How to Draw Ferns: Outdoor Sketching - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do the bright colours of the lush foliage in Nature defeat you?

CASCADING - 

When you head out to sketch are you happy and excited with all that Nature has in store for you?  Does the sunlight dancing on the branches give your heart a jolt?  Do you find yourself admiring a mossy tree stump nestled up to a bank of ferns?  

Then suddenly your heart is filled with despair. . . .

Moments of doubt fill your mind, how can this beautiful scene be captured.  Those lushes ferns are gorgeous but . . . where to start? how to capture the moment?  Your heart and smile begin to droop.  

Hold on a minute . . . 

Ferns like every element in nature are drawable.  You just need a plan.  Those lush ferns are probably sword ferns, the more common fern found on the west coast.  They are beautiful, I agree.  One of my favourite  things to draw.  They look awesome in an ink drawing, so much movement and bounce to them. 

 

A Lush Full Sword Fern - begging to be drawn.  This picture is available as a Printable Download Here.    

Let's Draw but First, Parts of a fern.  

When looking at ferns, note how the pinna is attached to the stem.  

How to Draw Ferns

1.  Sketch a layout focusing on the stalk.  

Like any new element you need to first study it and determine the patterns.  The sword fern has a very identifiable stalk.  Draw the stalks to set up your plant.  Leave spaces between the lines to allow for the pinna (leafy part) to be added.  Rather than make generic lines, pick particular fronds to draw.  Of course you won't be able to fit them all in your picture so pick an interesting selection that will represent the plant.  

The Beginning - The lines represent the stalk of the fronds I will draw.  Can you figure out which ones I choose to draw?  

2.  Start Drawing - Front to Back

This is a little different from painting where we often start at the back and move forward.  I use ink to draw and front to back is very important.  Box in the shape of the frond with your pencil as a guide to drawing the pinna along the stalk. 

Start Front to Back in the Drawing Process: Drawing the shape of the frond and then use a pen to ink in the pinna's will help keep things in place.  

As you draw in a frond, notice what is happening with the pinna.  They are not all the same length.  They do not all go straight out.  You do not often see individual ones. They are often in groups of 2 or more.  They turn and twist to follow the bends in the stalk.  

Draw Systematically, one frond at a time and work around the plant.  (Always the one in front first) 

3.  Build your fern plant, one frond at a time

Work in layers front to back. 

I love this part of the drawing.  I have picked out my front frond and drawn them 1 at a time.  Note the spaces between them.  There is already a sense of 'bounce' to the fronds. I will decide which fronds underneath to include as I begin to fill in the spaces between my main fronds. 

Add the Shading - choose your darkest spot and let everything else be in relation to it.

4.  Add your shading and more detail. 

No matter whether you are painting, sketching with pencil or drawing with pen you need to stop and study your shadow patterns.  Just like you looked for patterns you need to look at the value of the shadows.  Those dark holes are not solid blobs of black: rather dark and light as things are hidden in them; edges are soft and hard depending on the location.  Often the soft shadow extends to the neigbouring fronds.  

This is where I start filling in the spaces.  Sometimes with bits of detail to suggest a frond and sometimes adding the frond.  Although the center of the plant looks quite dark in the picture it is important to 'suggest layers'.  You do not want a large black hole in the middle of your drawing. 

You can see in my final picture that I added a few things below the fern to ground it.  I also added/suggested more fronds in the shadows.  Note the layers of shading, they give a sense of  depth to my fern.  

Try drawing along with me, the reference picture is available as an instant download HERE.   Now is the time to get organized for Outdoor Sketching. Here are a few other posts to help you on your way.  

Other Posts of Interest:

It's Time to Get Organized for Outdoor Sketching : includes a video 

5 Tips to Get You Ready for Outdoor Sketching : includes video and downloadable PDF

3 Ways to Mix Watercolour on Paper : Step by step diagram and video examples. 

OUTDOOR SKETCHING SEASON  Coming up Fast!!

Starting Wednesday, May 12: 10am - 12:30pm 

Twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, I will take small groups out for Outdoor Sketching.  Get Tips and Techniques for Sketching in Nature.  Beginners to Advanced Welcome. Max. 3 per class.

Mediums supported: pencil, pen, watercolour, watercolour pencils and coloured pencils 

Location: Parks in North Surrey and Langley

Cost: $50 per session

Supplies: Bring your own supplies, don't hesitate to contact me about your supplies

Rainy Days: Not fun to plein air in the rain.  You can defer to another available day or join me in my studio and work with me. (when Covid rules allow small inside gatherings) 

Contact Wendy to Book Your Spot!! 

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

  Online Coaching/Teaching  (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75)

Are You and Your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions.  Here's how it works: Send me a few pictures of your paintings.  I will prepare material to facilitate a discussion based on your goals.  I am a sounding board, coach and teacher,  with suggestions, techniques and tips to help you meet your goals and move your art forward.  More info here.   Looking forward to Zooming with you.  

  
Many find this post helpful: Turn your Inner Critic into your BFF

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Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy