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How to Draw an Acanthus Leaf
Draw an acanthus leaf in 10 easy steps, about 8 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: right side.
Step 1: Right side
Start at a top point. Draw the right side: 3 pointed fingers with deep cuts, down to the bottom middle.
Tip Each finger leans up and out, and has a small tooth under it.
Step 2: Left side
Start at the top point again. Draw the left side the same way, and stop at the bottom middle.
Tip Match each finger to the one across from it.
Step 3: The stalk
Start under the leaf. Draw a thin stalk of 2 lines going down, a little wider at the bottom.
Step 4: The middle vein
Start at the bottom of the leaf. Draw one straight line up the middle, stopping short of the tip.
Step 5: Right veins
From the middle vein, draw a curved vein into each right finger. Stop well short of the point.
Step 6: Left veins
Do the same on the left: a curved vein into each finger, stopping well short of the point.
Step 7: The ground
Start left of the stalk. Draw a flat ground line under it, and stop the same distance right.
Step 8: Grass blades
Start on the ground. Draw 2 short curved grass blades on each side of the stalk.
Step 9: Green leaf
Go over your lines, then colour the whole leaf green, right into every point.
Step 10: Light green stalk
Colour the stalk a lighter green. Your acanthus leaf is done!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: an acanthus leaf, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
