How to draw a tree with colored pencils

How To Draw Trees

Welcome to the definitive guide to drawing trees. This page features four in-depth lessons on how to draw trees using various mediums and approaches.

Use the table of contents below to skip to the lesson of your choice or go through each lesson chronologically.

Table of Contents

• Lesson One: How to Draw a Tree with Pencil
• Lesson Two: How to Draw a Tree with Pen and Ink
• Lesson Three: Drawing Old Trees with Charcoal and Sepia Tones
• Lesson Four: Drawing Trees with Colored Pencils

Lesson One: How to Draw a Tree with Pencil (Graphite)

In this lesson, we'll explore a structured approach to drawing a realistic tree with pencil. The approach that I'll share with you can be applied to any species of tree and can even be adapted to drawing bushes and shrubbery. In this approach, we'll examine specific aspects of the tree and apply what is observed to the drawing.

You're likely to find the most success drawing a tree from observation, but you can also apply this method to drawing a tree from your imagination.

What You'll Need...

In this example, we'll draw the tree using graphite pencils. Three pencils are used, but the pencils that you may use are dependent on the pressure that you typically place on the pencil. Ultimately, you'll need to create a full range of value in the drawing. For this reason, a range of graphite grades are used.

• 2H Pencil - Used for establishing the shapes. (Too much pressure with this pencil could create depressions in the surface of the paper.)
• HB Pencil - Used for developing the mid tones and the lighter values.
• 4B Pencil (or equivalent) - Used for developing the darker values.

Since texture will play an important role in the drawing, the surface that you choose to work on is important. For this example, Bristol paper (vellum surface) is used. This paper is very smooth, but still has an ample tooth (texture) to accept multiple applications of graphite.

Bristol paper provides a good amount of control over the mark, but the texture in the drawing must be developed through mark-making and value alone. (Detail of texture created on Bristol paper is pictured below left.)

Some will prefer a paper with a greater texture. Working on a surface with a bit more tooth can aid in the development of the texture of the leaves. Charcoal paper is a good solution for those wanting to exploit the surface texture. (Detail of texture created on charcoal paper is pictured above right.)

Keys to Drawing Trees

It's easy to become overwhelmed when you look at a tree. There are so many details! But to draw one accurately, we need not be consumed with these details. Instead, we'll breakdown the tree into three simple aspects. We'll develop each aspect individually, following a structured approach.

Step 1 - Find the Shape(s) - The first thing we'll do is define the overall shape of the tree. Drawing lightly with the 2H pencil, we'll concentrate only on the outer contours.

With the outer contours defined, we'll next find the smaller shapes within the canopy of the tree. These locations are "clumps" or collections of leaves found at the end of the branches.

Step 2 - Develop the Texture - Using the defined shapes as a guide, we'll start to develop the texture of the leaves. This process requires patience. Take your time and remain consistent. It is not necessary to draw every leaf, instead we'll create the illusion of collections of leaves. We'll think about each "clump" or collection of leaves as a form, developing the highlights and shadows on each.

Organic collections of lines can be used to create the illusion of the texture. These lines may be small squiggles that overlap. Be sure to leave an organic and irregular edge around the outer contours of the tree and leave small open spaces within the canopy.

Step 3 - Develop the Value - The illusion of texture is created not only by the marks that are made, but also through the development of the values. Value is the darkness or lightness of a color. It is responsible for communicating not only the light within the scene, but also the form and texture of the object. Our goal is to create a full range of value, including the darkest "darks" and the lightest "lights".

Additional Considerations

1. Take Your Time - As mentioned before, drawing a realistic tree requires patience and persistence. (This is really true for any subject that you draw.) Far too many people believe that drawing should be quick and easy. Sometimes just "slowing down" and patiently developing the drawing leads to considerable improvement.

2. You Are Creating an Illusion - Drawing is an act of illusion. It is the development of the shapes, textures, and value that create this illusion. There's no need to draw everything that you see. Instead, concentrate on how you can create the illusion of what you see.

