DRAWING FLOWERS : LEARN HOW TO DRAW FLOWERS, PLANTS, AND LEAVES

Drawing Flowers & Plants

Models for drawing flowers and like forms of vegetation are so easily procurable that it seems unnecessary to give many examples in these pages. Real flowers, etc., are better than copies. For purposes of a model one flower is as good as another ; one leaf is as good as another. The only advice to be given is that the beginner should be given a simple flower or leaf. Afterward the more complex flora may be studied and drawn, from nature preferably. A saisy, a dandelion, or a pansy is better to begin with than a rose, a peony or a chrysanthemum.

Any Weed Offers Good Practice.—Nothing is better than a twig with a leaf or two attached. When the natural flowers are not to be had, artificial ones can be made to fulfill the purpose.

The general lines of direction in a drawing should be indicated, and the general shapes of the detail also shown by light lines before the finishing touches are attempted. By doing so, defects in the lightly drawn lines can be easily remedied ; whereas, after the drawing is completed this is almost impossible without smudgy effects being produced. See Fig. 1.

In the sketches shown on figure 1, the idea conveyed in the foregoing paragraph is illustrated, and three stages of progress shown.

Curved and Straight Lines.—The pupil should become equally proficient in the use of curved and straight lines, both being useful for different purposes. For instance, in the example shown in Fig. 3, straight lines are most effective for drawing the pine cones, the twigs and needles ; on the other hand, curved lines are best for rendering the cherries, etc., at the right.

In the earliest exercises, when drawing flowers or leaves from nature, the objects themselves should be rendered in simplified form. For instance, remove the leaves from the stem, leaving only a single flower. Again, remove the flower, leaving only one or two leaves. Increase complexity as ability develops.