When I first started learning how to draw plants and foliage, leaf vines seemed deceptively simple. But when I sat down to sketch them, my drawings either looked too stiff or too repetitive.

I’d try to outline each leaf perfectly, or I’d get lost in the details too soon and lose the natural rhythm of the plant. Over time, I figured out a loose and expressive approach that made it not only easier but way more fun. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to draw leaf vines step by step, using an observational method that lets the natural movement of the vine guide your lines.

This is for anyone who’s ever looked at a twisting plant and thought, how do I even begin to draw that? We’ll keep it simple, embrace imperfection, and focus on big shapes first — even if those shapes are negative space. It’s okay to let your lines be messy — in fact, that might be the thing that brings your drawing to life. The goal isn’t to get everything exact, it’s to see better and respond honestly to what you see.

If you’re looking for more practice ideas beyond this, you might enjoy checking out my simple daily drawing prompts or this big list of easy ideas for drawing.

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How to draw leaf vines step by step (my personal approach)

When I draw leaf vines now, I treat it like a little exercise in observation. I don’t try to make it perfect. Instead, I spend a few minutes just looking at the vine — whether it’s from life or a photo. I ask myself: what are the biggest shapes I see? That might be the whole arc of the vine, or the empty space between two leaves. Those negative spaces can be more helpful than the leaves themselves.

I always start with a light, sweeping line to represent the main vine. From there, I look for the rhythm of the leaves — not trying to get every detail right, but capturing the movement and direction. I draw loosely, allowing my lines to wobble a bit. That shakiness isn’t a flaw — it’s a sign that you’re letting the drawing breathe.

Step 1: Draw the vine’s main flow

Use your arm more than your wrist here. I like to draw one long, curving line to represent the main stem. Think of this as the spine of your vine. If the plant you’re looking at loops or twirls, follow that motion. It doesn’t have to be exact. Just close. If you're drawing from life, squint a little and simplify the direction of the vine.

Sometimes I draw this line two or three times before it feels right. The first one is just to feel it out. The second or third line is where I might commit with a darker stroke. That first wobbly pass helps loosen me up.

Step 2: Start with big leaf shapes and the spaces between them

Before I even think about details, I sketch out the large shapes. Sometimes that’s the silhouette of a leaf. Other times it’s the negative space between two leaves. Either way, I block these in lightly. I alternate which side of the vine I place them on and vary the size to make it feel more alive. A big trick for me is focusing more on the gesture of the vine than the individual anatomy of each leaf.

Don’t worry about drawing perfect leaves. I often start by sketching the leaf shape as a loose almond or teardrop. Some leaves might be half-hidden or curled. I try to show that without stressing over precision.

Sometimes I’ll pause mid-drawing just to check proportions — not with a ruler, but with my eye. Are the leaves getting smaller as they move up the vine? Are they spaced evenly or unevenly? Real plants are rarely symmetrical.

Step 3: Add details loosely, letting your hand wander

Once the main structure is in place, I go over the vine with a darker line to give it weight. Then I return to the leaves — maybe a few get a little twist or show their veins. But I don’t obsess over it. I want the drawing to breathe. I often let some leaves remain unfinished. The hint of a shape is sometimes more interesting than drawing it fully.

At this point, I might experiment a little. Add some crosshatching for shadow. Use thicker lines near the base of the vine. Let some lines break off halfway — that kind of visual texture makes the drawing feel less rigid and more natural.

If you're interested in drawing more natural elements, I’ve also got a full guide on how to draw flowers and another on how to draw realistic trees step by step.

Key Points

Start with the flow, not the details. Begin with the vine’s curve so the whole drawing has movement.
Think in shapes, not outlines. Draw the overall leaf shapes and the negative spaces before adding any detail.
Keep some lines messy. Expressive linework adds character and keeps your drawing from feeling stiff.

Choosing your tools (spoiler: it doesn’t really matter)

You can draw this with anything — a pencil, pen, or even ballpoint. I often sketch leaf vines with whatever I have nearby. If you’re curious about tools, here’s a breakdown of what an ebony pencil is and how it compares to others.

I’ve drawn leaf vines with a Sharpie before. I’ve sketched them with a crayon. I’ve even scratched them into gesso with the back of a brush handle. The point is — you don’t need fancy materials to study shape and rhythm.

If you’re working on toned or black paper, you might also like experimenting with drawing on black paper or colored pencils on black paper. It changes the feel of your foliage sketches completely.

Observational drawing tips for leaf vines

When I’m stuck or unsure where to start, I come back to observation. Look at real vines. Take note of how they curve, how the leaves overlap, how they bunch in some spots and space out in others.

Sometimes, I’ll take a short walk and find a bit of ivy or a creeping plant to sketch. Other times, I’ll look at plant reference books or browse Pinterest and screenshot anything viney.

The key is to slow down and really look. Try drawing without looking at your page too much. Or sketch the same vine five different times, each one a little looser. These are exercises in seeing, not just drawing.

Some days, I even start by drawing only the shadows under the vine, or just the spaces between the leaves — as if I were sculpting the drawing from the outside in. It’s an odd trick, but it works.

If you want to develop your observation skills, try these drawing prompts for beginners or dig into the idea of analytical drawing as a way to break down complex shapes.

Using your leaf vine sketches creatively

These little vine drawings can be more than just practice. I like using them to decorate sketchbook margins or as backgrounds in other drawings. You can also include them in expressive drawings or messy drawings where you're building layered texture.

Sometimes I combine them with other elements from nature — birds, wildflowers, or abstract shapes — to create pages with more visual interest. If you're looking for ideas on what else to add, here's a post full of things to fill your sketchbook with.

You can even play with making patterns out of your vine drawings — repeat them across a page, turn them into borders, or add color with watercolor washes or colored pencil. These little experiments often turn into some of my favorite sketchbook spreads.

One last tip — let your hand wander

When I draw leaf vines, I sometimes close my eyes for a second and just let my hand move. Not in a perfect way, but in a rhythm. That little bit of looseness makes a huge difference. If you’re someone who tends to be too tight or careful in your drawing, try this.

I’ve learned to embrace the imperfect lines. Drawing doesn’t always have to be controlled. If that resonates, check out my take on drawing is imperfect — it might help shift how you think about what a “good” drawing even is.

And above all, draw what you see, not what you think a vine should look like. That mindset shift changed everything for me. Once I stopped trying to make my drawings “correct” and started making them observed, I found way more joy in the process.