How to Draw Trees and Leaves

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-23

On 2026-10-23

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

Trees appear in almost every landscape, school scenery drawing and nature sketch. Learning how to draw trees well makes all of these look more real. This Haanz Art Guide shows you how to draw a tree step by step in pencil, how to suggest thousands of leaves without drawing each one, how to draw single leaves, and which pencils and paper help.

What you need

A range of pencil grades. The Nyoni Sketch Drawing Pencil Pack, 14 pcs covers hard to soft. Or choose single Graphite Drawing Pencils in HB, 2B, 4B and 6B.
Paper with a little grain, which grips the graphite. The Fabriano Accademia Paper A4, 200gsm has a fine grain for pencil.
Art Nation Paper Stumps, 3 pcs pack for soft distant trees and smooth sky.
A Nyoni Sketch Eraser Pen or Tombow MONO Zero Eraser, Round Tip to lift out light branches and sunlit leaves.
Kuelox Fixative 180ml to reduce smudging when the drawing is finished.

Browse more in Drawing Pencils and Drawing Papers For Pencil Drawings. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.

How to draw trees step by step

Look at the overall shape. Half-close your eyes. Is the tree round like a mango tree, tall and narrow, or spreading like a rain tree? Lightly draw that big outline with an HB pencil.
Draw the trunk. The trunk is wider at the base, where roots spread into the ground, and narrows as it rises. Avoid two straight parallel lines.
Add the main branches. Branches split from the trunk in a “Y” shape. Each branch is thinner than the one it grows from. They reach outwards and upwards towards the light.
Block in leaf clumps. Leaves grow in groups, not as one solid ball. Draw four to eight cloud-like clumps inside the outline, with small gaps of sky between them.
Choose a light direction. Decide where the sun is. Each clump will be lighter on that side and darker underneath and on the other side.
Shade the clumps. With a 2B or 4B pencil, use small scribbles, loops or short zigzag strokes to fill the shadow side of each clump. Keep the edges broken and uneven so they look leafy.
Darken the deepest shadows. Use a 6B under the clumps, where the branches disappear into the leaves, and on the trunk away from the light.
Add texture to the bark. Draw short vertical lines and cracks following the curve of the trunk.
Add the cast shadow. Shade a soft shadow on the ground on the side away from the sun.

Drawing leaves up close

For a single leaf or a branch in a botanical study, draw each leaf more carefully.

Draw the centre vein first. A gentle curved line from stem to tip.
Add the outline. Draw both sides of the leaf around the vein. Notice the shape: oval, heart-shaped, long and thin, or with jagged edges.
Add side veins. They branch off the centre vein towards the edge, usually angled towards the tip.
Shade. Shade one half of the leaf a little darker to show the fold along the centre vein.
Lift highlights. Use an eraser pen to lift a thin shine along the veins.

Sri Lanka has wonderful subjects to practise on: the fan-shaped leaves of a coconut palm, broad banana leaves, the heart-shaped bo leaf, and the small leaves of a tamarind tree.

Tips for realistic trees

Distance changes detail. Trees far away are lighter, smaller and have very little detail. Blend them softly with a paper stump. Trees in front get the darkest tones and most texture.
Leave sky holes. Small gaps in the leaves make a tree look airy and real.
Vary your strokes. Use different marks for different trees: short dabs for small leaves, long strokes for palms.
Draw from life. Sit outside in the early morning or late afternoon, when shadows are clear.
Protect your work. In humid weather, rest your hand on a clean sheet of paper and spray fixative outdoors when you finish.

Common mistakes when drawing trees

A lollipop tree. A straight trunk with a round ball on top looks childish. Show branches and clumps instead.
Drawing every leaf. This takes hours and looks flat. Suggest leaves with texture and shadow.
Even tone everywhere. Without strong light and dark contrast, a tree looks flat.
Branches the same thickness. Branches should get thinner as they spread out.

Keep learning with How to Draw a Landscape in Pencil, Pencil Shading Techniques and How to Stop Smudging Drawings.

Frequently asked questions

Which pencil grade is good for drawing trees?

Start with HB for the outline, use 2B to 4B for leaf texture and 6B for the darkest shadows. Softer grades give richer darks.

How do I draw a coconut palm?

Draw a tall, slightly curved trunk with ring marks. At the top, draw long curved leaf stems spreading out like a fountain, then add thin leaflets hanging down from each stem.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? Call / WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose pencils and paper for landscape and tree drawing.

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