Look at the overall shape of the leaf.
What shape will it fit into?
What is the overall shape?
Is it symmetrical?

Place a leaf onto a white background (paper).
This way you will not get distracted by other details.

Look at the leaf's shape. What simple geometric shape this leaf would fit into?

Looks like a rectangle is the best option.

Now, what kind of rectangle? What is height and width ratio?

Compare the proportions of the width and height of the rectangle. How many widths will fit in its height?

Looks like this particular leaf has the 1:2 ratio. Other leaves will have a different ratio.

Use your pencil to do the measurements.

Find the main stem.

Note where it crosses the middle line.
In my case it goes right through the center.

The stem starts and ends on the same line - a little to the right off the center.

Draw the stem curve.

Observe the main veins of the leaf.

See how far they spread from each other

Compare right and left side of the leaf.

See where the veins start.

Sketch them lightly.

Consider light and dark values.

Lightly shade the areas that are going to be the darkest parts of the leaf.

Add light drop shadows to make leaf appear less flat vs. the surface.

Take a closer look at your leaf.

If you were to simplify its structure, what forms would you use?

Stem and veins can be variations of a simple cylinder.

You already know how to shade a cylinder.

Note how the leaf's surface is shaped between the veins.

If you know where the light is coming from - it will become easy to shade the sections of the leaf.

Areas, that face the light source will be lighter, areas that do not get the direct light - will be darker.

Like in this simplified drawing.

Do not outline the veins. Observe them:

• are the veins thick or thin?
• are they darker or lighter than the rest of the leaf?
• how do we see the veins - is it a vein itself or a leaf bends to create an area of contrast where the vein is?

At this point you can start shading each section of a leaf with VERY SMALL strokes.

Make sure the pencil is sharp! It is important!

Leave out the veins.

Take a closer look at each section to see how the leaf's surface bends to create lighter and darker areas.

Always consider where the light is coming from.

Work equally at each section.

This way the overall value of the leaf will be consistent

use kneaded eraser ti lighten some areas or add highlights.

Form a pointy corner and use the eraser as your drawing tool to add more details to the veins

Now that you have the veins positioned....

Concentrate on small areas and its details - adding more contrast to the sections.

You might want to use a paper stump (tortillon) and blend strokes lightly in a circular motion. Keep some pencil strokes visible - you don't want to make it overblended.

Here the left side of the leaf was blended.

You can compare the two sides and see that the veins look more "in place" now.

Blend both sides.

Add final touches of shadows and highlights.