How to Draw an Apricot: Easy 10-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to bring a piece of sunshine to your sketchbook? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up, requiring only a pencil, eraser, and paper. Follow these steps to master fruit shapes and leaf textures while building your confidence as an illustrator.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, finished illustration of a ripe apricot with green leaves, perfect for kids' art projects.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Main Fruit Shape

Pencil sketch of an apricot outline showing a heart-like shape with a curved line for the inner fruit flesh.

Start by drawing a heart shape with a soft, rounded bottom. Add a curved line on one side to separate the fruit's skin from the inner flesh. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil lines very light so you can easily adjust the shape if it looks a bit lopsided.

Step 2: Adding the Pit

Drawing the central pit of the apricot with textured curved lines inside the fruit shape.

Draw the apricot pit inside the flesh area using two curved lines that meet at points. Add small, curved lines inside for texture. Teacher's Tip: Think of the pit as a small almond shape—don't worry if it's not perfect, nature is rarely symmetrical!

Step 3: Detailing the Flesh

Adding texture lines to the apricot flesh and beginning the outline of a second fruit.

Add short, curved lines to the flesh and pit to give them depth. Then, draw a long, sweeping curved line to start the outline of a second apricot next to the first. Teacher's Tip: Use short, quick strokes to make the texture look more organic.

Step 4: Drawing the Stem

Drawing the stem connecting to the second apricot fruit.

Draw a curved line across the top of the second fruit. Extend a line upward and loop it back to form the stem. Teacher's Tip: Imagine the stem is like a tiny, sturdy bridge connecting the fruit to the branch.

Step 5: Starting the First Leaf

Sketching the central vein and serrated edge of the first leaf attached to the stem.

Extend a long, curved line from the stem to create the central vein of a leaf. Use a zigzag line to draw the serrated edge of the leaf. Teacher's Tip: Serrated edges are just tiny triangles—don't make them too uniform!

Step 6: Completing the Leaf

Completing the leaf shape by closing the serrated edge and cleaning up guide lines.

Finish the other side of the leaf with a matching zigzag line. Erase any overlapping guide lines. Teacher's Tip: Take your time with the eraser to keep your drawing clean and professional.

Step 7: Adding the Second Leaf

Adding a second leaf to the opposite side of the stem using the same zigzag technique.

Repeat the process on the opposite side of the stem to add a second leaf. Start with the central vein, then add the zigzag edge. Teacher's Tip: Vary the angle of this leaf slightly to make the drawing look more natural.

Step 8: Finishing the Second Leaf

Closing the second leaf shape to complete the foliage detail.

Close the second leaf shape with a final zigzag line. Teacher's Tip: Ensure the leaf looks connected to the stem so it doesn't appear to be floating.

Step 9: Adding Leaf Veins

Drawing fine vein details on the leaves to complete the botanical structure.

Add detail to your leaves by drawing small, curved lines branching out from the central veins toward the edges. Teacher's Tip: Keep these lines light—they are just subtle details that add realism.

Step 10: Bringing it to Life with Color

Final colored drawing of two apricots with leaves, using bright orange, yellow, and green tones.

Time to color! Use warm yellows and oranges for the fruit, and a vibrant green for the leaves. Teacher's Tip: Use a darker orange to add a little shadow on the bottom of the fruit to make it look 3D.