One cupcake in a pleated paper wrapper with a modest frosting swirl and one small cherry. Black and gray fineliner drawing on warm textured sketchbook paper.

Drawing referenceAbout reference use

Cupcake fine ink study

One cupcake in a pleated paper wrapper with a modest frosting swirl and one small cherry. Practice clear contours and a few local shadows in fine ink.

Food & drink Easy Fineliner20 min, at your pace

A way into the drawing

Establish the main shapes
Draw the wrapper as a tapered cup.
Connect the structure
Build the frosting swirl above it and attach the cherry.
Develop the drawing
Refine the clear outer contour, add only the most useful interior details and place a few small local shadows. Leave most of the paper open.

A small thing to tryKeep the frosting wider than the wrapper rim.