One oak leaf and its stem

Follow the broad lobes of an oak leaf, then add a central vein and a few side veins. Slightly uneven curves make this a useful contour exercise.

A way into the drawing

1. Draw the leaf direction

   Lay down a gently curved center line and a short stem. Mark the broad width of the leaf before shaping its edge.

2. Follow the lobes

   Build rounded lobes along each side, leaving shallow gaps between them. Allow the two sides to differ a little.

3. Branch the veins

   Draw the midrib and a few veins toward the larger lobes. Use a small pale pencil accent near the base or a turning edge.

A small thing to tryLook at the spaces between the lobes. Their shapes help you avoid a row of identical bumps.