

Information technology is a proficient practice to draw its simple shapes offset:

Once you understand these uncomplicated shapes, yous can apply your artistic license and your knowledge to recreate it.

At that place is no point cartoon every single leaf equally you encounter it (when using a reference image as a guide).

Bamboo trees pen drawing Bamboo

Banana Tree

For copse with big leaves, like a banana tree, first draw a report of the leaves from different angles.

For a realistic effect, brand sure there is no symmetry, and that each leaf is unique.

Yous can utilize markers; they piece of work well with pens.

Banana leaves, drawing and painting with markers

Olive Tree Trunk

Expect at some reference images, or actual copse, before drawing the tree trunk.

First, depict outlines to create the form (structure).

Remember:

Draw sparse and gentle outlines, and so they are not assuming.

Adjacent, add some guidelines and basic details.

Adding some details to olive tree trunks

Last step is texture drawing.

Focus mainly on brightness values, while drawing marks with shape and direction like the reference epitome.

Olive tree trunks pen drawing Olive tree trunks

Go along in mind:

Each olive tree trunk has its own "personality", simply all olive trees share mutual basic shapes.

How to Draw Leaves

Cartoon leaves tin can exist challenging. Understanding their construction, and breaking the drawing process into steps, will produce a satisfying and realistic result.

Each tree leaf is in dissimilar direction, has a different caste of foreshortening, and is overlapping other leaves.

Simply put, the course and texture of leaves is abstract and messy.

To draw that, you need to exist sketchy and loose with your marks, and to avoid any pattern!

Side by side footstep is to pay attending to brightness values. That is how y'all create the illusion of volume. Pregnant, 3-dimensional and not flat.

To create that illusion, scribble more lines for darker values, and fewer lines for brighter values:

How to add depth and volume to leaves when drawing

In addition, pay attention to leaves size, depending on the tree type, and how distant information technology is from the observer.

For large leaves, sketch large marks, and vice versa:

Different pen marks size for different leaves size

While the treetop is messy, at its edges you can add some indication of leaves type and size.

A drawing of an olive tree with pen and ink Olive tree

Afterwards agreement the characteristics of a specific tree (olive tree in this case), it is quite easy to depict it from imagination.

If some terms similar foreshortening and overlapping are new to you, read my guide on how to draw with a sense of depth. It covers 15 methods to add depth to your cartoon or painting.

Good to know:

More often than not, I apply a pen with nib size 0.1. It is pocket-sized enough to create fine details.

Photos & Contrast

When I am taking photos of a tree, I do information technology from several angles.

If possible, I circle the tree to become a photograph from every angle.

I select a photograph that has high contrast as my reference epitome.

Contrast betwixt highlights and shadows is crucial for a drawing to stand up out, and to have presence.

Non plenty contrast leads to a flat drawing with no depth. Besides much contrast looks cartoonish.

Realistic olive tree pen drawing Olive tree

Pine Trees

Important:

Before diving into circuitous texturing and rendering, if you are a beginner, y'all might desire to exercise the next stride.

Draw any random tree shape, sketch some random marks to fill information technology up, and and then draw more sketchy marks in ane side and at the bottom of the tree (to create a darker value for the shadow area).

This should not accept more 5 minutes! The advanced texture you will see subsequently this example is just a matter of many hours of do to refine the texture marks.

Pine trees are relatively easy to depict from imagination.

They have very small, needle-like leaves.

I similar to start by gently drawing the form, and then fill information technology with small, random marks, that are Non in any specific management or with reoccurring shape.

Last step is to draw more marks for darker areas, depending on the management of light you lot choose.

How to draw pine trees from imagination with pen

Pine trees come up in many types and shapes.

Looking at a reference image can aid at the beginning, but as a guide to draw the form, and to pay attention to night and light areas.

Other than that, try to be loose and sketchy with your marks.

When drawing a close-up view, yous can signal the needle-like leaves at the edges of the tree.

Realistic pine tree pen drawing Pine tree

Snowy Pine Tree

A pen has only one brightness value. Therefore, you have to use dissimilar techniques to create the illusion of transitions in brightness values.

I technique (or style) is to apply hatching. Hatching means drawing parallel lines.

By cartoon lines with unlike degree of spacing between them (or with different line width), yous tin can create an illusion of different brightness values.

Another method is to use cross-hatching.

Cross-hatching means drawing sets of parallel lines in different direction. Past calculation more sets of cross-hatching, you tin can create the illusion of darker values.

Y'all can use ANY pen for drawing. I prefer artist-grade technical pens (too fineliners). They create lines with stock-still width, and their ink is made of pigments, which is very durable and lightfast.

Drawing with ballpoint pen and with a technical pen

For the snow part, yous can leave information technology empty ("white"), or you can use hatching in some areas.

In this example, I used some hatching, and some marks with very light grey marker.

