Drawing an acorn can be a fun and easy activity for beginners and kids.
Acorns are among the simple shapes to draw, along with leaves and flowers.
With just a few simple shapes and some basic shading, you can create a realistic-looking acorn in no time.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through how to draw an acorn step-by-step, from the initial contours to adding fine details.
Whether you want to create a detailed botanical illustration or a quick doodle to decorate a fall card or journal page, learning some tips and techniques for rendering acorns can expand your artistic skills.
How To Draw An Acorn – Step By Step For Kids And Beginners
An acorn is the nut of the oak tree that grows on its branches. It has a rounded oval shape with a tapered point on one end and a cap on the other end.
When learning how to draw an acorns, focus on their basic rounded shape first. You can add details like textures and shading later.
Ready to give it a try? Grab a pencil and paper (or your drawing tablet) and let’s get started!
In this article on how to draw an acorn in 6 steps to help you drawing an acorn with ease!
Step 1: Draw the Top of the Acorn
The top of the acorn, known as the cap, is a rounded, hemispherical shape. To begin, sketch a circle or oval, leaving a gap at the bottom where the cap meets the acorn body.
Once you have the basic cap shape, add a little bump at the top to hint at the acorn’s point.
Then draw a smooth curve connecting the bump back around to the bottom of the oval.
The top of the acorn cap often has a dimpled or wavy look, so feel free to experiment with different contours at this early stage.
Pro Tip: Pay attention to the angle of the cap as you establish the initial guidelines. Acorns tip downward due to the weight of the nut, so make sure your cap is tilted at an angle rather than sitting straight up and down.
Step 2: Draw the Bottom of the Acorn
Now it’s time to add the acorn’s nut or body beneath the cap. This will be an oval or teardrop shape that tapers more narrowly at the bottom where it attaches to the stem.
Start by lightly sketching a oval below the acorn cap, leaving a slight gap between the two shapes. The acorn body should be wider at the top and rounded, then narrow toward the base. Make sure both sides of the oval are symmetrical.
To transition smoothly from the body to the stem, taper the bottom of the acorn into a gentle point. Use a smooth, curved line to connect the bottom of the acorn down to where the stem will be.
Step 3: Draw the Stem
In this step in our guide on how to draw an acorn will focus on the stem of your acorn.
With the main acorn forms established, the next step is to add the stem.
Draw a narrow, vertical shape extending down from the tapered base of the acorn.
Try to keep the stem roughly the same width for most of its length, then gradually tapering to a point at the tip.
Acorns have long, narrow stems compared to many other nuts. The stem should extend down about 2-3 times the height of the acorn cap itself.
To make the stem look more realistic, draw a shallow curved line down one side to show where the stem surface angles away from the viewer.
You can also add some small circles or oval bumps along the stem to indicate ridges and imperfections in the surface.
Step 4: Sketch out the Leaf
Start by drawing a curved line that follows the general shape of the leaf. Repeat this on the other side, mirroring the shape.
Add jagged or wavy edges to the leaf by drawing small, irregularly spaced triangular shapes along the outer edge.
Step 5: Add Texture to the Acorn
Once the basic acorn structure is in place, you can start adding texture and surface detail. Acorns have a rough, bumpy outer texture due to the pattern of their tightly overlapping scales.
To achieve this texture, draw a series of random oval shapes all over the surface of the acorn cap and body. Overlap the ovals to mimic the acorn’s scales. Vary the sizes and leave some gaps between the shapes to create an organic, irregular texture.
You can also add some lines radiating out from the acorn’s center seam to enhance the rough texture. Make the bottom smoother and add just a few indented lines to indicate the scales growing smaller toward the base.
Step 6: Color the Drawing
Now that we’ve successfully this guide how to draw an acorn, it’s time for the most exciting part.
Acorns typically have a brown color. Begin by using a light brown shade to color the entire acorn.
Use a slightly darker shade of brown to add shading and dimension to the acorn.
Focus on the areas where shadows would naturally occur, such as the crevices between the cap and the body of the acorn.
Apply the darker shade in a controlled manner, gradually building up the desired level of shading.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully learned how to draw an acorn.
Tips for drawing an acorn easily
Here are some helpful tips to make drawing acorns with ease:
Study acorn pictures closely for realistic shapes, textures, angles and lighting.
Sketch the overall oval body and cap with simple teardrop shapes first.
Slowly build up shading in layers, starting light and gradually darkening for realism.
Take the time to draw all those small overlapping lines that depict the acorn’s unique texture.
Common mistakes to avoid when drawing an acorn
Beginners often make some predictable mistakes when learning how to draw an acorns. Here are some common errors to watch out for:
Forgetting basic underlying shapes
Diving right into detail without sketching the simple forms of the oval body and angled cap first. Take it step-by-step.
Not having a reference
Trying to draw an acorn from imagination or memory alone results in symbolic or inaccurate forms. Always have a good photo handy.
Skipping the textures
Failing to render all those short overlapping lines that convey the acorn’s rough natural texture makes it look flat and lifeless. Take the time to shade carefully.
Overworking the drawing
Getting carried away adding more and more tiny details when the drawing is already convincing and complete. Know when to stop detailing!
Smudging too much too soon
Heavily over-smudging the pencil lines right at the start can lose those nice sketchy lines that convey texture well. Build up slowly with layers.
Inaccurate stem or cap
Not carefully observing the angles and shapes of the stem emerging from the cap in references results in a misshapen look. Study closely.
With close observation and patience, you can avoid these common pitfalls. Happy drawing!
Conclusion
Learning how to draw an acorns can seem daunting at first, but breaking down the process into simple steps makes it approachable for any artist. With practice, you’ll be able to create realistic acorn illustrations to enhance your nature drawings and fall scenes.
The most important things to remember are paying attention to the shapes and angles, starting with light guidelines, and building up details slowly. Keep an eye on your photo references and don’t worry about perfection right away. Most of all, relax and have fun doodling these quintessential symbols of autumn.
Now that you know the basics for how to draw an acorn step by step, you can start incorporating these charming nuts into your next project.
You may also enjoy:
Leave a Reply