This tutorial shows how to draw a log in eight steps with simple illustrated examples and easy to follow instructions.
log drawing step by step
The log shown as the example is a typical tree log with a cut off bran on the side. The guide explains how to draw it’s major parts and details using a straightforward beginner friendly approach.
The steps go from first outlining the log’s overall shape to then drawing the age rings and bark. The last two step shows how to apply some basic color and shading. You can see a preview of all of these in the image above.
The tutorial is put together in a way where it does not necessarily require you to do any erasing. However, you should still start the drawing in pencil to have the option to correct any potential mistakes. Use fairly light lines that won’t leave marks when erased until you have all parts of the log outlined. You can then darken your lines by tracing over them before coloring.
To apply the color and shading all you need are brown and yellow pencil crayons and a regular pencil. Although, you can also use other media (depending on what you have on hand).
Step 1 – Outline the Top & Bottom of the Log
log sides drawing
Start the drawing with a pair of lines to define the top and bottom of the log. Deliberately make these wavy and uneven (not perfectly straight) as tree trunks are usually not perfect in shape and the bark that covers them often tends to have a rough texture as well.
Draw the lines getting closer together towards where you wish to have the far end of the log. This will show the log appearing narrower as it goes into the distance and create a sense of perspective.
Step 2 – Draw the Top & Bottom Cuts
log outline drawing
Connect the two lines drawn in the previous step by outlining the log’s cross section. First, draw the one facing the viewer. Make this roughly oval in shape but again, make the outline that defines it wavy to give the log a more natural look. Also, add a few breaks into the inner facing side of the cross section’s outline. These will help create an appearance of crack in the bark. Define the back of the log’s outline with a shape similar to a half oval, again, make this wavy and uneven.
Step 3 – Add a Branch Stump
log branch drawing
On one side of the log draw a cut off branch. You can think of this as a mini log and draw it in pretty much a similar way. First, define it’s top and bottom and then draw it’s cross section. Give the log a thicker area at it’s base that quickly gets thinner as it goes out.
You can also draw a little chipped of bit by adding what looks like the letter “V’ cutting into the cross section’s outline.
Step 4 – Draw the Cracks
log cracks drawing
Draw some cracks/splits into cross sections of the log and branch. First, add some going out as rays from their centers. Next, draw some small splits going inwards from the breaks in the outline of the log’s main cross section.
Step 5 – Draw the Growth Rings
log growth rings drawing
Inside each of the cross sections first draw a smaller oval-like shapes that roughly follow their main outlines but not perfectly so. This will show the thickness of the bark.
Follow this up by drawing several more “ovals” into each facet to create the growth rings that can be seen when a tree trunks are cut. Make these consecutively smaller towards the center. Also, leave lots of breaks in their outlines so that they don’t look as solid as the line that define the log’s main shape.
Step 6 – Draw the Bark Texture
log line drawing
For the last part of the line drawing add the texture of the log’s bark. To create this draw some wobbly and in some places broken up lines running along it’s length. Draw several lines in pairs and others on their own. Make some very shorts and others quite long. Also, add some similar lines to the branch. Line up a few of these lines with the cracks/splits draw into the bark around the log’s cross section.
After drawing the bark you can trace over your lines to darken them. Either do so with the pencil or use a thin black marker. You can make the lines that define the main shapes of the log slightly thicker than the ones that define the smaller details such as the growth rings and bark.
Step 7 – Color the Log
log drawing coloring
To color the log simply make the bark brown and a cross sections a light yellow. Again, as was mentioned at the start of the tutorial, you can do this with brow and yellow pencil crayons or use other media if you prefer (paints, markers, etc…)
Step 8 – Add Shadows to the Bottom of the Log & Branch
log drawing
Finally, you can add a few shadows to help give the drawing a more three dimensional appearance and to help the artwork stand out as a whole.
Before adding shadows to a drawing you generally want to determine where the light is coming from. In this case the log is shaded as though the main light source is above and in front of it but also slightly to the side (left side of drawing). This means that the shadows (which are cast opposite the light) will be on the log’s bottom background and the shadow cast on the ground will also be slightly to the right. As this drawing is somewhat simplified you don’t have to be overly precise with the placement of the shadows, they just need to be accurate enough to look believable.
Keeping the above in mind, first, add a shadow that is cast by the log onto the surface blow. While the actual ground is not shown in this drawing simply adding a shadow will help make it look like the log is sitting on something instead of just floating in space. Draw this shadow running along the log’s length and then going out a little farther at the back.
In addition to adding the shadow along the ground also darken the lower area of the log. Afterwards darken the lower part of the branch and add a little shadow cast by the branch down onto the main log. Draw this to be angled downwards. For the last “in shadow” area also darken the branch’s cross section as that is facing away from the light in this particular setup.
You can add all of the shadows by simply using a regular pencils and going over the white of the paper or over the brown and yellow.
Conclusion
This guide shows how to create a simple but at the same time still a fairly nice and detailed drawing of a log. It demonstrates a well organized approach of starting a line drawing with the objects largest parts and going down to the small details. The tutorial also shows how to apply some basic color and shading to help make the drawing more interesting and to give an appearance of it having some volume.
If you like these kinds of easy to follow step by step drawing guides also be sure to try the following:
