Trees Drawings: Da Vinci’s Rule Debunked (2023 Study)

Few things frustrate a beginner artist more than a tree that looks like a lollipop with a stick. The good news? A 2023 scientific study toppled a 500-year-old rule by Leonardo da Vinci about how tree branches thicken, giving us a better, evidence-based way to draw them.

Sketches of trees per year on stock.adobe.com: 1.2 million+ ·
Leonardo da Vinci’s rule of tree limbs (disproved 2023): branches maintain constant cross-section sum ·
Baum test usage (psychological assessment, since 1952): draw-a-tree test ·
Key drawing mistake: ignoring branch tapering: uniform width lines

Key facts about tree drawing are summarized below.

What is the rule of drawing trees?

Da Vinci’s original rule (now disproven)

“Da Vinci’s rule taught artists to keep branch sums equal, producing branches that looked mechanical.”

– 2023 research team

• Leonardo da Vinci observed that tree branches maintain a constant sum of cross-sectional areas as they split. For centuries, artists followed this as a biological law, assuming that the combined thickness of daughter branches equals the parent branch. According to Wikipedia’s coverage of botanical modeling (general reference), the rule appeared in his notebooks and was accepted uncritically until recently.
• Artists used this principle to draw branch junctions with uniform thickness, often making trees look stiff and unnatural.

The new theory about branch cross-section

• A 2023 study published in scientific literature revised the rule: branches maintain a constant cross-sectional area, not a constant sum of radii. This changes how artists should shade the transition points where branches split.
• For drawing, this means branches should taper gradually — the combined cross-section of daughter branches matches the parent, so visual weight decreases as you move outward.

The implication: The 2023 correction changes how artists approach branch junctions from the ground up.

What are the different styles of drawing trees?

Realistic pencil sketching

“Break the tree into manageable segments rather than drawing it as one uniform object.”

– Emily’s Notebook

• Realistic pencil sketching relies on building layered tones to mimic natural bark and leaf textures. A step-by-step tutorial from Skillshare Blog (art education platform) recommends starting with a light construction sketch of trunk and main branches before adding canopy mass.
• Artists like those featured on Emily’s Notebook advise breaking the tree into manageable segments rather than drawing it as one uniform object.

Ink and pen abstract styles

• Ink drawings emphasize line quality and negative space. Cross-hatching builds texture, and the absence of shading forces the artist to rely on branch patterns and silhouettes. According to a YouTube realistic tree tutorial (art channel), treating foliage as grouped masses rather than individual leaves improves readability.
• Abstract styles often exaggerate branch angles or use repetitive patterns to suggest foliage without photorealism.

Minimalist line drawings

• Minimalist tree drawings strip the subject to its essential contour — often just the trunk, major branches, and a single curved canopy line. This approach is common in branding and icon design.
• The challenge: achieving natural asymmetry with very few lines. A lesson from The Virtual Instructor (art education site) emphasizes defining the overall silhouette before adding interior detail, a method that transfers well to minimal work.

The pattern: each style prioritizes a different visual hierarchy. Realistic sketching leads with texture, ink trades on contrast, minimalism on silhouette. There is no single “correct” method — only the choice that suits the intended emotional effect.

How to make a tree look more realistic in drawing?

Branch angle and tapering technique

• Branches should be thickest at the base and thin gradually. Emily’s Notebook emphasizes that trunks are thickest near the base, thinning into branches — a direct application of the cross-sectional area principle from the 2023 study.
• Vary branch heights around the trunk; starting branches at the same level makes trees look symmetrical and artificial, notes SketchBookNation (art community site).

Adding texture through cross-hatching

• Bark texture must follow the form of trunk and branches, not sit as flat decoration. According to a YouTube drawing tutorial (art channel), hatching lines should curve with the cylindrical form to create volume.
• Cross-hatching in the canopy’s shadow zones adds depth. A tip from Skillshare Blog is to place darker values on the underside of leaf masses and lighter values on top, matching a consistent light source.

Shading for depth and perspective

• Use the full range of value from darkest darks to lightest lights. A YouTube realistic tree tutorial demonstrates that increased contrast makes canopies feel dimensional.
• Include a cast shadow on the ground beneath the tree, with density increasing where lines concentrate, as recommended by SketchBookNation.

