How to Draw an Apricot

Finished apricot drawing with a leaf, central groove, and light hatched shadows.

We have created another simple but realistic drawing tutorial for you where we will show you how to draw an apricot step by step. We believe that fruits and vegetables are great for practicing basic drawing skills.

How to draw an apricot step by step

Step 1: Draw the apricot outline

First, sketch a spherical outline of the apricot. In nature, it is almost impossible to find perfect symmetry, as you know. Therefore, do not try to draw a perfect circle. Draw a slightly flattened oval without using any circular objects.

Drawing the slightly flattened rounded outline of the apricot.

Step 2: Add the groove and stem

Divide the apricot with a smooth line. This simple line should reach the top surface of the apricot. At the end of the line, draw the small cylindrical base of the stem, and then draw the stem itself.

Adding the central groove and short stem to the apricot.

Step 3: Sketch the apricot leaf

Now continue drawing the apricot by adding the outline of the leaf. Apricot leaves have a smooth shape with a pointed tip. Try to draw this part as accurately as possible. Inside the outline of the leaf, draw a long line for the central vein.

Drawing the apricot leaf with a pointed tip and central vein.

Step 4: Add the leaf veins

In this step, erase the extra lines from the leaf that we drew in the previous step. Draw the smaller veins as oblique lines extending from the central vein toward the edges of the peach leaf.

Adding smaller veins across the surface of the apricot leaf.

Step 5: Add shadows to the apricot

Add some shadows to the fruit. You can see the main areas of shading along the edges of the apricot and on the leaf. Also add a cast shadow on the surface beneath the apricot.

Adding shadows to the apricot, leaf, and surface beneath the fruit.

Understanding the form of an apricot

An apricot has a relatively simple shape, and it is useful for practicing some of the basic principles of realistic drawing. Its overall volume can be understood as a slightly flattened sphere with a shallow groove running along one side.

Thinking about this spherical form is especially useful when adding shadows. The light gradually turns into halftone across the rounded surface, followed by the core shadow and reflected light on the darker side. You can study these principles in more detail in our lesson on light and shadow.

Try drawing several apricots from different angles and with slightly different shapes. Make some more rounded and others more elongated or flattened. You can also change the position of the stem and leaf so that each fruit looks different.

The same basic approach works well with many other fruits of a similar form. Next, you can draw a peach or draw a plum.

You can also combine several fruits into a single composition and draw a complete still life.