How to Draw Holly

Start with a straight, slightly slanted line in pencil. This is the center vein. About a quarter of the way up, draw three scooped curves up one side, each ending in a small point, until you reach the tip. Do the same on the other side. That is your basic holly leaf. Keep the pencil light and loose. You will erase it later, so a messy sketch is fine.

Draw a second holly leaf next to the first, but this time give each side four scooped curves instead of three. More scoops make a spikier, more variegated look. Then add a third, smaller leaf above them. Changing the size and number of points from leaf to leaf keeps a row of holly from looking stamped out. It also gives you more shapes to choose from later.

Switch to a fineliner. Johanna uses a 0.3 Staedtler pen for the outlines. Trace over each pencil holly leaf, point by point. This is the moment to be careful and tidy, because the ink is what stays. Sharpen up each tip as you go. If your pencil line wandered, fix it now in ink rather than following the mistake.

Change to a finer 0.2 pen for the details. Draw a center vein in each holly leaf, then decorate them differently. On the first leaf, add lines down one side only. On the second, add lines on both sides. On the third, draw a short line from the top, a row of dots, then a line to the bottom. A thin second outline inside the edge adds weight.

Once the shape feels familiar, skip the pencil. Draw a few small holly leaves directly in ink, quick and loose. They do not need to match. A bit of wobble makes them look hand drawn, which is the charm. Add a center vein and a tiny stem to each one. These little leaves are handy for filling gaps on cards and envelopes.

Lower on the page, pencil a short stem for your sprig. At the top, draw three round holly berries. Draw one circle, then one tucked partly underneath it, then a third below the pair so they overlap. Three berries look natural. Two looks odd, and four starts to crowd. Johanna practices the cluster off to one side first, which you can see in the video.

Carry the stem line up past the berries and draw a holly leaf at the top. Add more leaves fanning out to each side. Where a leaf sits behind the berries, stop the line at the berry and pick it up on the other side. That small gap is what makes the berries look like they sit in front. Work it all out in pencil now, so the ink can go on in one pass.

Pick up your pen and trace the sprig. Ink the berries first, then the leaves around them, leaving the gaps where leaves tuck behind. For the leaf at the back, you only need a few lines to hint at it. Add a small knobby bit on the stem. Then go back with the fine pen and add veins, dots and a few short spiky marks near the points.

Wait for the ink to dry. Roll the side of your hand across it. If no ink transfers, it is ready. If your eraser is grubby, rub it on scrap paper first so it does not smear graphite. Then erase all the pencil lines. The holly leaves will suddenly look crisp and clean, with only the black ink left on the white page.