Today, we're going to show you a surefire way to draw a lemon and a lemon slice. You'll need a pencil and an eraser. This tutorial will also function well as a base for drawing lemons or any other similarly shaped fruits.
Simple Shapes
Begin by sketching the most general shape of the lemon. Make it a circle or an oval, depending on whether you are drawing a whole lemon or a lemon slice. Note that a lemon is not exactly round but is more oval in shape with a slight bulge at each end. Add those bulges in as you rough in the shape. If you are drawing a cut side of a lemon, add some lines and circles to give an indication of the texture on the inside.
Outline the Lemon Peel
Determine where the bumps of the lemon will be. Draw tiny circles on the two sides to represent the bumps. From these circles, draw the oval shape of the lemon peel to complete the overall outline of the lemon. To complete the lemon shape, you can draw a semi-circle to get the lemon slice. To do this, draw a small circle in the center of your principal shape.
You can lightly sketch and then adjust your shapes as you like. If you wish at this point you can erase any extra lines from your original shapes on your page now.
You can lightly sketch and then adjust your shapes as you like. If you wish at this point you can erase any extra lines from your original shapes on your page now.
Detail Your Lemon Slices
Detail your lemon slices with gently curved and straight lines extending from the center circle. Join up your lines around the circle to create wedge shapes, like a piece of pizza. At this point, your drawing should resemble this example of what your fresh lemon may now look like.
Natural Detail
The shine on the lemons could be very glossy and should be brought out by elaborately darkening very shiny parts and textured peels. Set some points on the first lemon and highlight it to give it a glossy texture. Set some lines across the second lemon and merge them to give a segmented view. Draw thin lines to show the flesh of the fruit.
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Apply Tonal Values
Since we're working in monochrome, make use of tonal variation for depth. Cross-hatch to define your different shades. Stay aware of the light source and shade accordingly, while keeping in mind your dots for texture on the lemon peel. In areas you want to be more realistic, lightly smudge the peel.
Shadows
Lastly, draw the shadow under the lemon, to ground it and not make it look like it's floating in mid-air. Doing this will make your drawing complete and real to some extend.
If you're interested in finding more step-by-step instructions and artistic tips, feel free to browse our art blog. We offer a range of detailed guides and tutorials to help you enhance your drawing skills and explore various techniques.