3. Deviations are Acceptable - When drawing from observation, deviations from the original reference or subject are inevitable. Creating an exact copy of your subject probably shouldn't be your goal. Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself to be "perfect". This will just lead to frustration.

Lesson Two: How to Draw a Tree with Pen and Ink

Basic Elements to Consider When Drawing a Tree

When we create a drawing of a tree with pen and ink, we'll consider the same basic elements. Remember, the details that we see - the leaves, branches, and trunk can all be simplified, making the illusion that we create in a drawing a bit more manageable. When we draw, we create an illusion - not always an exact copy of what we see.

Just like with graphite drawing, creating this illusion in a pen and ink drawing can be accomplished by focusing on three key elements:

1. Shape
2. Form
3. Texture
   

The following video demonstrates how to draw a tree with pen and ink by focusing on these three basic elements.

Recognizing the Shape of the Tree

Trees are clearly organic subjects and the shapes that they create are also organic. The first thing that we need to recognize is the overall shape of the tree which will vary based on the type of tree that you are drawing.

To recognize the shape of the tree, look at the overall contour of the shape. If you struggle with seeing this, try squinting your eyes - blurring out the details. Look at the outer edges of the tree and simplify what you are seeing into a line that can be enclosed.

This overall shape can be loosely sketched with a graphite pencil. Use a light touch so that the graphite can be erased easily once ink applications have been made. Make comparisons between your drawing and what you are seeing and make any necessary changes.

Finding the Shapes Within the Tree

With the basic contour in place, we can begin to locate smaller shapes that happen within the body of the tree. Trees are made up of collections of leaves and branches that extend from the trunk. These collections of leaves and branches are forms but before we develop the illusion of these forms, we must recognize the basic shapes that they create.

Again, these basic shapes can be lightly sketched with a graphite pencil. We aren't concerned with the details of the leaves at this point. Instead, we just want to simplify the collections of leaves into basic shapes. The shapes that you draw will again vary based on the type of tree that you are drawing.

If you find that recognizing these basic shapes is difficult, try looking for areas of contrasting values. Typically, darker values are found on the lower portion of each shape with lighter values on the top.

Creating the Illusion of Form

Now, we need to create the illusion of form. In order to create this illusion, we'll need to consider the light source and add darker values in locations of shadow while leaving areas of lighter value in locations of highlight. The key to creating the illusion of form with any subject lies in the locations of value.

For each of the smaller shapes that we drew in the last step, we'll add darker values in the locations of shadow. These areas of shadow exist mainly on the opposite side from where the light source originates. And like with basic forms, there will be a gradation of value from light to dark, creating locations of midtone. Since these forms are irregular, the locations of shadow and middle values are also irregular.

These values are added and developed through textural marks that resemble the texture of the leaves. Textural marks are more concentrated in locations where the value is darker and more sparse in areas where the value is lighter.

Adding Texture to The Tree with Pen and Ink

When drawing with pen and ink, the values that are created are mostly dependent on optical mixing. Since every mark is dark, even when applied with light pressure, we must rely on the white of the paper to affect the perceived value. This is important to remember since we are building up the value as we develop the texture.

It's easy to become focused on each individual leaf when drawing a tree. But in our drawing, we don't need to draw every single one. Instead, we need to mimic the texture that is perceived. Surprisingly, this can be accomplished with very loose marks with pen and ink.

With many species of trees, small squiggly lines made with the pen can create a convincing texture.

No matter what type of pattern you decide to use for developing the texture, it's important to stay consistent. Make sure that the marks that you add to the top of the tree are consistent with the marks that are used to describe the middle and bottom of the tree.

Even though loose, squiggly marks result in a believable texture, it doesn't mean that this process is fast. Take your time and patiently develop each section. Take breaks if necessary. Working slowly will pay off in the end.

Directional strokes can be used to develop the texture of the trunk of the tree. Again, we can concentrate these marks in areas of shadow and allow them to become more sparse in areas where light is hitting.

Even a subtle change in the textural marks that you make will produce enough contrast to communicate a different texture in the drawing.

