How To Draw a Rose Bud

A few weeks back when my mom's garden first started to bloom I was able to get out and do a few sketches.  Here is a quick and easy process share on how I like to draw rose buds.

Start with two lines for the stem.  Add a tear drop shape on top.  Draw lines to indicate the petals. Open the tear drop shape by erasing the line connecting the bud to the stem.

That's pretty much it!  You can now add shading and more details.  Shading is kinda like coloring with a pencil.  Use a light hand and shade or color in where you see dark areas on the flower.  I drew another example with different petals.  Break it down to the stem, bud, petals, and shading.

I straightened up the stems and used curved lines on the bud to show shadows.  Don't forget to use your eraser to open the form and give a realistic look.  I drew small triangle shapes for the leafy bits hanging off the bud.  Flick your pencil up and away to get a nice tip on the top of the bud.  Have a reference photo or the real thing close for observation.

I'd love to hear from you.  Let me know if this was helpful!

My other drawing tutorials.

Did you miss my last post?  Mermaid sketch!

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How To Draw A Mug

5.  Draw a square for the mug.  Keep your straight lines for the next step.

6.  Add two curved lines above and below the straight line at the top.  

Draw a curved line below the line at the bottom.

7. Go back and erase some of the shaded areas on the handle to indicate where the light hits.

I wanted to share a short how-to-draw with you.  I need your opinion.  Should this post have written instructions? (I have updated this post with a few written instructions - thanks for your feedback).  

I want to start a drawing series so please let me know!

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 Have a great Monday!

How I Draw a Face in 3/4 View

Over past week and a half I've been sketching tiny faces.  I thought this would be a good time to attack the dreaded 3/4 view.  There are tons of tutorials out there but I was still having so much trouble.  As you will see some of my drawings are stiff and lifeless.  I wanted to share some tips I now use to draw my girls in 3/4 view.  Disclaimer: this is how I like to draw....my drawings are stylized illustrations.

First, let me take you through my sketches.  I started my drawings in front view to warm up.  You can see the third girl on the first page has a flat chin.  I kept the drawing and made notes so I could see where I was going wrong.  

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TIP: Don't erase your sketches - make notes and track your progress.  

When I got to the girls looking up and down I watched this vid on YouTube which helped me a lot!  Alphonso Dunn is a great artist and teacher.  I used some other general guidelines found here and here. 

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The third page has some funky head shapes.  The second girl I wrote 'face shape wrong.'  I feel like there is enough room for the features I just didn't like her jaw.  I like the hair on that page and plan to practice more.  

On page four I had two girls with frozen faces and pouty lips.  The girl on the bottom left was the last I drew on that page and noticed that if I start with a circle and NOT an oval the features seem to wrap around the head.  When I draw an oval the face tends to be flat. 

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Page five came out some much better then the rest.  So, I noticed that my biggest problem area was the inside eye.  Inside eye meaning the eye which is partially hidden by the nose or farthest away.  If I can get that curve of the face right I'm able to set myself up for success.  

Below I am using the shape of the bean to act as the eye socket and cheek.  

I draw a bean shape inside of a circle.

Make my guidelines for the facial features closest to the side with my curve.

  Elongate the chin and forehead.

Lightly draw eyes, nose, and mouth.

Connect the nose bridge to the inside eyebrow.

Define eyebrows and square out jawline. 

Drawing the face is a gradual process for me.  I erase, move, and make curves until I like what I see.  Use a model or good large photo reference.  Don't forget to add shading and highlights.  Please comment below if this was helpful or if you have questions!  

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