How to Draw Broccoli Step by Step
This tutorial shows how to draw broccoli in six steps. It includes simple slightly stylized examples and quick drawing instructions.
Broccoli generally has a lot of random shapes and small parts making it a challenge to draw. However, it can be much easier if you somewhat stylize the art. This guide explains how you can do so to create a simplified drawing of a broccoli plant that both looks nice and is easy to recognize for what it is supposed to be.
It’s recommended that you start this tutorial using a pencil. Make light lines as you will need to erase a small part of the drawing in one of the steps. You can trace over your lines with a black pen/marker later on (when you have all of the details of the broccoli outlined).
Step 1 – Draw the Crown of the Broccoli
Start by drawing the outline of the broccoli’s crown and be sure to leave enough room below it for the stem.
The crown of a broccoli is usually made up of little flower buds called florets. As this is a stylized drawing instead of adding the details of the many florets make the crown’s shape similar to a cloud. Define it with many curves of different sizes as shown in the example.
Also, make the top of the crown a bit more “puffed up” and the bottom a little more flat.
For drawing an actual cloud see the following guide:
How to Draw a Cloud Step by Step
Step 2 – Draw the Trunk/Stems
Very similar to a tree trunk splitting into branches draw the trunk of the broccoli splitting into stems. In this case there are three of them, one in the middle and two bending to the sides.
You can erase a portion of the crown’s outline (at the bottom) when adding these in.
Step 3 – Draw a Floret Bunch
The florets that form a broccoli’s crown are usually grouped into bunches. Draw one such bunch on top of the stems added in the previous step. You can again outline it’s shape with a series of curves similar to the overall outline of the crown.
Step 4 – Add More Floret Bunches/Details
Draw some curves running from the upper end of the bunch in the center towards the sides of the crown. This will hint at more floret bunches.
Step 5 – Finish the Line Drawing
Finally, add a few more curves below the previous two sets but draw these facing more sideways. again this will hint at various clumps of florets.
Once you’ve added the last set of details you can trace over the broccoli’s outline with darker pencil lines or a thin black marker.
Step 6 – Color the Broccoli
To color the broccoli make the crown a dark green and the trunk/stems a light green. You can use just about any media such as markers, colored pencils, paints or some combination of these.
For markers you may need two different variants of green (a light and a dark one).
If coloring with colored pencils you can get the lighter/darker greens by simply applying more or less pressure to the pencil. If coloring with paints such as water colors you can add more water for the lighter green and less for the dark green.
Conclusion
Drawing realistic looking broccoli can be complex but creating a stylized drawing of one can be much simpler.
Simplifying an object in the right way can make it much easier to draw while still keeping it easily recognizable. Nicely stylized art (like cartoon for example) can also be quit appealing.
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