How To Paint Tree Leaves

10 Amazing (and Easy!) Tutorials

Introduction

Painting tree leaves is an art that I never really got the hand of. I would pretty much paint a green blob of sorts whenever I needed to paint tree leaves. But I wasn’t satisfied with it. So, I took some time, sought out a few amazing tutorials on how to paint tree leaves, and got straight to work. To my utter surprise, those tutorials really helped me a lot to understand the approach and process of drawing tree leaves properly. To anyone struggling with their painting of tree leaves, I’d definitely recommend that you try these tutorials. You won’t be disappointed.

Painting tree leaves is a simple two-step process. First, you create the outline of your drawing, and add in all the necessary details. Then, you take out your paint and brushes, and get painting! I know it sounds simpler than it should, but believe me, there’s nothing too complex about painting tree leaves.

Tutorial Number 1 Drawing Wars

Single Stroke Leaf Painting Technique

Single Stroke Leaf Painting Technique

This beginner’s level painting tutorial discusses the simple, and easy to learn single stroke leaf painting technique. Here, you’ll get to see how you can create amazing leaf drawings and patterns with the single stroke of a brush. You’ll learn the various types and sizes of brushes that can help you get your desired leaf pattern. This same technique can be used with other types of colors as well, such as watercolors, or even with oil paints.

Tutorial Number 2 Drawing Wars

Simple Approach to Painting Leaves

Simple Approach to Painting Leaves

Leaves come in various shapes, sizes, and designs. Some are short, some are tall. Some are a bit wide, while others are thin as straw. But irrespective of their appearance, all leaves are easy to draw and paint, if you know where to start and finish. This tutorial will provide you with a step by step guide as to how you should work on your leaves. It’s an easy tutorial, and you really don’t have to do much in terms of shades and details, making it perfect for beginners.

Tutorial Number 3 Drawing Wars

A Simple yet Beautiful way to paint Leaves

A Simple yet Beautiful way to paint Leaves

Leaf painting doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, there are very few things that you can paint with so much ease. One stroke painting styles are quite popular these days. It’s easy to do, and if done right, the results are remarkable. In this tutorial, Cristina teaches us how to paint leaves using this very style. Notice how the movement of her wrist helps to give the leaves a sort of 3D look. If you can work your wrists properly, you’ll be able to master this craft in no time.

Tutorial Number 4 Drawing Wars

Easy Way to Paint Leaves

Easy Way to Paint Leaves

This is a step by step leaf painting tutorial using acrylic paints. Here, we’re once again introduced to the one stroke style as the artist gracefully uses this approach to produce quality leaf drawings. Yet again, you’ll see how you can use just a single brush, and the slight movement of your wrist to your advantage for painting beautiful images of leaves. Just as the ones we’ve seen before, this tutorial is also for beginners, and is quite easy to work with.

Tutorial Number 5 Drawing Wars

This next video tutorial is taken from the first series of the highly acclaimed PBS Network Series, “The Beauty of Oil Painting”. Professional artists, Gary and Kathwren Jenkins, takes us through the basics of oil painting with this amazing tutorial. Kathwren takes up the brush in this particular episode as she guides the viewers through all the required steps. The end results are quite amazing. The leaves have all the colors and shades you’d see in real life.

Tutorial Number 6 Drawing Wars

Realistic Leaf Painting

Realistic Leaf Painting

Using watercolors to paint realistic images is indeed quite a difficult task. Not only do you have to experiment with the colors and shades, but you also need to add precise lighting effects to make the artwork pop out. In case you want to try doing something like this, you should definitely check out this tutorial by Anna. Here, she paints a realistic image of a tree leaf using watercolors. Her accurate use of shades and lighting effects is quite praiseworthy, and it’s something that you should really focus on while working on your own piece.

Tutorial Number 7 Drawing Wars

Amazing Watercolor Painting of a Tree Leaf

Amazing Watercolor Painting of a Tree Leaf

Similar to Anna’s painting style, this video tutorial by Jarnie shows you how to paint realistic tree leaves using watercolors. Jarnie’s approach is quite similar to Anna’s. She makes good use of shades and lights, and adds a bit of detail as well. Only difference is in Anna’s painting, you could actually feel the texture of the leaf, whereas that texture seems to be missing here. But nevertheless, it’s still an amazing tutorial, and an even better painting.

Tutorial Number 8 Drawing Wars

Mesmerizing Painting of a Rose Leaf

Mesmerizing Painting of a Rose Leaf

First, take a look at the image below. Mesmerizing, isn’t it? Now, what if I told you, that this image is actually a painting done with acrylics? As unbelievable as it may sound, this is indeed a realistic painting of a rose leaf. John did an amazing job with this painting, as well as the tutorial video. It has everything you need to create the perfect realistic image, including depth and proper shading. Truly a masterpiece this one.

Tutorial Number 9 Drawing Wars

Gorgeous Tropical Leaf Painting

Gorgeous Tropical Leaf Painting

In this video tutorial, you’ll get to explore the various types of tropical leaves, their structures, and how you can paint them with ease. It’s not that detailed of a tutorial, but it’s still quite handy, especially when you’re using acrylics. Study the shapes and sizes of these leaves so that you may be able to draw them properly. There isn’t much use of lighting effects or extensive color shading. Hence, it’s a pretty easy tutorial to follow.

Tutorial Number 10 Drawing Wars

Aesthetic Leaf Painting

Aesthetic Leaf Painting

For this painting, you’ll be doing things a bit differently. Not only will you take the acrylic pouring approach, but you’ll also be ditching the usual color palette you see on leaves, and giving your artwork a completely different and aesthetic look. You’ll be playing with shades of blue, red, aquamarine, and a few other blends to give rise to an aesthetic painting of a leaf. This one is a visual masterpiece. Creating something like this will take a lot of effort. The question is, are you up for this challenge?

Jimena & Iñigo Picture

By Jimena & Iñigo

The Navarro-Rubios

My husband and I are learning how to draw and paint. We wanted to share this learning process with the world and have fun! That's why we created this blog. We'll have drawing contests every week and you'll decide who won that week! Follow along and learn with us!

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Jimena & Iñigo Picture

Jimena & Iñigo

The Navarro-Rubios

My husband and I are learning how to draw and paint. We wanted to share this learning process with the world and have fun! That's why we created this blog. We'll have drawing contests every week and you'll decide who won that week! Follow along and learn with us!

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