Sketch out branches. Continue the lines and draw large branches on each side.
How to Draw a Willow Tree
In this quick tutorial you’ll learn how to draw a Willow Tree in 4 easy steps – great for kids and novice artists.
The images above represents how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.
Below are the individual steps – you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.
At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Willow Tree.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw a Willow Tree – Step-by-Step Tutorial
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Step 1: First you are going to draw the trunk. Draw a line going up and down and make it curve out towards the bottom. Leave a little bit of space and do the same thing to the other side but this time make it curve inward in the middle and then curve it out at the bottom. Draw small lines throughout the middle of the trunk to make it look more like a trunk.
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Step 2: Next, draw the roots of the tree. These are different than most trees because the roots are thick and you can see them from above the ground. Draw a wavy line that slants down, coming out of the bottom of your trunk. Do the same thing to the other side. You can make a curved spike to really show the roots. Now draw a wavy line along the bottom that connects the roots together.
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Step 3: Now it’s time to draw the outline of the leaves. Draw two curved lines for the sides of the tree and connect them with another curved line along the top. Now, draw long spikes across the bottom to close the tree. The spikes are the long leaves that hang from the tree.
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Step 4: To finish up, go throughout the tree and add leaves. Draw a triangle facing downward but don’t draw the top line, instead connect the triangle at the top with two small humps. Repeat this step until you have as many leaves as you want.
Interesting Facts about Willow Trees
A Willow tree is a tree that is common in folktales and literature. Willow branches are known to droop down from the weight of their leaves. Willows grow in North America, Europe, and Asia. They grow to 40 feet tall. Depending on where they grow a Willow can be a tree, a shrub, or what is called a “creeping shrub.” In colder climates like the Artic, that is exactly how Willow plants grow. They just sort of “creep” around on the ground. In warmer climates like the North American south, the Willow Tree can grow 10 feet a year. That means it can be a really big tree and great for shade in hot weather. A common name in America for the Willow tree is “the Weeping Willow.” Willow leaves are small and skinny, but the wood on a Willow tree is flexible.
- There are 400 species of Willow Tree.
- In folk medicine, the bark of a Willow Tree is seeped for tea. The tea is used as a pain relief and for stomach problems.
- Willow trees were brought back from China. They are the symbol of immortality and rebirth.
- Most Willow trees live for 30 years. That’s really short life for a tree.
- Willow wood is used for lots of products, things like flutes, Cricket (European Baseball) bats, boxes, and fish traps.
Activity: Along with the products mentioned, Willow bark is used to make artist’s charcoal. Introduce children to the beauty of charcoal drawings by teaching them how to draw with charcoal. A great beginner’s drawing is the Weeping Willow.
How to Draw a Willow Tree
I have prepared for you a simple and interesting lesson in which you will learn how to draw a willow tree. I hope that the theme of plants is interesting to you, and you will be happy to complete this lesson.
If you want the willow tree to look more realistic, then use a few different shades to represent the darker and lighter areas of the bark and foliage.
The willow tree is a tall tree that has a lush crown. The crown can have any irregular shape. The trunk and large branches have a curved shape, you can see this feature in the figure. On each large branch are long narrow branches covered with small narrow leaves.
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 30 minutes
How to Draw a Willow Tree
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Draw the trunk. With the help of curved lines depict the lower part of the trunk.
Sketch out branches. Continue the lines and draw large branches on each side.
Add more branches. Smooth lines draw branches in the middle part of the tree.
Depict the top of the crown. With a wavy line, draw the upper part of the crown of an arbitrary shape.
Draw the bottom of the crown. Sketch out a wavy line to depict the lower outline of the crown.
Add details. Depict the outline of the branches in the middle of the crown.
Draw the ends of the upper branches. Sketch out another wavy line at the top.
Add the surface of the bark. Draw short strokes on the surface of the trunk.
Color the willow tree. You will need green for the crown and brown for the trunk and branches.
Now you know how to draw a willow tree and you can use the acquired skills if you want to draw a landscape. As usual, I have prepared a short PDF version of this guide for you. Download the file and enjoy drawing anytime!
