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How To Make a Rainbow Leaf Drawing

Do you like to draw or maybe just like the idea of drawing and don't know where to start? Drawing, like any other skill, is learned. And you have to start from somewhere. I find the best place to start is with simple and colorful shapes. The following post will show you step by step how to make a colorful leaf drawing. There is no pressure to be perfect here. This is a small drawing. It's just a matter of you finding a half hour to an hour of time and some very basic materials.

You will need a piece of paper, a ruler, a pencil,  eraser, a black pigment marker (I use Faber Castell but a thin Sharpie is fine) and some color pencils. Do not use a ball point pen as it will smear. Do not use crayons as they will also cause the ink to smear.

This drawing will fit a 5x7" mat or frame.
Draw a box that's just a bit larger than 5x7" on your paper.
  • Using your pencil draw the shape you see on the left. Erase as needed until you like the shape.
  • Draw two lines down the middle to visually break the leaf shape in two halves.
  • Add lines as shown to create a segmented leaf.
  • Try not to press to hard with your pencil. This makes erasing easier.
  • Please do not be afraid to erase what you don't like.
  • Once you like your pencil drawing go over it with your black marker.
  • Let the marker dry for a few minutes.
  • Once the ink is dry erase all remaining pencil marks.
  • Using your color pencils fill in the leaf segments.
  • I did mine kind of like a rainbow using the following sequence - yellow, yellow-green, orange, fuschia, cyan, periwinkle, purple, red.
  • Other color options - 
    • WARM OMBRE - yellow to orange to red to orange to yellow 
    • COOL OMBRE - green to blue to purple to blue to green
    • PLANT-LIKE - all different shades of green 

After your leaf is colored go back into the drawing and add thin black stripes with your marker.
This will give your drawing a nice texture and modern look.
All done! And, if you love it do it again in a different color scheme.
Or maybe frame it and hang in your home.

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More shameless self-promoting. If you like the artwork I demo'd but don't have the time for a new hobby consider this bright and cheery large coffee mug.





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