Once all of the ink applications have been made and allowed to dry completely, a kneaded eraser can be used to remove any of the graphite guidelines that may be visible.

Lesson Three: How to Draw an Old Tree with Charcoal

Capturing The Character of a Old Tree in a Drawing

Every living thing has its own personality and trees are no different. As artists, part of our duty is to capture the personality of the subject - the character of the entity - in our drawings. This can be a daunting task if we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with details or become too obsessed with realism. But if we look for bits of visual information that can be exploited in the form of a drawing, then we're likely to capture the character, resulting in a drawing that is accurate while still telling a visual story.

When it comes to trees, the character is often found in the shapes, lines, values, and textures - the same things that we would look for if our goal was to create a photo-realistic drawing.

The following video demonstrates the process of drawing an old tree with charcoal and sepia tones.

Drawing with Charcoal and Sepia Tones

Recommended Materials

(Some of the following links are affiliate links which means we earn a small commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you. )

• Koh-i-Noor Gioconda Pencil Set
• Stonehenge Paper
• White Charcoal Pencil

Charcoal, a black powdery medium from burnt organic material, and the reddish-brown tones of the color, sepia are a match "made in heaven". The earthy tones of any sepia material, whether it be pastel or conte, marry well with the rich darks produced by charcoal. And when you add a little white charcoal into the mix, a beautiful range of value and color can be achieved.

What is Sepia?

Simply put, sepia is a range of color from browns to reds. All sepia tones have a bit of earthy red and brown in them in varying degrees. Originally, sepia ink was widely-used as a writing ink in early Greek and Roman civilizations and was also used by artists - perhaps most famously, by Leonardo da Vinci.

Sepia tones are used in every artistic medium from photography to painting. They can be used as color enhancements in photos to make them appear older or as underpaintings. The softer tones produced by sepia colors add a touch of color to an otherwise monochromatic composition.

Sepia tones are often used alongside charcoal to soften the strong blacks produced the material. The reddish-browns also add a bit of color to the drawing, adding interest. Sepia tones are most effective when used for subjects that already have reds and brown in them naturally, such as portraits and landscapes.

How to Draw an Old Tree Step by Step

In this lesson, we're working on toned Stonehenge paper (Fawn, Vellum surface). Stonehenge papers are 100% cotton which results in a soft surface. Softer surfaces naturally produce a softer mark which may be preferred by some artists.

We'll begin by lightly drawing the contours of the tree with a Red Chalk pencil from the Gioconda pencil line from Koh-i-noor. Although this pencil is labeled as a "chalk" pencil, it feels and behaves like an oil pencil.

The marks at this stage are light and loose as we try to find the boundaries of the subject. The most important element at this stage is the core of the trunk and the branches of the tree. We'll also exaggerate the contours a bit, making them bumpier. This will add some character to the tree and make it appear a bit older.

It may be helpful to think of the branches as tubes or cylinders. It's easy to add branches that extend from the edges of the trunk, but some of these should bend and turn towards and away from the viewer. Drawing the branches in this manner adds depth.

Once the contours are loosely sketched, we can enhance the line quality. Line quality refers to the thickness or thinness of the line. There should be some variety here. Generally, portions of the tree that are thicker can be defined by a thicker line. This means that we can revisit the core of the trunk and make the lines that define it a little thicker.

Now that the contours are in place, we can start to develop the texture on the trunk of the tree. Mostly, this texture is defined by line applications. The directional lines that we add here are important and should flow with the form of each section of the tree. Lines that flow over the form of the subject are referred to as "cross contour lines". It's important to point out that the texture of the tree changes throughout. In some areas the lines are predominantly straight, while in other locations the lines may be made up of smaller circles.

Now we're ready to begin addressing the value range. Value is the darkness or lightness of a color. Value communicates the form and texture of the subject. We'll start by applying an application of white charcoal over the majority of the tree. By doing this, we can preserve the lighter areas before developing the darker ones. The stroke of the mark should be considered here as well. Just like in the last step, we'll make marks that flow with the cross contours.

We'll begin introducing darker tones and midtones with a Sepia Light pencil from the Gioconda line. This pencil is powdery and behaves in a similar manner as a pastel pencil. Since the light source originates from the upper left, darker tones are concentrated on the right side of the tree. However, since the tree is curved, some darker tones are also found on the left side. Again, strokes applied with the pencil flow with the cross contours.

Before going even darker, the white charcoal pencil can be used to soften areas where the contrast may be too demanding.

Now we can push the darker tones with a charcoal pencil. We shouldn't cover the applications made with the Sepia Light pencil completely, but instead focus on the locations where the value should be very dark. Again theses locations exist on either side of the tree, but are more dominant on the side opposite from the light source.

We can now go back with a sharpened white charcoal pencil and enhance the highlights further. This broadens the range of value and increases the contrast. Edges are then refined and blacks deepened using a Negro pencil.

We can then fill in loose indications of leaves and grass at the bottom of the tree and throughout the canopy using a combination of the white charcoal pencil and Negro pencil to complete the image.

While the combination of charcoal and sepia tones can be used for any subject, they work best when applied to those that naturally contain reddish earth tones like our tree. The process is quick without sacrificing much control. And when it comes to drawing trees and capturing their character, focus on the basic shapes, lines, and textures - exaggerating them when possible.

Lesson Four: Drawing Trees with Colored Pencils

Drawing is all about creating an illusion. We see the world around us as lines, shapes, forms, textures, and colors. This is how our eyes see things anyway. It is our minds that make sense of these things. Our mind tells us what we are seeing, not our eyes.

As artists, we are in the business of creating illusions. We rely on the manner in which our eyes work in order to “trick” the minds of those that view our art.

Problems typically arise when we allow our minds to get in the way of what our eyes are actually seeing.

Although, we are discussing how to draw a realistic tree in this tutorial, this concept of drawing applies to any subject that you may want to tackle.

Recommended Materials

(Some of the following links are affiliate links which means we earn a small commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you.)

• Polychromos Colored Pencils
• Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel Paper

The Importance of Texture

When it comes to drawing trees, texture will play a crucial role. We will need to mimic the observed texture of the leaves of the tree, without drawing every single leaf. So, our goal is to create - you guessed it - an illusion.

This illusion is created by relationships of value. The positioning of the dark and light tones will not only give form to our tree, but also create the illusion of groupings of leaves. It is the contrast between the darks and the lights that will translate as individual leaves to our viewers.

Dark values will exist in shadowed areas, while light values will exist in areas that are receiving light.

The Colors

Since we are building up the illusion with colored pencils, we will need to consider the value of the colors that are used. The leaves on the tree in this demonstration are green. We'll mix areas on the tree to create lighter and darker values using yellow, blue, brown, black, and white. Not only will this push the value range, but it will also expand the depth in the color.

The blue that is used is darker in value, so it is used to develop the shadowed areas of the tree.

Yellow is naturally a lighter value as a pure hue, so it is used in the areas that are receiving light. Darker values are enhanced using brown and black, while lighter values are enhanced using white.

The Marks

The marks that are made are also important. Marks can be made to mimic the texture of the leaves using small irregular circles.  Drawing each individual leaf would be counter-productive and is unnecessary.  Remember, we are creating an illusion based on how how our minds perceive the world around us.  These small marks will suffice to create this illusion.

We will also need to consider spaces that exist in the canopy of the tree.  The tendency is to overlook these openings, but including them is incredibly important.

Of course, these open spaces provide more opportunities for drawing the branches that are visible, which add to the overall illusion that we are after.

Other Tips

Like with most colored pencil drawings, layering and building up colors is especially important.  Most of the time, one application of color will not be enough to create the required depth in color to create a realistic appearance.  Fortunately, colored pencils are easy to layer and blend nicely. 

Start light when layering colors.   It is much easier to build up colors when initial layers are applied with a light hand early in the drawing. Layering lightly in the early stages prevents build up of the binder which could hinder heavier applications applied later in the drawing process.

