Drawing a Branch
Once you’re comfortable drawing leaves, move on to branches. Choose a branch that is manageable, and gradually work into more complex branches. Plants wilt easily, so it’s a good idea to place the branch in water in a vase or flower tube and keep it in the fridge when you’re not working to keep it fresh. Once the branch is in position, consider thinning out clusters of leaves that are hard to “read.” I call this “artistic pruning.” Just be careful not disturb the basic characteristics of the plant.
Set up the branch for drawing. I’m using a tool called a “helping hand” to hold the branch. Set up the light source and take photos. You should also create a rubbing of one of the leaves for reference.
Working on tracing paper, draw a simple line drawing that shows how the branch angles and how the leaves grow from it. Measure the length of the branch and the space between each leaf stem. The result looks like a series of sticks.
Measure the distance between the leaf tips and angles. Starting with the farthest leaves, draw the largest elements of each leaf first. Draw continuous lines through the branch and any leaves. Then erase any lines that intersect or overlap. To keep track of where you are, mark an “X” in the negative space areas, an “F” for the front of a leaf, and a “B” for the back of the leaf.
Use a clean sheet of tracing paper to refine your line drawing before transferring it onto drawing paper. Add fullness to the branch and more graceful curves to the leaves. Working with multiple layers of tracing paper allows you to erase without losing your foundation drawing. You can alter the composition by changing the length-but remember to retain the basic characteristics of the plant. You can trace a leaf and reposition it in another part of the drawing. Be creative! The drawing should end up on one piece of tracing paper that you can transfer onto good drawing paper.