Drawing flowers is a fun and relaxing activity that anyone can enjoy. With just a few basic supplies – paper, pencil, eraser, and coloring tools like crayons, markers, or colored pencils – you can create beautiful botanical artworks. The key is to start with simple flower shapes and build up details slowly. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll walk through an easy step-by-step method for drawing flowers, from sketching basic shapes to adding petals, leaves, and other embellishments.
Gather Your Drawing Supplies
First, make sure you have the following supplies on hand:
- Paper – Blank printer paper, sketchbook paper, or mixed media paper all work well.
- Pencil – #2 pencil or drawing pencil.
- Eraser
- Coloring tools – Crayons, colored pencils, markers, or watercolor paints.
For starters, simple materials like printer paper, a basic pencil, and crayons or colored pencils are fine. You can upgrade to artist-quality supplies as you progress.
Sketch the Basic Flower Shape
To begin your flower drawing, start by lightly sketching a basic shape. Here are some simple flower shapes you can use:
| Flower Type | Basic Shape |
|---|---|
| Daisy | Circle |
| Rose | Spiral |
| Tulip | Upside down “U” shape |
Keep your initial sketch light and loose – you’ll add details later. If you’re struggling to draw a smooth curve, use a coin or other circular object as a template.
Add the Flower Petals
Once you have the basic shape down, you can start drawing the petals. Most simple flowers have either one row of petals, two rows, or multiple overlapping rows.
For example:
- Single row flowers – daisy, black-eyed Susan, sunflower
- Two row flowers – hibiscus, cherry blossom
- Multi-row flowers – rose, carnation, peony
Study your reference photo to determine how many rows of petals to draw. Sketch each petal coming off the center of the flower. Draw petals in a simple, symmetrical shape like ovals, triangles or rounded squares.
| Petal Shape | Flowers |
|---|---|
| Oval | Daisy, sunflower, tulip |
| Triangle | Lily, gladiolus |
| Rounded square | Cosmos, iris |
Add Details to the Flower Center
The center of the flower includes reproductive parts like stamens and pistils. While you don’t need to draw detailed anatomy, adding a few simple details in the middle of the flower gives it more realism.
You can draw the center of the flower as:
- A circle or oval shape
- A cluster of small circles
- Small lines or dots
Fill in the center of the flower darker than the petals. This helps the middle stand out.
Draw the Stem and Leaves
The stem and leaves are important finishing touches for your flower drawing. Here are some tips for drawing them:
Stem
- Extend the stem down from the flower’s center or base.
- Draw the stem using gently curving lines (avoid straight lines which look unnatural).
- Make the stem width slightly thinner at the base, then thicken near the flower.
Leaves
- Leaves can be drawn in many shapes, such as ovals, teardrops, or spear-shapes.
- Draw leaves extending out from the stem in an alternating pattern.
- Vary the sizes of leaves, with larger ones low on the stem and smaller ones higher up.
Don’t forget to keep the stem and leaves relatively simple – they complement the flower rather than compete with it visually.
Add Color to Finish Your Drawing
Once your outline is complete, add color to bring your flower to life! Here are some tips for an eye-catching colored drawing:
- Lightly color the base layer over your pencil outline.
- Use darker tones for shadows and depth. Shade the back of petals darker than the front.
- Pick vivid colors like bright pink, red, orange, yellow, or purple for maximum impact.
- Use different hues throughout the flower for variation.
- Make the center darker than the petals to help it stand out.
- Leave white areas for highlights on the petals.
- Blend and layer colored pencils for richer blooms.
The color you add will bring vibrancy, dimension and realism to your drawing. Have fun playing with different color combinations!
Conclusion
Drawing simple flowers is an enjoyable way to practice your art skills. First, lightly sketch the basic flower shape. Add petals, stem, leaves and other details. Finally, color your drawing for brilliant, lively blooms. Start with easy flowers like daisies and tulips – as you gain experience, you can advance to more complex flowers like roses and orchids. Relax, have fun, and let your creativity bloom!
