How do you draw a dirt road?

Answer 1

put the pencil to the page and move it back and forth...

^

Is a pathetic answer. To draw a dirt path can be very hard or very easy depending on the technique you're using aswell as the art, e.g. Paint, Pencil, Oil, etc.

If your using a pencil it requires mostly shading of different tones to represent shadows of any overhead object aswell as density, humidity, integrity and dirt type. Most dirt paths consist of a light dirt with little shade difference. A good feature to add to your path would be little sticks, leaves, rocks, etc aswell as little sprouts of grass and small plants. Also, if you're going for a 18th-19th century look then you should darken two streaks, evenly spaced from the centre of the path to represent wagon tracks, also add extra features to the centre and edges of a path to show where the wagons/horses have not travelled. If you go for a modern day dirt path these tracks are not required, just dirt out the whole path and add nothing but rocks, twigs and sprouts. Good luck with your artwork!