In this art tutorial you’ll see step by step how to make an abstract Christmas tree drawing with a Cubism twist. These are easy and fun to create, with lots of opportunities for variation.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or someone just discovering the joy of artistic expression, this unique approach to holiday artistry is bound to spark your imagination and make your artwork truly one-of-a-kind.
So, grab some supplies, let your creativity run wild, and let’s embark on a Cubist journey to reimagine the classic Christmas tree!
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Art Supplies
- Thin black marker
- Paper or cardstock
- Markers
- Pencil
- Click Eraser, Pink Pearl Eraser
- White Gelly Roll pen
About Cubism
Cubism is a form of abstract art that was made popular by Pablo Picasso around 1907. In his work he’d combine different views of the subject to create abstract works that had a fragmented appearance.
A typical Cubism work of art will have lots of geometric shapes that are arranged in such a way that doesn’t quite make sense.
How to Draw Abstract Christmas Trees
Step 1: Basic Shapes
Start by drawing some simple shapes. Since a Christmas tree is triangular in shape, that’s how we’ll draw it.
Position your triangle roughly where you want your finished tree to be located on your paper. Keep in mind it will be slightly larger when done while deciding on the size.
Then add a rectangle for your trunk.
Step 2: Draw Cubism Tree
The next step is to use your basic shapes as a guide to start drawing out your Cubism tree.
The goal is to make it abstract, yet still keep it noticeable as a tree.
Add some different shaped branches to your tree. You can draw your Cubism Christmas tree as crazy as you want.
You can also make the trunk abstract as well.
Step 3: Add Details
When you’re finished with your tree drawing it’s time to add in some extra details and make it look even more like Cubism art.
Add some straight lines to the inside of your tree. You can add as many or as few as you’d like.
Of course you’ll need ornaments and a star to make your Christmas tree complete.
Cubism Tree Outline
Making your abstract Christmas tree outline is really easy. Simply trace over the pencil lines you want to keep with a black pen or marker.
You could also use a different color other than black as well. The type and size of pen you choose to use is very much a personal preference and is typically determined by your artistic style.
Since this is an abstract style of art, you may want to add some thicker or thinner lines to your outline as well.
For the ornaments, you can add some lines to the insides or leave them solid. Again, this is determined by your style and the look you’re going for.
Abstract Christmas Tree Drawing with Markers
For this drawing I used markers to add some color. But any medium could be used. Let’s learn how to color with markers.
First, if you want to be able to blend your colors together you need to use alcohol based markers. Bic, Sharpie, and Copic for example. As well as many others.
Second, you need to work while the colors are still wet or they won’t mix together. This isn’t a big deal. Just make sure you work on a section at a time.
Third, you need to use colors that are similar to each other if you want to create a smooth transition of color. If your markers are too different they will leave a harder edge.
If you don’t want to blend the colors together all you need to do is fill in the sections with different colors.
And of course, fill in your star and ornaments with the colors of your choice.
Finish up your drawing by adding a background.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Now that you’ve drawn your first abstract Christmas tree drawing, what’s the next step? If you want to improve your artwork, as well as your creativity, you’ll need to practice.
You don’t have to spend all of your time drawing and creating art, but the more consistently you practice the better you will get.
Doing a series of drawings is a great way to improve your skills and develop your style. And it’s the best way to work on your creativity.
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