How to Draw a Palm Tree — Really Easy Drawing Tutorial

Palm trees often bring to mind images of bright, sandy beaches, blue waves rolling lazily to the shore. There are over 2,600 different varieties of palm trees, and not all of them grow by the ocean. Some grow in desert regions, swaying invitingly above watery refuges called oases. Others grow deep in the rain forest. Palm trees are utilized by people as sources of food, fiber, and natural beauty.

The palm tree is one of the oldest figures recorded in art. Historically, it was used to symbolize victory, abundance, fertility, and peace. Some ancient Roman coins bore the image of a palm tree, a woman sitting and weeping beneath it. The elaborate temple erected by King Solomon of ancient Jerusalem is said to have had carvings of palm trees overlaid with gold adorning the walls and doors. The inhabitants of southern Indian once worshiped a palm tree goddess. Today, the palm tree is featured on numerous national and regional flags, including South Carolina, Florida, and Saudi Arabia.

Would you like to add the stately, tropical palm tree to your artwork or decor? Doing so is now easier than ever, with the aid of this simple, step-by-step drawing tutorial.

You will need only a piece of paper and a pencil. A good eraser is also useful, both to correct mistakes and to remove early lines called guide lines. Finally, you may wish to use colored pencils, crayons, markers, or paints to shade your finished drawing.

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Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Palm Tree

1. Begin by drawing two long, curved lines, parallel to one another. Make sure the lines are a bit closer together at the top than at the bottom. These lines form the trunk of the palm tree.

2. Just above the trunk, draw five curved lines going in different directions. The lines will meet above the trunk, forming a shape like a droopy five-pointed star. These lines are the beginning of the palm tree’s leaves, or fronds.

3. Begin to outline some of the leaves. For the first leaf, draw a curved line from the middle of the star shape to the tip of one curved line. Then, do the same on the opposite side of the same curved line. You will have enclosed a rounded shape that is pointed on each end. Repeat this process to enclose another leaf.

4. Continue to to outline leaves by drawing curved lines from the base to the tip of the original lines.

5. In this step, you will draw a leaf from a different angle. On your remaining curved line, enclose a shape by drawing a nearly straight line from the base to the tip. Then, draw a few more leaves in profile, using a curved line and a nearly straight line for each. Erase guide lines as needed.

6. Add detail to the leaves. Using short lines, enclose a few small triangle shapes along the edges of each leaf.

7. Draw three small circles at the point where the leaves meet, called the crown of the tree. These circles form coconuts, the fruit of the palm tree.

8. Erase guide lines from the coconuts and the leaves. The leaves will now have a jagged appearance.

9. Draw curved, horizontal lines along the trunk of the tree.

10. Color your palm tree.

This drawing tutorial was originally posted on Easy Drawing Guides > How to Draw a Palm Tree.