This Easy Fall Leaves Drawing tutorial for kids is a perfect autumn art idea! Learn how to draw leaves to scale, then detail and color them with markers, colored pencils, or crayons.
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Drawing a Leaf: Fall Fun Art Idea!
I often pick up leaves when I’m walking our dog in the morning, especially when the leaves start turning colors in the fall. Then I bring them inside to make a sketch.
Different shapes, sizes, and colors even on one tree are so beautiful!
Head outdoors with the kids, gather some leaves from your yard or off the ground as you’re walking, and start on this easy fall leaf drawings tutorial. I think kids will enjoy the tips for how to draw realistic leaves in proportion!
They'll also learn how to add fall color with markers, colored pencils, or crayons. Do this activity inside or even better do it outside if the weather is nice. What a nice outing it will be together!
Supplies for Learning to Draw a Leaf
You will have most of these materials in your home. Here are a few quick notes about the supplies.
- Pencils – Use a #2B school Pencils as you start learning to draw.
- Eraser– use a pink Eraser, the type of eraser that you add to the end of your pencil, or a kneaded eraser.
- Colored markers – I feature Ohuhu markers but use what you have, colored markers, colored pencils, or crayons.
- Drawing paper – Draw on a heavier weight Sketchbook or cardstock. I’m using Ohuhu heavyweight drawing paper.
Steps to Make a Colored Leaf Drawing
Thank you to Ohuhu for the markers and the sketchpad. They were amazing to use and they are beautiful. I'm very impressed. You will see them in more posts in the future!
Box in the leaf shape
Draw a simple line drawing that will be like a box around your leaf shape. Try to find the angles that will work that are simple to draw and in.
Use your pencil to determine proportions. Like is the leaf twice as long as it is wide? Use that info to make your box in the same proportion.
Try to break the outline up into at least two pieces. The easiest way to do that is to draw the center stem line down the middle of the box from end to end.
Draw inside the box shape
Work on one side of the leaf. Observe the outside edge shape of the leaf and draw that inside of the box. Use the angled lines of the box to help you.
Make dots on the lines to give you an idea where to make your lines. That will help get your outside line drawing of the leaf in the same proportion and placement as the real leaf.
Repeat this on the other half of the leaf.
Now look at the vein lines on the leaf. Use the centerline and those outside edge lines to place some of the vein leaves on the leaf. You don’t need to draw all of them.
Repeat this for any shaped leaf. Match the box shape that you make with some simple lines to whatever the shape of the leaf is. Even if the leaf has curved outer lines.
After drawing the leaves erase the box lines.
Add color to the autumn leaves drawing
Use colored markers, colored pencils, or crayons, to add color to your fall leaves drawing. Color in the leaves and then add details on top (like drawing the veins on the leaves).
Autumn Leaf Drawing Tips
Draw the box lines lightly so they’re easily erased
- Real leaf- Practice by setting the leaf down on the paper and drawing the box around the actual leaf. Then try enlarging it.
- Enlarging the drawing- Enlarge the box in the same proportions to draw the autumn leaf in a larger size.
- Avoid being a perfectionist- Remember, this does not need to be perfect, just similar.
Drawing Idea Variations
Want to switch things up? Here are a few ways you can customize and play with your drawings.
- Different leaf varieties- Draw different leaves and notice how different a maple leaf, oak leaf, elm leaf are.
- Change drawing size- Use your pencil to gauge the proportions when making the box outline shape around the autumn leaves. Increase or decrease the box size but keep the proportions the same.
- Mix medias- Use more than one coloring media on your leaf. Start with markers and then use colored pencils on top, then experiment.
FAQ: How to Draw Fall Leaves
The box technique described above will help them learn about proportions.The shape gives a form in which to draw and imitate that leaf shape.
First draw the center leaf line that comes up from the stem. That line and the leaf outline will provide a "container" to add the veins. Notice the direction of the veins and imitate that.
Color the leaf drawing in with one media. Add details with another color or use another media to add details.
More Easy Leaf Crafts for Kids
Would you like make some more DIY fall crafts for kids? Here’s a few of our favorites.
- Tree Leaf Identification Nature Journal
- Easy Painted Fall Tree Craft
- DIY Botanical Wall Art with Spray Paint
- Make a Kid's Fall Leaf Collage
Come Join the Fun!
If you try this craft, let us know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag the photo with #WelcomeToNanas wherever you post.
Easy Fall Leaves Drawing for Kids
Equipment
- Pencil sharpener
Items Required
- Pencils #2B is fine to start
- Eraser
- Colored markers, colored pencils, or crayons.
- Sketchbook or cardstock
- Pencil sharpener
Instructions
Box in the leaf shape
- Draw a simple line drawing that will be like a box around your leaf shape. Try to find the angles that will work that are simple to draw and in.Use your pencil to determine proportions. Is the leaf twice as long as it is wide? Use that info to make your box in the same proportion.Try to break the outline up into at least two pieces. The easiest way to do that is to draw the center stem line down the middle of the box from end to end.
Draw inside the box shape
- Work on one side of the leaf. Observe the outside edge shape of the leaf and draw that inside of the box. Use the angled lines of the box to help you.Make dots on the lines to give you an idea where to make your lines. That will help get your outside line drawing of the leaf in the same proportion and placement as the real leaf. Repeat this on the other half of the leaf.Now look at the vein lines on the leaf. Use the centerline and those outside edge lines to place some of the vein leaves on the leaf. You don’t need to draw all of them.Repeat this for any shaped leaf. Match the box shape that you make with some simple lines to whatever the shape of the leaf is. Even if the leaf has curved outer lines.After drawing the leaves erase the box lines.
Add color to the autumn leaves drawing
- Use colored markers, colored pencils, or crayons, to add color to your drawing. Color in the leaves and then add details on top (like drawing the veins on the leaves).
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