How To Draw A Christmas Tree

Three drawings of Christmas tree, one in ink, one in pencil, and the last in colored pencil

Christmas is almost here, and what amend way to do your drawing skills than by learning how to draw a Christmas tree! I've created step-by-stride drawing instructions to help you lot create a beautiful, natural-looking Christmas tree. This easy footstep past pace drawing tutorial for beginners is not bad for people who want to go meliorate at cartoon real trees, too. Employ a pencil for a softer realistic tree drawing, or cease your artwork with an ink pen for a bolder illustration.

Step i: Drawing the Bones Shape

Diagram with arrows pointing to the center line and basic shape of a fir tree

Begin by drawing the bones shape of a fir tree. Sketch a eye line for the torso and a long triangle for the shape of the tree. It can exist either long and skinny or brusque and broad. When sketching, it's of import to proceed your lines lite so you tin can describe over them later.

Diagram showing the different levels of branches on a Christmas tree.

When you await at a Christmas tree, y'all will see how the branches extend out from the torso on different levels. Sketch in the levels where you lot volition after describe in the branches. The levels are closer together at the summit and farther autonomously at the bottom, where the branches are larger.

Step 2: Cartoon the Branches

A diagram showing the different shapes of front and side tree branches

The branches of a Christmas tree extend from the center to each side, including the back and the front. The branches that point directly towards us are foreshortened, which means we tin can't see the full length of them. To create the illusion of a three-dimensional tree, draw the front branches as wide, curt shapes. Follow the drawing instructions in the diagram to draw branches that indicate in each of these different directions: left side, centre, and correct side.

A diagram showing how to add three branches to each level of a Christmas tree

Offset from the peak and sketch in three branches for each level. Remember, the branches that reach towards the front are shorter and wider than the other branches. Each level of branches should come out from nether the level above it. For a natural-looking tree, employ broken lines and dissimilar-shaped branches. For a cartoon Christmas tree drawing, use bold outlines and similar shapes.

Footstep 3: Adding Extra Details

Example of three different types of Christmas decorations

If you lot are creating a Christmas cartoon, now is the time to sketch in decorations. Try baubles or bows, and peradventure add together a star on acme. Add in a trunk. Then, make clean upwardly your drawing by erasing any lines that are no longer needed.

Step 4: Using Shading and Tonal Value To Create Depth

A diagram showing how to add shading to the underside of fir tree branches. Shading the tree branch shadows to create depth.

To draw a realistic tree, it is important to take light values, gray values, and nighttime values. Begin by imagining where the light source is coming from and where it will hit your tree. Keep the tops of each branch (and each level) low-cal. So add texture to the underside of each branch to create darker shadows. Utilize looser pencil strokes for a natural pine needle upshot. Starting time from the top and work your way downward. If you have included decorations, brand sure you add together shadows to these also.

Step 5: The Final Details

Two detailed drawings of a Christmas tree in ink and in pencil

Now you tin can decide how you want to finish your Christmas tree drawing – what kind of manner do you prefer? You can keep information technology as a pencil cartoon, or incorporate an ink pen, colored pencils, or even watercolor paints (simply make sure the paper is moisture-force if calculation paint!). If your tree needs more leaf, describe in extra branches at the heart of the tree to brand information technology appear fuller. If y'all're leaving it as a pencil drawing, heighten the contrast by darkening the shadows with a 6B pencil. For a more detailed tree, draw fine lines that resemble pine needles. Y'all can even add a lite splash of color with colored pencils or watercolor paints, allowing your line cartoon to show through.