How to Draw Corn in 5 Easy Steps: A Beginner's Guide
Written by  Daisie Team
Published on 5 min read

Contents

1. Gather Your Materials

2. Draw the Basic Shape

3. Add Details to the Corn

4. Shade Your Drawing

5. Finalize Your Artwork

Creating art can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially for beginners. Today, let's make that experience even more enjoyable as we tackle creating easy corn drawings. If you've ever felt a little intimidated by drawing, this guide is perfect for you. We'll be going step by step, so in no time at all, you'll have a fantastic corn drawing you can be proud of.

1. Gather Your Materials

Before we get started on our corn drawing, we need to get our materials ready. You'll need paper, pencils, and an eraser. Each of these items play an important role in crafting our masterpiece. Let's dive into why each item is important and how to choose the right ones for you.

Choose Your Paper

When it comes to easy corn drawings, not just any paper will do. What you want is drawing paper—something sturdy enough to handle the weight of your pencil strokes. Drawing paper is typically thicker than regular printer paper. It's smooth, which makes it great for detailed drawings like our corn. A good example is Strathmore's Series 400 Sketch Pads. But of course, if this isn't available, don't worry. Any paper that feels comfortable under your pencils will do.

Pick Your Pencils

Next, let's talk about pencils. You might think any pencil could do, but for drawing, we have specific types. We have HB, which is a good middle-ground pencil for both shading and defining lines. We also have B pencils, which are softer and great for shading, and H pencils, which are harder and perfect for finer details. For our easy corn drawings, an HB pencil would be a great choice. If you're feeling adventurous, you could also try using a 2B pencil for darker shading.

Select an Eraser

Last, but definitely not least, is the eraser. Yes, even in art, we make mistakes. That's where our trusty eraser comes in. A good quality eraser does not leave smudges and erases cleanly. An example is the Prismacolor Magic Rub Eraser. It's perfect for erasing without damaging your paper. But just like with paper and pencils, the best eraser is the one that feels right for you.

Now that we have our materials ready, we're all set to start drawing!

2. Draw the Basic Shape

With your materials ready, let's start with the fun part - drawing. The first step in creating easy corn drawings is drawing the basic shape. Even complex objects can be broken down into simple shapes. For corn, we start with a circle and an oval. These basic shapes provide a guideline for the entire drawing.

Start with a Circle

Take your pencil and lightly sketch a circle on your paper. This doesn't have to be a perfect circle. Remember, this is just a guide. The circle will form the top of our corn cob. The size of the circle will determine how big your corn will be. So, think about how large you want your corn drawing to be as you're sketching the circle.

Add an Oval

Next, let's add the oval. Draw an oval shape starting from the bottom of your circle, extending downwards. The oval will form the body of the corn. It should be around twice the length of the circle. Don't worry if it's a bit longer or shorter, though. Corn comes in all shapes and sizes, so does your corn drawing.

With our basic shapes in place, our corn is starting to take shape. But we're not done yet. Now comes the fun part—adding details to our corn!

3. Add Details to the Corn

Once you have the basic shape of your corn drawing, it's time to add some details. This is where your corn will start to come alive! We're going to add the kernels and some depth to your drawing. Don't worry, these steps are easy and will make your corn drawing look more realistic.

Draw the Kernels

Now, let's move on to the kernels. Start at the top of the oval, and draw small, slightly oval shapes in a row. The kernels should be a bit squashed, not perfect circles. Try to fit about 8-10 kernels in each row. Repeat this process until your oval is filled with kernels. Remember, kernels aren't uniform in real life, so don't stress about making them perfect in your corn drawing.

Add Depth

Adding depth to your kernels will make your easy corn drawings look more three-dimensional. How do you add depth? It's simple: just draw a curved line from the top to the bottom of each kernel, following its shape. This creates the illusion of a shadow, which gives your kernels depth and makes them look more realistic.

Look at your drawing. It's starting to look like a real corn cob, isn't it? But we're not done yet. It's time to bring our corn to life with some shading.

4. Shade Your Drawing

Shading your drawing is like adding makeup to a face—it brings depth, dimension, and realism. In this step, we'll learn how to choose the light source and start shading. So, let's grab our pencils and add some drama to our easy corn drawings.

Choose the Light Source

First things first: decide where the light in your drawing is coming from. Is it from the left, right, or maybe from the top? This decision will guide your shading process. Once you've decided, lightly mark an arrow on your paper pointing towards the direction of your light source. This will remind you where to add shadows and where to keep light.

Start Shading

Now, it's time to shade. Remember, the side of the kernels opposite to the light source will be darker. Start by lightly shading this side with your pencil. Then gradually make it darker as you move away from the light. The side facing the light should be lighter, so use a softer touch here. Remember, it's easier to add more shadow than to take it away, so start light!

Continue this process for each kernel. Take your time and observe how the light and shadow play on each kernel, making your easy corn drawings look more realistic and three-dimensional. Shading might seem tricky at first, but with practice, you'll see how it brings your drawings to life.

5. Finalize Your Artwork

And here we are, at the final stage of our easy corn drawings journey. It's time to fine-tune our masterpiece and add the finishing touches. Let's dive in.

Clean Up Your Lines

First, you'll want to clean up any extra lines or smudges. You know, those small pencil marks that can distract from your work of art. Use your eraser to gently remove any imperfections. But remember, art is not about perfection—it's about expression. So, if a line or two is slightly out of place but adds personality to your drawing, feel free to keep it!

Add Final Touches

Now, it's time to add those final touches that will make your corn drawing pop. You could add a shadow underneath to give an impression of weight and grounding, or maybe a background to set your corn in a scene. This is your chance to be creative and add your unique touch.

And there you have it! You've completed your easy corn drawing. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't stop here. Keep drawing, keep experimenting and most importantly, keep having fun with it. Who knows, maybe the next Van Gogh is reading this blog right now? I guess, only time will tell!

If you're looking to improve your drawing skills even further, check out the workshop 'Drawing with Ease and Accuracy' by Yazmin Moktan. This workshop will provide you with valuable techniques and tips to help you master the art of drawing, making it an essential resource for beginners or even more experienced artists looking to refine their skills.