Roses are one of the most popular flowers in the world, and for a good reason.
This beautiful flower has a long history and rich symbolism, enduring the test of time in more ways than one. It has been depicted in art and literary works since the Ancient Greece. Even the famous wars between the houses of Lancaster and York take their name from this beautiful flower—the Wars of the Roses. Back then, roses were one of the most common flower symbols in heraldry.
If you search for a drawing of a rose online, you will see that there are many different ways to approach this task.
While it may seem complicated at first, drawing a rose is, in fact, very easy. With the help of this simple rose drawing guide, you will learn how to draw a perfect rose without breaking a sweat. So, let’s jump in!
Materials You Will Need
Here are all the materials you will need to draw a rose:
- Sketchbook—This can be any type of sketchbook. You can even use a piece of paper, but make sure to place something beneath it to avoid any bumps and lumps.
- Pencils—You can never go wrong with Faber Castell or Koh-I-Noor. HB or H pencils with higher numbers are best for sketching, while B pencils between B2 and B6 are perfect for shading.
- Eraser—Although there are many different types of erasers, most artists use the kneaded ones. Besides erasing, it can also help you with shading.
How To Draw a Rose in 5 Steps
1. Sketch
The first thing you need to do is decide from what perspective you’ll draw the rose. Would you prefer its ovary and sepals to be visible, or would you rather draw it from a bird’s eye view where only the petals, stem, and leaves are visible?
2. Set the shape
You will need to draw the general shape of your rose first. This can be an oval shape or a hexagon, with two lines for the stem underneath.
3. Draw the bud
Once you have drawn the general shape, it is time to add layers of petals. The most important pillar to set is the bud.
Even though most people think that the bud is no bigger than a bead, its actual size varies depending on the number of petals that have not yet opened. Its position should be slightly off-center, more towards the top part of the general shape.
Once you’ve finished drawing the rosebud, you can start drawing the petals.
4. Draw the petals
You should draw the petals on top of the bud. Start with tiny petals and expand them until you get a lush rose. The petals that are open or half-open should follow the curve of the bud. Also, make sure they are all slightly curved at the top.
If you pluck a rose petal, you will notice an indent, like a small ball can fit into it. That curve should be drawn even on the outer petals.
Once you’re done with the main part, add some thorns and leaves to the stem.
Remember that the leaves of a rose are not as smooth as those of other flowers. They have slightly pointed edges.
5. Shade
Shading can be done in many ways. Whether you want to use the hatching or smudging technique is entirely your choice. However, you should pay attention to how the light hits your flower.
The lightest elements of the rose will be the outer petals, especially the top curved parts. Those will receive more light than the inner parts of the petals.
Final Thoughts
Flowers are a good place to start for drawing beginners. Even though it may seem complicated at first, drawing a rose is actually pretty straightforward. We believe it will become one of your favorite objects to draw and practice your techniques on once you learn the ropes.
Finally, we hope this guide helps you awaken your inner artist, boost your imagination, and, above all, have fun!