How to draw a tree trunk with light and shadow. Tutorial with oil pastel.
- Yulia Balobanova
- Jan 27, 2022
- 1 min read
January is about oil pastel.
You can read previous posts about different types of oil pastels:
You can also see my blog posts with tutorials, read descriptions and watch YouTube videos.
This tutorial about a tree trunk and how to show its volume.
Tip: in order to show light and shadow, you should take at least 3 different tones^ light, medium and dark.
In this tutorial I use Sakura Expressionist oil pastel and their names of colors. However you can take your own colors, keep in mind they must be with different tones!
Steps:
With cobalt blue draw a big trunk and branches, then a horizon line.
Color space between brunches.
With pale green do the bottom part of the sky until a line of background trees.
With ultramarine - top of the sky.
With cobalt blue soften ultramarine.
With prussian blue do background trees - just a shape, from the right side do not press on you oil stick.
With cobalt blue create a cast shadow from the tree and add a bit ultramarine on the shadow close to the trunk.
With naple yellow color snow on the ground.
With white create the second layer of the snow.
With sepia do shadows on the trunk and brunches from the right side.
With brown create a medium tone on the tree.
With naple yellow create lights and a few thin branches.
With brown and sepia draw more thin branches.
With white do some lines on the background and highlights on the tree.
Done! Have fun and enjoy!
Next tutorial will be about winter landscape. Stay tuned!
This tutorial is very helpful and clearly explained, especially for beginners learning how to use oil pastels. I really like how the light and shadow techniques are demonstrated step by step, making it easier to understand depth and texture. It’s a great way to improve drawing skills with simple guidance. best CV Writing service can also help individuals present their creative skills professionally in portfolios and resumes. Overall, a very useful and inspiring guide for artists!
Really clear and beginner-friendly tutorial—your step-by-step breakdown of tones makes light and shadow much easier to understand. I especially liked how you explained building volume with just three main values. Creative guides like this are a great reminder of how much details and texture matter in visual work. At The American Patch, we see the same principle when designing custom embroidered patches—depth, highlights, and shadows make a design come alive. Looking forward to the winter landscape tutorial!
Awesome topic! To draw a tree trunk with light and shadow in oil pastel, start by blocking in the basic shape with a mid-tone brown. Don’t worry about details yet — just get the main trunk and big branches in place.
Next, choose a light source (left or right). On the light side, layer warm light browns, creams, and a touch of yellow. On the shadow side, deepen with darker browns, cool greys, and a hint of dark green or purple for richness.
Use short, vertical strokes to suggest bark texture, curving slightly around the trunk so it feels 3D — almost like the textured grain you see on custom leather patches. Finally, blend gently with your finger or a…
This oil pastel tree tutorial is fantastic! Just like highlighting light and shadow adds depth to your artwork, custom patches on a jacket or apron can add that same layered, personal touch—giving everyday items character and life.
Learn how to draw a tree trunk with light and shadow using oil pastels in this simple step-by-step tutorial! Using Sakura Expressionist oil pastels, we explore tone and contrast by layering light, medium, and dark colors to create depth. From cobalt blue outlines to sepia shadows and naple yellow highlights, each step builds realism and texture. Whether you're a beginner or refining your technique, this guide will enhance your understanding of light in nature. Just like book illustration in Canada, this creative process brings stories to life through color, form, and feeling. Stay tuned for our next tutorial on winter landscap