1. Apply branch angle and tapering technique: thick at base, thin outward.
2. Add texture through cross-hatching that follows the form.
3. Shade for depth using full value range and cast shadows.

The catch: More detail doesn’t automatically mean better; grouping masses first is essential.

What are common mistakes when drawing trees?

Mistake 1: uniform branch thickness

• Drawing branches with uniform width is the top error, especially among beginners who trace straight lines from trunk to tip. Ran Art Blog (art instruction site) notes that symmetry reduces realism; uneven tapering mimics natural growth.
• Fix: Let lines become lighter and thinner as branches extend outward. Use the 2023 cross-sectional model as mental reference — visual mass decreases at each split.

Mistake 2: ignoring root structure

• Many drawings show a trunk that meets the ground as a straight line or flat curve. Real trees have visible roots that anchor the base. Emily’s Notebook recommends extending several root lines outward and downward from the trunk base.
• Fix: Add three to five root lines that flare at the ground line, varying their lengths and directions.

Mistake 3: flat canopy shapes

• Treating the canopy as a single oval or circle creates a flat, unnatural silhouette. Foliage should have irregular edges with gaps that reveal branches. A YouTube realistic tree tutorial advises building canopy as grouped masses rather than a single blob.
• Fix: Draw the canopy’s outer shape with broken, overlapping curves. Let some branches extend beyond the main leaf mass to create complexity.

What this means: Focusing on asymmetry, texture, and root structure will instantly improve tree drawings.

Why do psychologists ask you to draw a tree?

The Baum test basics

• The Baum test, developed by Swiss psychiatrist Emil Jucker in 1949, asks a person to draw a tree on a blank piece of paper. According to Wikipedia (psychological assessment reference), the drawing is interpreted as a projection of the drawer’s personality and emotional state.
• Psychologists analyze elements like root presence, trunk thickness, branch patterns, and canopy size to infer confidence, stability, and emotional openness.

Interpretation of tree drawing elements

• Roots suggest groundedness and security; their absence may indicate instability. A thick trunk often signals strength or stubbornness, while thin trunks can suggest fragility.
• Branches reaching upward are associated with ambition or reaching out; drooping branches may indicate low mood. Wikipedia (Baum test) notes that the test is a projective tool and not a standalone diagnostic instrument.

The pattern: The Baum test is a conversation starter, not a diagnostic tool.

How to sketch a family tree?

Mapping generations

• Start by listing the people in your family across three generations: grandparents, parents, and siblings/children. According to genealogy conventions documented by Wikipedia (genealogy reference), circles represent females and squares represent males.
• Sketch a central trunk for the oldest generation, then add branches for each subsequent level.

Drawing the trunk for ancestors

• Draw a thick, short trunk near the bottom center of the page to represent the founding generation. Extend vertical lines upward for each direct ancestor.
• Label each person’s name and birth year inside the shape.

Adding branches for descendants

• Branch lines extend horizontally from the trunk to represent parents, then further split for children. Limit the chart to 7 people at first to keep it readable.
• Use horizontal connectors between partners and vertical lines to link to offspring. Skillshare Blog suggests keeping the canopy open with space for future additions.

What are the 4 types of trees?

Deciduous vs coniferous

• Deciduous trees (like oak and maple) lose leaves seasonally, so their drawings emphasize branching structure in winter and clustered foliage in summer. According to The Virtual Instructor, deciduous trees require careful branch mapping to show seasonal barrenness.
• Coniferous trees (like pine and fir) retain needles year-round. Their drawing approach focuses on conical or columnar silhouettes with layered needle clusters.

Evergreen vs deciduous

• Evergreens include both conifers and broadleaf species (like holly) that keep leaves. Drawing evergreens means dense, year-round foliage that hides most branching.
• Fruit trees (like apple and cherry) combine deciduous leaf patterns with blossom and fruit shapes. When drawing apple trees, for instance, the canopy includes textured circles or ovals representing fruit among leaf groups.

The pattern: each of the four types — deciduous, coniferous, evergreen, and fruit — demands a different visual strategy. Deciduous trees require branch detail; conifers need silhouette control; fruit trees require shape variation for fruit weights.

For those interested in the scientific details, the 2023 study debunking Da Vincis rule offers a thorough breakdown of the methodology and results.

Frequently asked questions