It is a quaint shape when we come to observe it closely. Would you call it a long, square, or round shape? I should say that it resembled a heart.
Then we will draw a heart-shape. Next we see a large vein running through the centre of the heart. It extends from the very tip of the leaf to the stout little stalk which eventually fastens itself on to the main branch.
Now we had better mark the chief points of our leaf, which are three in number. And also there are two or three a trifle smaller. These we also draw. And we note that the large central vein is met by smaller veins, and that these, with two more, radiate from the stalk.
Turn the leaf and look at its back and see how wonderfully these veins converge to the stalk.
Put in some of the veins lightly and carefully, choosing the biggest and the most important.
Next we should note that the light comes from one side, and the side farthest from the light is in shadow. We might shade the edges of the leaf with our pencil and sharpen and shade the strongly curved stalk, and any other part that needs to be strengthened.
You may say that you live where there are no ivy leaves. Then take a maple leaf, a sycamore, or a chestnut; any leaf at hand. I am not laying down any hard-and-fast rules, but merely trying to help you with something that you want to do.
If you prefer it, draw a shell or a feather. I suggest these particular things because they are simple and easy to draw, and within the reach of most people.
A feather can be studied on the same lines as a leaf, presuming that it is well-formed wing or tail feather—a not-too-fluffy affair. First observe its general shape. Elongated—oblong, is it not? Then draw in an oblong shape. Next notice that it is broad at the bottom end, and that it inclines to a rounded point. We will shape off the side tips.
Next we trace the main stalk or stem from which the plume spreads. Observe the separating of the plume on one side,
