How to Draw Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks are one of those old-fashioned flowers that remind you of older and simpler times when you spy them growing up along fences or buildings. The tall stems, delicate blossoms and complementary foliage make these flowers not only a lovely garden addition but an ideal flower to draw. Start by sketching the outline and then add more details to bring your hollyhocks alive on paper.
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Things You'll Need
- Hollyhocks (either in your garden or in a photograph)
- Paper
- Pencil
- Colored pencils
Instructions
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1
Begin by making a light and rough outline of the basic shape of the hollyhock. Hollyhocks have tall stems with blossoms and leaves growing up and down the stems. The largest leaves are at the bottom of the stems. Larger blossoms come next with slightly smaller leaves. Usually, at the tops of the stems are clusters of blossoms and small leaves.
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2
Fill in the shapes of the petals of the flowers and the shapes of the leaves. Draw the outer petals first and then add the inner petals. Hollyhock blossoms have fluted outer petals that form a ruffled bell shape. All of the petals build on each other to create the final petal shape.
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3
Add the stems as they connect to the blossoms. Next, draw the small green leaves that surround the bottoms of the hollyhock blossoms.
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4
Draw more detail in the leaves that grow among the blossoms. The leaves become fewer and smaller toward the tops of the stems with the blossoms being the most prominent feature at the tops of the stems. Fill in the details of the leaves, including veins and places where the leaves curl or bend.
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5
Add shading to the blossoms and leaves to provide more detail. Shade inner portions of the blossoms to create depth. Shade the undersides of the leaves also. Use the eraser of your pencil to blend the shading and make it realistic.
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6
Add color to the hollyhock flowers with the colored pencils. Make the blossoms pink, burgundy or shades of white. The centers of the blossoms are yellow. Choose several shades of green to give color to the foliage.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your sketch simple when you are just beginning to draw flowers. Even a simple line drawing of a flower can be a beautiful.
Keep practicing your drawing techniques and you will see improvement.
Draw the hollyhocks, filling in the details, and then put the drawing away for a short time. Revisit the drawing after putting it away and you will have a fresh view of the drawing and will be able to improve it.
