doodlea.day

Friday, September 11

How to draw...

Lean one simple rake into a low heap of autumn leaves. Build the connected handle and head first, count five clear tines, then layer the pile, five distinct leaves, two breeze curls, and rich marker color. This 20-minute intermediate lesson practices even spacing, clean overlap, and directional fills while keeping every landmark easy to check.

20 minIntermediate
Start doodling
Handmade felt-tip marker drawing of one diagonal warm-brown rake with one charcoal head and exactly five curved tines leaning over a scalloped orange-and-yellow leaf pile, exactly five distinct coral, yellow, orange, and teal leaves, exactly two navy breeze curls, thick imperfect black outlines, visible marker streaks, and one broken navy ground shadow.
Finished doodle About 20 minutes

Felt-tip marker mode

Let's draw a rake with a leaf pile

Treat this as one playful practice round: sketch the idea loosely, simplify the shapes, then commit with confident marker outlines and bright fills.

  1. 01
    Draw the rake handle stage for how to draw an autumn rake and leaves

    Draw the rake handle

    Ghost a diagonal from upper left to lower right twice, then draw the rounded wooden handle in one confident pass. Attach one short bar across its lower-right tip so the tool already points into the future pile.

    Marker tip: Keep the handle long and relaxed; the small head bar should cross it at nearly a right angle.

  2. 02
    Add five rake tines stage for how to draw an autumn rake and leaves

    Add five rake tines

    From the lower edge of the rake-head bar, pull exactly five short curved tines downward. Space their roots evenly, keep every tip visible, and compare the four narrow gaps before moving on.

    Marker tip: Count the five curves from left to right and keep their tips on one gentle arc.

  3. 03
    Heap the leaf pile stage for how to draw an autumn rake and leaves

    Heap the leaf pile

    Begin left of the rake head and build one low scalloped mound across the bottom of the page. Route its upper edge behind the five visible tine tips, then close the pile with a shallow lower curve.

    Marker tip: Draw the pile behind the tool so none of the five tine tips needs to be erased or hidden.

  4. 04
    Place five autumn leaves stage for how to draw an autumn rake and leaves

    Place five autumn leaves

    Add exactly five leaves: a five-point leaf at left, an oval near the upper-left edge, a three-lobed leaf below the rake head, a narrow leaf at right, and one small five-point leaf floating above the pile. Keep each silhouette separate enough to color cleanly.

    Marker tip: Vary the leaf shapes and angles, but count all five before adding any breeze marks.

  5. 05
    Add breeze and shadow stage for how to draw an autumn rake and leaves

    Add breeze and shadow

    Curve one short breeze mark on each side of the floating leaf, then draw one broken shadow beneath the pile. Leave small paper gaps in the shadow so it feels quick and handmade.

    Marker tip: Two curls create enough motion; keep the shadow low and broken so it does not become a second pile.

  6. 06
    Handmade felt-tip marker drawing of one diagonal warm-brown rake with one charcoal head and exactly five curved tines leaning over a scalloped orange-and-yellow leaf pile, exactly five distinct coral, yellow, orange, and teal leaves, exactly two navy breeze curls, thick imperfect black outlines, visible marker streaks, and one broken navy ground shadow.

    Color the autumn cleanup

    Color the handle warm brown and the rake head and five tines charcoal. Fill the pile with loose orange and yellow strokes, then color the five established leaves coral, orange, yellow, and teal. Deepen the two breeze curls and existing broken shadow with navy, preserve paper streaks, and add no new outlines.

    Marker tip: Work from the small leaves toward the broad pile and stop before repeated passes flatten the marker grain.