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How to Draw a Stack of Paper

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a stack of paper in 12 easy steps, about 9 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: the bottom pile.

Step 1: The bottom pile
Low on your paper draw a long box for the bottom pile of paper, much wider than tall.
Tip Leave room above for more paper.
Step 2: The top pile
On top draw a thinner box the same width, pushed a little to the left.
Tip A stack of loose paper is never perfectly straight.
Step 3: The top sheet
From the top pile's top corners draw 2 slanted lines up to the right. Join their ends.
Tip Keep the 2 slanted lines the same length and the same slant.
Step 4: Top pile's side
From the far right corner draw a line straight down, then slant back to the top pile's bottom corner.
Step 5: Bottom pile's side
From the bottom pile's top right corner slant up the same way, go down, slant back to its bottom corner.
Tip Join the top of this side to the top pile with one short line.
Step 6: Sheets of paper
With a grey pencil draw thin lines across both fronts, from edge to edge, evenly spaced.
Tip Each thin line is the edge of a sheet. Press lightly.
Step 7: Lines round the sides
Carry each thin line on up its side, slanted like the top edge, to the far edge.
Step 8: Red margin line
In red, draw 1 line on the top sheet near its left edge, slanted like that edge.
Step 9: Ruled lines
In sky blue, draw 5 lines across the top sheet, from its left edge to its right edge.
Tip Ruled lines are for writing on.
Step 10: Table and shadow
Draw a table line along the bottom, past both sides. Hang a thin flat shadow under it.
Step 11: Cream paper
Go over your lines. Colour the top sheet, both fronts and the little step cream, around the coloured lines.
Step 12: Grey sides
Colour both sides and the shadow grey. Your stack of paper is done!