What you'll learn

A leather briefcase provides a complex texture to capture, with its smooth and grainy variations. It challenges the artist to interpret subtle lighting changes and the intricate surface details of leather.

What you'll need

✏️ Pencil (HB or 2B)🩹 Eraser📄 Paper or sketchbook⏱ 10 minutes of focus

Step-by-step: how to draw leather briefcase

Quickly sketch the outline of the briefcase, focusing on proportions and key elements like handles and buckles.

Identify the areas where the light creates highlights and where shadows deepen on the leather surface.

Use stippling to create the effect of the leather texture, varying the density of dots to convey different levels of shadow and highlight.

Add details to the metal parts and the stitching to enhance the contrast with the leather texture.

Pro tips for drawing leather briefcase

—Focus on the direction of light to accurately place highlights and shadows.

—Keep your stippling consistent in size to maintain a cohesive texture.

—Use a range of values to capture the sheen of the leather, adjusting dot density accordingly.

Self-evaluation checklist

Check if the sketch convincingly represents the leather's texture, with believable light reflections and shadow depths. The different parts should stand out through contrasting texture techniques.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this drawing exercise take?

The full leather briefcase exercise is designed to fit in about 10 minutes of focused practice, which is one of the reasons it works as a daily habit.