Being Creative with Drawing Tree Trunks!

From experience, drawing tree trunks in various different ways can help with creating the dynamic nature of your composition. As we are used to seeing trees in real life all the time, we don't always analyze it as much as we should.

Most of us see trunks as just a thick, straight line running up towards the sky. While this is true in some cases, it's not very interesting in the very least.

While nature has trees with straight trunks, there are plenty of other trees that have more interesting trunk shapes.

In this lesson, we are going to practice sketching some of these trunks.

1. The single trunk

In drawing tree trunks, let's start with what we are familiar with: the single trunk. Our first task to to play around with the shape of the trunk.

For example, you can make it bend in awkward sections. Keep in mind the bends can be angular or round in nature. At the same time, try to keep the width of the trunk as the same as it reaches the sky.

Also, make it taper upwards too. That is, you want the width of the higher end of the trunk to be smaller than the width of the trunk where it is closest to the roots.

Don't worry too much about details. This step is to get you familiar with how many ways you can manipulate a simple trunk. As well, think about how the tree will look like as it is planted into the ground.

1. The branch divisions

Since not all trees have one trunk, your next step in drawing tree trunks is to start dividing that singular trunk into two separate divisions. With each division, think about symmetry.

Or rather, think about the opposite of symmetry! Since tree trunks are not always perfect, you must draw your trunk so it is not symmetrical. Even in the example of the straight trunk, asymmetry is possible, because no matter where you begin the division, changing the branch width can alter its symmetry.

As you move onto more dynamic trunks, it is easier to create branches of asymmetry.

See how different the trunks are in comparison with one another? Obviously, the trunk on the right feels more dynamic than the straight trunk on the left. Use this knowledge to create simple, yet dynamic trunks.

3. Multiple branches

At this step, start to think about which part of the branches are in front of the main trunk and which branches are behind the main trunk. You need to really start to think about depth in this situation and to redraw the branches, if necessary, to get the perceptions of depth you desire.

You can start adding elements of tree textures should you chose to do so in order to help you give that illusion of depth. Personally, I focus on making sure that the branches are as naturally as it can get in the sketch. This will help you out for when you need to starting painting your trees.

Please keep in mind that the tree still has roots. You can use this opportunity to experiment on how you will show your tree grow. Perhaps there's a root that is uplifted somewhere due to natural weathering.

4. Refining textures

Before painting, drawing tree trunks with the proper lighting, shadows, and textures can help a lot. These elements become the backbone and guiding points that will help you paint faster and better.

Some stuff to think about are the bark textures. How rough or smooth does it have to be? What about other branches? Do I want my tree to look more lively with more branches or withering away with fewer branches? What about opposing shadows created from the additional branches?

These are just some of the questions and challenges you have to think about.

With a lot of practice, questions like this become second nature. As well, you technical skills will also become second nature as you deal with how to handle them. It is always a struggle at first. However, with the proper artistic foundations, you can pick up these concepts faster. Regardless, have fun with your learning!

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