How to Draw a Carnation Flower

Carnations are considered one of the oldest flower species in the world. With a scientific name that means "flower of love," carnations are still often worn today at weddings and other special occasions as a symbol of love and admiration. You can preserve the beauty of a carnation by capturing it on paper. Your drawing will make a beautiful wall decoration for your home or a thoughtful gift for a loved one.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Colored pencils

Instructions

1. Draw a vertical ellipse that partially overlaps with a horizontal ellipse right above it.

2. Erase the top half of the horizontal ellipse. Replace the curved line with a jagged one formed by small triangle and "M" shaped petals of varying widths.

3. Erase the top of the vertical ellipse. Replace the curved line with three or four smaller petals.

4. Surround the bottom of the vertical ellipse with long pointed petals to form the calyx.

5. Extend the bottom of the calyx so that it gradually transitions into a thin stem.

6. Add several thin leaves that curve outwards as you move down the stem.

7. Color in the stem and leaves with a shade of green and the petals with red, yellow or orange. Shade some areas darker than other to create the illusion of shadows falling on the carnation. This technique works best with colored pencils.

References

• http://www.proflowers.com/flowerguide/flowermeanings_dir_carnation-meanings.aspx
• http://www.easy-drawings-and-sketches.com/draw-carnation.html