Pen drawing of a snowy pine tree Snowy Pine tree

If you want to know more about markers, visit my markers review for artists.

Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree is only another pine tree, only with decorations.

To add together some baubles, first depict their shape, and then endeavor different types of hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling.

Stippling is a drawing technique that uses dots. The more than dots you add in one area, the darker it looks.

You tin add other decorations to your Christmas tree.

Information technology is best to get-go sketch some test drawings on a different newspaper, to see what works, before adding them to your cartoon.

To add together boxes in perspective, yous should exist familiar with linear perspective cartoon, and learn to draw from imagination.

Pen drawing of boxes and other decorations for tree

Tip:

If you find it hard to describe a tree with a pen, you can e'er start with a pencil.

When you lot reach a satisfying issue, you can become over it with a pen, and gently erase the pencil marks.

Pen drawing of a realistic Christmas tree with decorations Christmas tree

Drawing with White Pens

When cartoon with white pens, pay attending to the same cartoon fundamentals.

While with black pens you draw more lines for darker areas, with white pens you should describe more lines for light/brilliant areas.

Tree drawing with white pen on black paper

These pens are most constructive on black (or night) paper, and for highlights.

Go on in mind:

White pens are designed for roofing.

Drawing with a black pen (which has ink) over white areas (made past a white pen), may ruin the pen's pecker, because it volition be covered with the white substance (therefore its ink will non menstruum smoothly).

Aspen & Birch Trees

Aspen & birch tree trunks are easy to describe when doing it in steps.

Describe the form first:

Then, add some basic details:

Finally, draw some brightness values, and texture:

Birch trees and aspen trees pen drawing Birch & aspen tree trunks

You tin can utilize (lite) gray markers for coloring:

Overlapping

Overlapping ways an object that partially covers another object.

When you see an object that overlaps another object, you assume that this object is in front of the object it covers.

Overlapping is one of the well-nigh powerful ways to create the illusion of depth on a flat paper.

Two overlapping trees pen drawing Overlapping trees

Because you cannot erase pen marks, it is all-time to draw foreground objects start!

If you want to draw a house in front end of a tree, depict the firm first:

Do the same for tree branches.

First, draw the co-operative that overlaps a tree, then the tree trunk.

For trees that have a circuitous structure, with many branches, you can use a pencil to draw the basic shapes.

When yous are happy with the result, you can draw over it with a pen, and gently erase the pencil marks.

A realistic drawing of birch trees with pen Birch copse

Transitions

Transitions are function of drawing (and painting) fundamentals. They exist everywhere!

For example, different areas of a flat plane accept different relationships with any calorie-free source, reflections, and shadows.

Therefore, ever look for transitions (in brightness values) for your cartoon to look realistic and natural.

Different types of values transitions in leaves

Offset, await for light and dark areas.

Then, look for transitions inside each area. Transitions from dark to light, from calorie-free to lighter, and from dark to darker.

Oak tree, realistic pen drawing Oak tree

Past drawing with NO transitions (and using hard edges), you can create something that looks unnatural, as opposed to something realistic with transitions.

Drawing of an unnatural leaves box vs natural leaves

The same way a gardener trims bushes and trees, y'all tin can use your artistic license to create something that looks artificial or human-made:

Artistic license means to utilise your knowledge and experience.

Once yous sympathize how to draw leaves, you can draw anything with leaves texture. Objects, figures, vehicles, or even a fridge:

Pen drawing of a refrigerator with leaves texture

Good to know:

Transitions are non limited to brightness values. Transitions be in colors, texture, edges, and temperature (transition from warm colors to absurd colors).

If you are struggling with realistic drawing, y'all might want to read my realistic pencil-drawing guide. It covers the 4 of import fundamentals (accuracy of the grade, brightness values, edges, and transitions).

Weeping Willow

A weeping willow tree is a flake tricky to draw.

Its leaves are easy to describe at an up-close look. As you get farther away, you can encounter long clusters of leaves with no unmarried leaf shape.

Y'all tin outset by drawing an outline for the tree construction. Exercise information technology gently.

Drawing the outline for the form of a weeping willow

So, i style is to draw the treetop (crown), section by section.

Alternatively, like in this example, you tin draw the night values first.

Drawing the dark values for weeping willow tree

Something to consider:

As mentioned above, a pen has ane brightness value (ordinarily black, though other colors exist, more on that subsequently).

By drawing gently and swiftly, with a sharp angle, yous can produce lines that are less defined, and therefore with a lighter value.

The last footstep is to add the light values.

Pay attention to brightness values, transitions, and texture. Be abstruse with your marks, all the same with a sense of direction.

Weeping willow, realistic pen drawing Weeping Willow

How to Draw Huge Copse

For some big trees, like Ficus, I like to use a large paper sail (A3 in this case).

If the tree is too complex to draw, you tin draw a filigree (softly with a pencil), to split the paper into smaller sections (and utilize the same grid for your reference image).