Be patient.  Colored pencils are a medium that requires patience.  It is a time consuming process to layer the pencils properly to create the required illusion.  Too often, beginner artists expect immediate results, when time should be devoted to developing a colored pencil drawing.

How to draw a tree: 35 options for every taste

May 20, 2021LikbezDo it yourself

Create simple images with markers, paints, pencils and pastels.

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How to draw a tree with a black marker or felt-tip pen

What you need

• Paper;
• black marker or felt pen.

How to Draw

Draw a zigzag horizontal line to represent grass. Draw two vertical curved lines. From above, between the parts, make several arcs. Get a trunk with branches.

Above the arcs, draw two cloud-like shapes. Behind the figures, make three more, but larger. This is a crown.

Show the texture of the bark on the trunk. To do this, draw a lot of curved lines. Also mark several arcs nested inside each other.

The full version of the master class can be viewed here:

Other options

An easy way for beginners:

Here they show how to portray cherries:

If you want to draw a realistic tree:

Even a child will cope with this tree:

An unusual tree pattern with roots:

if you are going to draw a cartoon tree with eyes:

This tutorial shows how to draw two palm trees:

A fun drawing that is easy to repeat:

How to draw a tree with colored markers or felt-tip pens

What you need

• Paper;
• colored markers or markers;
• black liner (optional).

How to Draw

Draw two vertical curved lines with a black marker pen or marker. This is a stem. Mark the branches from above with segments. You can use a liner at this stage if you wish.

Draw a rounded crown with an uneven outline. Mark wavy segments above the branches.

Color the barrel with a light brown marker or felt pen. To show the shadows and texture of the bark, you need a shade slightly darker than the previous one.

Make large dark green spots on the crown, leaving some free space. Fill in the empty areas with a light green color.

Outline the grass under the tree. With a black liner or felt-tip pen, draw a series of wavy segments on the crown. Emphasize the shadows on the trunk and branches.

Details - in the video:

What other options are there

A simple drawing of an apple tree:

Master class for those who want to depict an autumn tree:

What you need

• Paper;
• simple pencil;
• wide brush;
• gouache;
• palette;
• water jar;
• fine brush.

How to draw

Draw a long line to show the horizon. Mark the trunk with two vertical lines. It should be narrower at the top than at the bottom.

Draw a V-shaped branch with sharp tips. Add small branches of different sizes. Draw the roots going into the ground - they resemble curved triangles.

On a palette, mix white gouache with a small amount of blue paint. Paint over the background with a wide brush, being careful not to touch the tree. Add white and pale yellow spots to the leaf. So the drawing will look more interesting.

Using a thin brush, cover the wood with brown paint. Then add some black to it and apply the resulting color to the branches on the left. Make light brown and yellow strokes on the trunk and roots.

Use broad strokes to mark the green leaves. Try not to overlap the entire branches: then the image will look more realistic. Mix gouache with some yellow and white paint. This shade should also be placed on the crown.

Draw thin brown branches on top of the leaves. Make the space below the horizon line light green. Use a more saturated shade to draw individual blades of grass. Outline a black shadow on the trunk on the right.

The full version of the lesson with artist's comments can be viewed here:

What other options are there

A method for those who want to draw a landscape with a tree:

Master class on drawing a realistic tree with detailed comments by the artist:

Here they show how to portray a birch with watercolors:

And here - how to designate flowers with simple spray:

simple drawing of flowering wood with gouache gouache :

Draw a tree in spring, summer, autumn and winter at the same time:

Here they show how to draw a tree using pointillism technique:

Landscape with several realistic trees:

Even a child can do this drawing:

How to draw a tree with colored pencils

What you need

colored pencils.

How to Draw

Mark two vertical curved lines with a brown pencil. Get a palm tree trunk. Make horizontal strokes along the entire length of the part. This is how you define the texture of the bark.

Shade the trunk so that it is darker on the left than on the right. Draw a few short lines at the base. Draw green fruits of different sizes. They are oval in shape.

