How Do You Draw Holly Leaves

Many plants and flowers manage to gain associations and fame that are not tied to them just being beautiful or healthy.

While the holly is a beautiful plant, it's not necessarily known for that, as it has most of its reputation tied to Christmas time.

This is a plant that you will see used as a decoration in all manner of ways around the festive season. Learning how to draw a holly is a great way to get even further into the Christmas spirit!

If this sounds like something you would like to do then you're in the right place!

Our step-by-step guide on how to draw holly in 6 steps will show you how to create some great artwork featuring this pretty, festive plant. how to draw a holly in 6 steps

What's in this Blog Post

How to Draw A Holly – Let's Get Started!
- Step 1
- Step 2 – Next, draw the first leaf for the holly
- Step 3 – Draw the second leaf for the holly
- Step 4 – Now, draw the outline for the third leaf
- Step 5 – Add some final details to your holly drawing
- Step 6 – Finish off your holly drawing with some color
- Your Holly Drawing is Complete!

How to Draw A Holly – Let's Get Started!

Step 1

For the first step of our guide on how to draw a holly, we will begin with the three red berries at its center. To do this, you can start by drawing three circles next to each other.

These circles don't have to be perfect, so you can draw them freehand.

Once they are drawn, you can then add some detailing to them. These details will include drawing a small circular shape near the center of each berry.

Then, we will also be drawing some simple curved lines near the base of each berry for some further detailing.

Step 2 – Next, draw the first leaf for the holly

While holly is well known for its bright red berries, it's also equally distinct thanks to the unusual leaves attached to it.

We will be adding the first of these leaves in this part of your holly drawing. The outline of the leaf has lots of pointy parts in the outline, so you can use several curved lines that culminate in these sharp points.

Once you have drawn the outline, we will then draw some inner detail. To do this, draw a curved line down the center, and then draw several more curved lines coming off of it.

Once you have this first leaf looking as it does in our reference image we can then move on to the next step.

Step 3 – Draw the second leaf for the holly

You've drawn one leaf in this guide on how to draw a holly, so you should have an easy time drawing a few more!

For this third part, you will essentially be replicating what you did in the previous step. That means that we will be drawing an outline using a curved line that forms the pointy tips poking off of the leaf.

We will also need to add the inner vein details to the inner portion of the leaf as we did before. There will be just one more leaf to add in the next step, so when you're ready we can move on!

Step 4 – Now, draw the outline for the third leaf

For the fourth step of your holly drawing, we will start drawing the third and final leaf of the plant.

This final leaf will fill in the last empty space that was left on the lower right-hand side of the drawing.

As with the others, you will be drawing the outline using some curved lines for more of those distinctive pointy tips.

Once this outline is complete, we will finish off the final details in the next step.

Step 5 – Add some final details to your holly drawing

Something is missing from that last leaf that you drew, and we will fix that in this step of our guide on how to draw a holly.

To complete this last leaf, all you need to do is draw some more of those vein details onto the leaf. That means once again drawing a central curved line with smaller ones coming off of it.

That will complete the holly, but there is also room for you to add some creative touches. Holly plants are often a part of wreaths and other traditional Christmas decorations, so it could be fun to draw a background incorporating this holly into one of these decorations.

Alternatively, you could also draw a background that shows where this holly would be growing in nature. These are just a few ideas you could try, but what else can you think of to finish it off?

Step 6 – Finish off your holly drawing with some color

In this final step of your holly drawing, you will be finishing off with some amazing colors! Holly plants are well known for their bright red and green color scheme, and that is what we went for in our example image.

Even though we stuck with these two colors primarily, there are still ways to make the colors look more dynamic.

As shown in our reference image, you can use varying light and dark shades of these colors, as this helps to create some texture and shading detail. You could also go for a more stylistic look and use some other colors that you love for it!

The mediums you choose to use can also have a huge impact on how the colors appear. If you want a bright, striking image, you could use some thick acrylic paints or colored markers.

For a softer, more subdued picture you could use some watercolors or colored pencils. How will you color in your holly drawing?

Your Holly Drawing is Complete!

Whether Christmas is coming up or you're stuck in the heat of Summer, we hope that this guide on how to draw a holly brought you some festive cheer!

Even though holly isn't the most structurally complex plant out there, it can still present challenges when drawing it.

If you follow this guide and try your best then you will certainly overcome any of these challenges!

Once you're done, how will you finish off this picture? The natural choice would be to incorporate it into a Christmas theme, but there is plenty that you could do with it!

Our website has many more drawing guides featuring more plants, other objects and even famous characters and people. We have more on the way soon, so definitely keep checking in!

We would love to see what you did to finish off your holly drawing, so please remember to share it on our Facebook and Pinterest pages for us to see. how to draw a holly in 6 easy steps