How to Draw Ice Cream

In this food-drawing lesson, we will show you how to draw an ice-cream cone and give it a volumetric, realistic appearance.

This tutorial demonstrates how to depict a triangular cone with a round scoop of ice cream on top, though both parts of this popular treat can vary quite a bit.

For example, the ice cream on top may not be spherical – it can have a different shape if it was dispensed from a soft-serve machine.

The cone itself can also differ, ranging from a classic pointed cone to one that is closer in shape to a cylinder.

But despite these small variations, the overall drawing process remains the same; only the minor details change, and you can adjust them as you go through the lesson.

How to draw ice cream step by step

Step 1: Outline the initial spherical scoop

As mentioned above, the ice cream itself can have many different shapes, and in our example we chose to outline the top part as a simple sphere. When drawing the scoop of ice cream, keep in mind that it is a three-dimensional form – a sphere, not a flat two-dimensional circle. This will help you remember to give this part of the drawing a proper sense of volume in the later steps.

Step 2: Sketch the long cone shape

Now, directly under the ice-cream sphere from the previous step, draw a cone using two long lines that meet at the bottom. Don’t worry about matching the cone shape perfectly – in your drawing it may be slightly shorter or longer. Continue using very light, soft lines at this stage.

Step 3: Draw the melted ice cream layer

Now draw a layer of slightly melted ice cream that foams a bit and spreads outward at the top of the cone. At this stage, it is enough to outline this part using light, curved lines. When drawing this layer, try to follow the contour of the sphere and let the lines extend slightly beyond the ice-cream shape sketched earlier. Use uneven, irregular lines to make it look more natural.

Step 4: Sketch the cone seam and texture

Now move on to the lower part, the ice-cream cone, and sketch the fold running from top to bottom that shows how the cone was rolled. Then add the characteristic waffle texture using very light lines, aiming only to indicate the placement of the grid while keeping the cone’s three-dimensional form in mind.

Step 5: Refine the scoop and melted edge

Now it’s time to start refining the ice-cream drawing, using cleaner final lines and gradually correcting and clarifying the shapes from the previous steps. Begin with the top part, carefully redrawing the scoop and the slightly melted layer beneath it. Try to keep the edges irregular to achieve a more realistic effect. Erase unnecessary construction lines as you go to give the drawing a more finished look.

Step 6: Draw the ice cream cone texture

Now draw in detail the lower part of the ice-cream cone, giving it a more finished appearance. Carefully and symmetrically trace the cone of ice cream, gradually making the contours cleaner and removing unnecessary sketch lines and construction shapes. Refine the texture in a more detailed and neat way, keeping the cone’s volume and three-dimensional form in mind.

Step 7: Add shading to the scoop and cone

The light comes from the upper left side, so you need to add shadows to the lower right side. First, use light strokes to hatch the right side of the ice-cream scoop. Add a strip of shadow right under the scoop. After that, shade the right side of the cone. When adding the shadow to the top part of the ice cream, remember that it is essentially a sphere, so the hatching should follow the rules for shading a spherical form. And when shading the lower part, keep in mind that it is a cone, which means the shadows must follow the principles of shading a conical shape.

Drawing ice cream may be simple, but it is a very useful exercise for an artist. At the very least, it helps you learn the basics of still-life drawing, and at best it allows you to expand your skills in creating volumetric, realistic forms.

As mentioned in the final step, an ice-cream cone is built from two basic shapes – a sphere and a cone.

By drawing these forms stacked on top of each other, the artist learns to depict different geometric shapes not in isolation, but interacting with one another. You also practice adding shadows to these forms not separately, but in combination.

The ice-cream scoop has its own shadow, the melted layer has its own shadow, and in addition, this upper part casts a shadow onto the top of the cone.

This cast shadow merges with the cone’s own shading, creating a more three-dimensional and realistic look. Understanding how these shadows blend is essential for learning to render convincing volume.

We studied similar principles in our muffin drawing lesson, where the food item also consisted of several simple geometric shapes with seemingly basic shadows that nonetheless produced a strong sense of volume through correct interaction.