Keep in mind:

Drawing on a big paper with a pen (or a pencil) is fourth dimension-consuming. For a tree like this, it can easily have more than twenty hours to consummate.

Realistic ficus tree drawing with pen and ink Ficus tree

Sometimes, huge drawings may not look so big on a pocket-size screen.

You can give information technology context past adding background trees (from imagination in this case).

Pen drawing of a ficus tree and background Background drawing

Something to consider:

You should use the rules of atmospheric perspective when drawing backgrounds (mural).

When objects are far abroad, there are more atmosphere particles (that scatter light) betwixt them and the observer.

For far away objects, utilize less contrast and fewer details. In addition, background layers become lighter, and have soft edges.

Calculation Groundwork

Trees are beautiful on their own. Sometimes though, yous may want to add a background.

Cartoon grass is a simple and easy solution for background.

Start by drawing some brusque lines. The lines in the forepart should be a scrap bolder and longer.

Add more lines; some can be longer (mostly in the foreground).

Avoid any design, and try to be abstract with your marks.

With a tree (eucalyptus in this case), grass (equally background) adds depth.

There is no actual depth in a drawing, your paper sheet is flat. The college you draw on your paper (until the horizon), the farther away information technology looks.

By drawing cast shadow by the tree, you can add a sense of space to your drawing.

To describe cast shadow, add together more than marks (lines) for that area, to create the illusion of dark value.

Adding Plants

Another pick is to add some plants. For example, cattail constitute (Typha).

Remember:

Natural plants and trees have an abstract shape. Make sure you do not draw them too circular and uniform.

When drawing long leaves, pay attention to bandage shadows:

After test-drawing the plant's parts, draw some loose outlines.

For realistic results, draw each blossom or foliage with different size, shape, and direction (but, keep in mind the tree or plant characteristics).

Additionally, pay attention to overlapping.

Then, add together some brightness values and cast shadows.

Cattail (Typha) realistic pen drawing Cattail

Now you can combine grass and plants to draw a landscape.

Landscape with trees, pen drawing Mural pen drawing

And, paint information technology with markers.

Painting a landscape drawing with markers Coloring with markers

Size & Context

The way to define the size of objects is past placing them near other familiar objects.

Although a worm is usually quite small, by drawing it big compared to known objects like copse, information technology is possible to create a giant monstrous worm.

Giant monstrous worm pen drawing Giant worm

On the other manus, y'all might want to depict a small tree, like a bonsai tree.

In this case, you demand context.

Drawing a tree in a plant pot tin help, only sometimes even large copse are sold within pots.

Drawing familiar environment, like a room, can help a lot in defining the bonsai's size.

Pen drawing of a bonsai tree in a room Bonsai tree

Colored Pens

While the principal color for technical pens is black, many brands offer other color options.

Pens with colors Colored technical pens

I prefer black ink, but occasionally I like to mix it up with colors.

Pen drawing of an Acacia tree Acacia tree

Log

To describe logs, timber, or tree trunks, outset by drawing the outlines gently.

Pay attention to foreshortening, and add some bones details.

Lastly, decide where to place the lite source, and draw a gradual transition in brightness values with sketchy marks.

Transitions:

A cylindrical object has a transition in effulgence values, from dark to light.

When using a black pen, draw more than lines for darker areas.

Another option is to describe less defined lines (swiftly at an bending), and add together more lines for darker values.

Transitions in brightness values using a black pen

Colored pens:

Dissimilar black pens, colored pens come up in different levels of opacity.

When drawing more in the same surface area, the pen creates a darkness value. Sometimes you lot can permit the pen ink dry, and then draw over it again.

Transitions in brightness values using colored pens

Edges:

Cast shadows usually have soft edges (run across beneath how the cast shadow from the rope has a soft edge).

When you scribble the forest texture, you want to take some dents and holes in some areas.

Describe these dents with a hard border on their darker part, and a soft edge when the transition ends (the light side of the paring, or hole).

For a more realistic rendering, with more details, draw big.

Realistic pen drawing of a tree log with a rope

Summary

While there are no lines in nature, pens tin can merely create lines!

Drawing is creating an illusion. The world is three-dimensional, just your newspaper-sheet is ii-dimensional.

To create this illusion, pay attending to brightness values, edges, and transitions (among other things).

A pen has but one brightness value, and so, dissimilar other cartoon mediums (graphite, charcoal, pastel...), you have to create the illusion of different brightness values and transitions (in brightness values).

When drawing copse, focus on accuracy of the form, and on brightness values.

Make certain you lot have enough contrast betwixt highlights and shadows, for the drawing to be noticeable.

Afterwards you master drawing the form and brightness values, details (texture) make all the deviation.

If you liked this article, you might like my flower pen-drawing guide also.

For my recommended pens that I used in this guide, visit my review for fineliners and technical pens for drawing.