How to Draw an Apple – Step-by-Step Guide With Pictures

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Drawing an apple is one of the easiest and most rewarding drawing exercises for beginners of all ages. Whether you are a parent looking for a fun art activity, a teacher planning a creative lesson, or a young artist just getting started – this step-by-step apple drawing tutorial will walk you through the entire process using clear pictures and simple instructions.

The technique used in this tutorial is based on two overlapping ovals, which makes it surprisingly easy to achieve the classic apple shape on your first attempt. No prior drawing experience is needed.

Use the hard pencil to draw the guide outlines. Then trace over them with the soft pencil or ink pen. An eraser-proof pen is ideal because you can remove the guide lines later without damaging the permanent contours. The contours will also not smear.

Step 1: Draw the Left Half of the Apple

Begin by drawing an upright oval in the center of your paper. Tilt it slightly to the left – about 10 to 15 degrees. This oval will form the left side of your apple’s body.

Tip: Use light, gentle strokes with your hard pencil (HB). These are guide lines that you will erase later, so don’t press too hard. The lighter the lines, the easier they are to remove. The oval should be roughly the size you want your finished apple to be.

Step 2: Draw the Right Half of the Apple

Now draw a second oval of the same size, but tilt it slightly to the right. Position it so that it overlaps with the first oval. The two ovals together create a heart-shaped body – this is the basic silhouette of your apple.

Tip: Make sure both ovals are approximately the same size and height. If they are uneven, the apple may look lopsided. You can use a ruler to lightly mark the center of your paper as a reference point to keep things symmetrical.

Step 3: Connect the Outlines and Use a Drawing Pen

Now it is time to connect the outer contours of both ovals to form the final apple shape. Trace along the outside edges only, creating one smooth, continuous outline. Use your soft pencil (2B) or an eraser-proof ink pen for this step.

The bottom of the apple should be round and full, while the top has a slight indentation where the two ovals meet – just like a real apple. Take your time to make the line smooth and confident.

Why use an ink pen? An eraser-proof pen ensures that your final outlines stay intact when you erase the guide lines in the next step. This gives your drawing a clean, professional look that stands out.

Step 4: Add the Stem and Erase the Guide Lines

Use your eraser to carefully remove all the inner guide lines – especially the overlapping area in the center where the two ovals crossed. What remains should be the clean outline of an apple.

Next, draw a small stem at the top of the apple. The stem should be a short, slightly curved rectangle pointing upward from the indentation at the top. A natural-looking stem is about 1 to 1.5 cm long and slightly thicker at the base where it connects to the fruit.

Step 5: Draw a Leaf on the Stem

Add a leaf to one side of the stem. Draw a simple elongated oval shape that tapers to a point at both ends – similar to a stretched diamond. You can add a center line (the leaf vein) and a few small diagonal lines branching off it for extra detail and realism.

Tip: The leaf should be proportional to the apple – not too large and not too small. It typically curves slightly downward or to the side, giving the drawing a natural, organic feel. A well-drawn leaf can make the entire apple look much more lifelike.

Step 6: Color Your Apple Drawing

Now comes the most fun part – adding color! Use a red colored pencil to fill in the apple’s body. For a more realistic look, vary the pressure: press harder at the edges and lighter toward the center to create a subtle gradient effect.

Important detail: At the top left, leave two small circular areas blank according to the template. These white spots simulate the reflection of light on the apple’s round surface, making it look three-dimensional and shiny. This simple trick is used by professional illustrators to add depth to round objects.

Fill the stem with brown and the leaf with green. You can add a touch of yellow-green to the leaf’s center for extra realism.

Optional Enhancements to Try

• Add a shadow beneath the apple using light gray to give it a grounded look on the surface
• Try blending two shades of red (light and dark) for more depth and dimension
• Add a subtle yellow or green gradient on one side of the apple for a more natural color variation
• Draw a second apple next to the first, or place your apple in a basket or on a table for a complete scene

Your Apple Drawing Is Complete!

Congratulations – you have successfully drawn a beautiful apple! This simple exercise teaches fundamental drawing skills like working with basic geometric shapes, creating clean outlines, and adding shading and highlights for a three-dimensional effect.

The two-oval technique you learned here can be applied to many other round fruits and objects. Once you have mastered the apple, try our other nature drawing tutorials to expand your skills and build confidence.

All tutorials and images are copyrighted by happycolorz GmbH. Interested in using it? Please send a mail to info@colomio.com.

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