How to Draw Holly: Easy 10-Step Holiday Art Guide

Bring the holiday spirit to your sketchbook with this simple holly drawing tutorial, perfect for artists ages 5 and up. You will only need a pencil, an eraser, and your favorite markers or crayons to complete this festive design. Follow along to master the classic, prickly leaf shape and bright berries that define this iconic winter plant.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A festive, finished illustration of holly leaves and berries, ready for the holidays.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Leaf Veins

Three light, curved pencil lines radiating from a center point to guide holly leaf placement.

Draw three long, curved lines radiating from a central point. Teacher's Tip: Use a light touch here, as these are just the 'skeleton' of your leaves and will be hidden later.

Step 2: Outlining the First Leaf

A jagged, prickly holly leaf shape drawn around the first guide line.

Outline your first leaf around one of the veins using short, jagged, 'zig-zag' strokes. Teacher's Tip: Holly leaves are prickly, so make your points sharp rather than rounded.

Step 3: Adding the Second Leaf

A second prickly holly leaf added to the drawing, overlapping slightly with the first.

Repeat the jagged outline process for the second leaf vein. Teacher's Tip: Try to vary the size of the 'teeth' on the leaf edge to make it look more natural.

Step 4: Completing the Leaf Trio

Three completed prickly holly leaves arranged in a cluster.

Draw the third leaf using the same jagged technique. Teacher's Tip: If your lines overlap, don't worry! It adds depth to your drawing.

Step 5: Placing the First Berry

A single circular holly berry drawn at the center of the leaf cluster.

Draw a small circle right in the center where the leaves meet. Teacher's Tip: A perfect circle isn't required—a slightly organic shape looks more like a real berry.

Step 6: Adding More Berries

A cluster of three red holly berries drawn in the center of the leaves.

Add two or three more circles around the first one. Teacher's Tip: Draw them slightly overlapping to show that they are bunched together in a cluster.

Step 7: Cleaning Up

The holly drawing with overlapping guide lines erased for a clean look.

Carefully erase any pencil lines that cross through the berries. Teacher's Tip: Use a clean eraser and gentle pressure to keep your paper smooth.

Step 8: Adding Berry Highlights

Holly berries with small circular highlights added to indicate shine.

Draw a tiny circle inside each berry. Teacher's Tip: This represents the 'shine' on the fruit, making them look plump and realistic.

Step 9: Adding Leaf Veins

Holly leaves showing detailed veins branching from the center.

Draw small, curved lines branching out from the center vein of each leaf. Teacher's Tip: Keep these lines delicate so they don't overpower the leaf shape.

Step 10: Adding Color

A finished, colored drawing of holly with green leaves and red berries.

Color your holly with deep green for the leaves and bright red for the berries. Teacher's Tip: Leave the small circles you drew in Step 8 white to make the berries look glossy!