1 Begin with an HB pencil, lightly drawing in the basic shapes within the floral arrangement.

2 Continue using a loose, sketchy technique. Sometimes this type of final can be more pleasing than a highly detailed one.

3 The final sketch shows shading strokes for the flower petals and leaves. Try not to add too much detail, but keep strokes light. Position the shadows using the side of an HB pencil; then blend softly with a paper stump.

1 Sketch the basic shapes of the glass, liquid, and flowers.

2 Add more details, and begin shading the glass and liquid areas. Take your time, and try to make the edges clean.

3 Use the flat lead of a sketching pencil for the background, making the background darker than the cast shadows. Note the pattern of lights and darks that can be found in the cast shadow.

4 Use the finished drawing as your guide for completing lights and darks. If pencil smudges accidentally get in the highlights, clean them out with a kneaded eraser. Then use sharp-pointed HB and 2B pencils to add final details.

1 Use an HB pencil to block in the overall shapes of the rose and petal, using a series of angular lines.

IN STEPS 2–3, Continue adding guidelines for the flower’s interior, following the angles of the petal edges.

4 Now begin shading and refining the shape. Stroke from inside each petal toward its outer edge.

5 Shade from the outer edge of each petal, meeting the strokes you drew in the opposite direction. Draw lines that gently fade at the end.

1 With straight lines, block in an irregular polygon for the overall flower shape and add partial triangles for leaves.

2 As you draw each of the petal shapes, pay particular attention to where they overlap and to their proportions—how big each is compared with the others. Accurately reproducing the pattern of the petals is an important element.

3 Once all the shapes are laid in, refine their outlines. Using the side and blunt point of an HB pencil, shade the petals and the leaves, making your strokes follow the direction of the curves.

1 Draw the basic shapes of the roses with an HB pencil. Block in only the outlines and a few major petal shapes.

2 Begin developing the secondary shapes of each flower. These are the elements that make each rose unique, so pay careful attention to the shapes at this stage.

3 Begin to define the shapes more precisely, adding detail to the innermost petals, refining the stems, and developing the shape of the ribbon.

4 Keep shading fairly minimal. Use hatched strokes and add only enough shading on each flower, leaf, and stem to give it some form.

CREATING FORM Look for the rhythm of line in the tulip. It begins with simple lines in step 1, which set its basic direction. Step 2 demonstrates how to add lines to build the general flower shape. Step 3 adds more to the flower shape. Step 4 shows more detail and shading, which gives the flower its form.

1 Develop the overall shape of the side view, including the stem and sepal.

2 Begin drawing the intricate flower details, keeping them light and simple.

1 The front view above shows the complex pattern of this carnation. Draw the basic shapes of the flower. Then draw the curved petal shapes.

2 Shade the flower.

1 Begin the exercise by drawing and positioning the major flower parts.

2 Begin refining the petals and surrounding leaves.

3 Start shading and establish the background pattern.

1 Sketch the overall mass, petal direction, and basic center of the flower.

2 Refine the details, and give the petals a slightly rippled effect.

3 Add the details of the flower center, and block in the stem and leaves.