How To Draw a Leaf?

Here are the step by step process of drawing a leaf.

Start with a very light pencil grip (hold it a bit farther back) so your first lines stay soft and easy to erase.
Decide the overall “gesture” of the leaf: is it straight, leaning, or slightly curved? A tiny curve makes it look more natural.
Draw a simple outline first, like a teardrop, almond, or oval shape. Don’t worry about details yet—this is just the big silhouette.
Place the tip (top point) and the base (bottom point) clearly, because these two landmarks help you keep the leaf balanced.
Add a short stem at the base. Keep it thin and slightly angled instead of perfectly straight, unless you’re drawing a very stiff leaf.
Check proportions: if the leaf looks too wide, narrow it; if it looks too short, extend the tip slightly. Keep everything light and adjustable.

Step 2 – Define Form, Proportions, and Body Structure

Draw a single line from the stem through the center of the leaf to the tip. This is the midrib, and it gives the sketch structure.
Make the midrib gently curved rather than ruler-straight, because real leaves usually bend a little as they grow.
Use the midrib to “split” the leaf into two halves and quickly check symmetry. The two sides don’t need to be identical, but they should feel believable.
If you want a leaf that twists slightly, let the midrib curve more and plan for one side to appear a bit thinner than the other.
Keep the line light at first; later you can darken parts of it to show depth or shadow.
Decide the edge type: smooth, wavy, or serrated. Then redraw the outline with more confidence, following your initial shape.
If the leaf is wavy, make small, gentle bumps—avoid repeating the same bump size over and over, or it can look artificial.
Add side veins branching from the midrib toward the edges. Angle them slightly upward, and vary the spacing so it feels organic.
Don’t draw every vein perfectly dark. Some can be faint or partially visible, especially near the tip.
For realism, let a few veins curve subtly instead of being perfectly straight lines.

Erase any messy construction lines, but keep the best guiding marks if they help the final drawing.
Shade lightly to show form: darken near the base, under the midrib, or along one edge to suggest the leaf is curved.
Leave a lighter strip or patch as a highlight to make the leaf look slightly glossy or raised.
Add small details like tiny spots, minor tears, or uneven edges—subtle imperfections make a sketch feel real.
Finish by darkening only the most important lines (like the final outline and parts of the midrib) so the drawing has clear focus.