How to Draw a Rose – Step by Step Guide

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Learn how to draw a rose with our easy to follow step-by-step tutorial.

This beautiful full bodied easy rose drawing can be drawn with just a few simple and repetitive lines, and once the magic formula for drawing a rose has been revealed, beginners and kids will be creating full bouquets of beautiful roses in no time!

This how to draw guide and art project is a fantastic way for children to learn the basics of drawing a simple rose. At Arty Crafty Kids, we encourage children to use simple shapes and lines, that are often repeated for definition.

Our easy to draw rose tutorial uses the Flow Drawing Technique, which aims to engage children in drawing natural and rhythmical strokes – thinking less about the end product and more about the process.

The rose is the perfect flower for children to explore; it includes swirls, hearts (well ours includes hearts!) and layers of unfurling petals for children to study perspective and depth.

The rose is also made up of beautiful, velvety petals that are rich in color. To recreate this gorgeous texture, our rose petals are painted using the wet-on-wet watercolor technique.

This is an amazing art process for children to explore, who will be enthralled by how the paint travels and blends within the water to create gorgeous colors and texture.

What is Flow Drawing? 

Flow Drawing is an art technique developed by us to encourage children​ to understand shapes and create illustrations, in a much ‘freer’ way.

By removing restrictions, flow drawing encourages children to fully engage in the moment and discover their natural flow, making every line count and bringing mindfulness to their creative process.

You can think of the flow drawing technique as a ‘how to draw’ guide with a difference – children won’t just draw a picture, they’ll create a unique work of art, right from their soul.

Flow Drawing Benefits:

Although the process of flowing more naturally in art might seem a little alien to children at first, it’s really worth encouraging them to have a go. Flow drawing has so many benefits and helps little hands and minds to:

• Explore simple shapes and how they work together to create larger forms
• Discover their natural flow and rhythm through repetitive movements
• Learn how to combine mediums, with a fun and easy approach
• Build confidence in their own creative ability
• Combat ‘perfection-seeking’ in art, providing a much needed alternative to rigid ‘how to draw’ guides
• Bring mindfulness to the creative process and boost mental health
• Foster a love of art and self-expression.

How to Draw a Rose – Step by Step Guide

Materials

• Black Crayon, Pen or Oil Pastel
• Liquid Water Colors
• Mixed Media Paper or Card Stock

Download the How to Draw a Rose Step by Step Guide and Completed Template:

The templates are available to members of the Arty Crafty Kids club. 
Members will need to log in to access the templates:

https://www.artycraftykids.com/product/flow-drawing-a-rose/

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Watch the How to Draw a Rose Step by Step Video Tutorial:

Let’s Draw a Rose!

Draw the Center of the Rose

At first bloom, roses are made up of a tight center coil of petals – this is the starting point of our how to draw a rose tutorial.

To begin, draw a small swirl in the upper center area of the mixed media paper or card stock. To make it easier for children to understand, create a visualisation – they can imagine they’re drawing the shell of a snail.

Draw Half a Heart Shape Around the Rose Center

Next, we’re going to frame our little coil with a heart shape. Draw the first side of the heart as shown above.

Complete the Surrounding Heart Shape

Now add the second half of the heart, joining the two lines with a point.

Since roses and hearts are often representations of love, it seems fitting that this newly drawn heart will become the center of our rose, with further rose petals carefully drawn around this focus point.

Building Around the Rose Center

Let’s repeat the heart shape, only this time not ending with a joining point, but with little hooks drawn away from the hearts tip.

Draw the First Set of Rose Petals

Starting from the hook at the end of the second heart, draw a wavy line that initially curves away from the heart and returns before the bulbous area of the upper heart. Repeat this process with the second hook.

Draw the Second Set of Rose Petals

Starting from the central point at the top of the heart, draw a wavy line from this point upwards and round until the line joins the bottom petal. Again, repeat this step with the other side.

Repeat Lines to Create a Full Bodied Rose

So for now, we have a process of drawing petals from the bottom and upper center points of the heart (where the rose petals join), and working around the heart with wide wavy lines to form petals.

Repeat the previous two steps with each side of the rose, only this time the petals get wider and slightly wavier.

Add Further Petals Across the Joins

Next, we’re changing tact. Instead of drawing rose petals from the indented points, the petals can now be drawn across the joins. This will create a lovely layering effect that’s typical of a rose.

Draw a number of new petals around the rose and across the joins until you’re happy with the fullness of the flower.

Draw the Rose a Stem, Sepal and Leaves

Before we draw the stem, draw a pair of mini leaves at the bottom of the rose – these leaves are called the sepal.

Next, draw a lovely long stem. This could be straight or drawn with a little wave.

Add a pair of large leaves near the bottom of the stem.

Paint the Rose: Wet on Wet Watercolor Technique

Applying the Wet-on-Wet Technique to the Rose

Add a few strokes of clear water to the petals of the rose. Don’t worry about the lines as wax and oil repel water, and will not be affected by the application of water.

Next, add a few drops of deep red liquid watercolor paint with a brush. As the paint hits the water, it will spread across the watery space.

To create tone and depth to the petals, try thinning the paint by spreading it with a paintbrush (lightening the color) or add a second color, perhaps pink, near the red and watch the colors blend. If necessary, encourage the colors to blend with the paintbrush.

This is such a fun process for kids to experiment with and brings another dimension to color mixing!

Add a Contrasting Background Color

Once the rose is bursting with rich and beautiful color, apply another layer of water around the rose and add blue liquid watercolor paint.

The How to Draw a Rose – Step by Step Guide is Complete

I hope you and your Arty Crafty Kids have enjoyed following this How to Draw a Rose – Step by Step Guide. This is a lovely art project for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s and any other special occasion. It is of course a lovely project for learning how to draw a basic rose – a perfect beginners tutorial!

If you try this project with your Arty Crafty Kids, please do share the results of your simple rose drawings with us on a social media and tag!

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