Color in the fruits. To set the direction of growth of the branches, outline curved lines. On the sides of each, make a lot of short dark green strokes. Place them as close to each other as possible. Add a light green tint to the leaves.

Use green and black lines to represent the ground below the picture. So it will not seem that the palm tree is floating in the air.

See the entire painting process here:

What other options are there

View of the redwoods from below:

A fascinating drawing that is not easy to repeat:

Here the artist shows how to draw a realistic tree in 40 minutes:

Try drawing a baobab with pencils on black paper:

How to draw a tree with pastels

What you need

• Paper;
• simple pencil;
• oil pastel.

How to draw

With a simple pencil, mark a horizontal line at the bottom of the sheet. From it, release two broken vertical lines upwards. Get a tree trunk.

Draw four massive branches. They are widened at the base, and sharper closer to the tips. In the example, the parts have creases. This makes the drawing realistic. Add small branches directed in different directions.

Shade the trunk and branches on the right with brown pastel - this will show the shadow. Beige chalk is suitable for the left side of the picture.

Make dark green spots on the branches, consisting of many small dots. Add a light shade around the edges.

To indicate the texture of the bark, draw small lines on the trunk and branches with a simple pencil. If desired, you can draw several arcs nested inside each other. Sketch the grass at the base of the tree.

Nuances - in the video:

What other options are there

Another easy way to draw a realistic tree:

Dry pastel is required for this image:

This instruction will help to portray baobabs:

Master class on drawing autumn wood with oil pastel:

This drawing will be easily repeated by experienced artists:

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Home » Nature

On this page you will find a large number of drawing lessons for trees of any species. We are sure that thanks to our step by step lessons you will 100% learn how to draw a tree with a pencil step by step. Our lessons are suitable for children and adults. All lessons consist of a minimum of 6 steps with photos. Choose a tree and start painting!

Any natural object can be an inspiration, and trees are no exception. They are beautiful in spring when they bloom, in summer in shades of green and in autumn when they are covered with golden foliage. Trees are depicted on their canvases by many artists, but for children they will be an excellent motif. Due to the heterogeneity of the crown in shape and size, the child will train perseverance, attention to detail and fine motor skills when drawing.

In order to draw trees with your own hands, you will need:

• Sheet of paper;
• Pencils;
• Eraser;
• Watercolors, colored pencils, crayons, paints and other available media.

In the early stages, you can create a sketch on a notebook sheet in a cage to work out the line drawing. Next, you need to move on to landscape sheets of different densities.

A beginner's drawing of a tree is done using a simple pencil. With its help, the outline of the future tree is drawn. A step-by-step drawing instruction can also be used at school from grades 1 to 6.

How to draw trees with foliage:

• First you need to draw the trunk without drawing small details. Enough schematic image. It can be of any length. It is only important to determine its thickness in advance and not make the lines perfectly even.
• Draw branches as paths. It is necessary to determine in advance the thickness of the tree and branches, the number of branches, and the places where they are separated. It is also important to draw the branches so that they do not form a straight line and have natural curvatures.
• Draw the crown and branches in detail along the outline of the foliage. Closer to the branches you need to depict more leaves.
• Add texture to the bark of a tree using hatching.

The resulting contour can be painted. It should be borne in mind that the foliage in the upper part is lighter, as it is closer to the sun and fades faster. Using a dark green pencil, you need to draw individual leaves so that in some places they overlap the branches. Be sure to add shadows from the tree on the ground to give the picture volume and texture.

How to draw a pine tree:

• The first step in drawing a pine tree is the same - the image of the trunk. It should be slightly thicker at the bottom.
• Drawing a crown on branches. It is not a single whole, but separate ovals of different sizes, which are distributed throughout the trunk.
• Drawing of each branch and needles.
• Coloring and background creation.

When teaching a child to draw, it is important to often look at real trees and notice their details. A detailed examination of the drawings of artists will be useful.
The proposed option can be modified if you want to depict a tree in the wind.

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