Drawing: Flowers: Learn to Draw Step-by-Step

By William F. Powell

Transform lines and simple shapes into strikingly textured pencil illustrations of a wide variety of flowers.

In this comprehensive guide, acclaimed artist William F. Powell invites you into his artistic world as he shows you how to render a variety of beautiful flowers in pencil. After sharing helpful tips for choosing materials, shading with pencil, and creating floral arrangements, he explores drawing techniques with step-by-step demonstrations that feature his own personal method for developing a drawing to its fullest potential. And the lessons feature a variety of beautiful flower drawings you can both copy and admire, making this book a welcome reference for any artist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jan 1, 2003
• ISBN: 9781610598477

Book preview

Getting Started

Drawing is just like writing your name. You use lines to make shapes. In the art of drawing, you carry it a bit further, using shading techniques to create the illusion of three-dimensional form.

Only a few basic tools are needed in the art of drawing. The tools necessary to create the drawings in this book are all shown here.

Pencils

Pencils come in varying degrees of lead, from very soft to hard (e.g., 6B, 4B, 2B, and HB, respectively). Harder leads create lighter lines and are used to make preliminary sketches. Softer leads are usually used for shading.

Flat sketching pencils are very helpful; they can create wide or thin lines, and even dots. Find one with a B lead, the degree of softness between HB and 2B.

Although pencil is the primary tool used for drawing, don’t limit yourself. Try using charcoal, colored pencils, crayons, and pastels–they can add color and dimension to your work.

2B PENCIL

HB PENCIL

FLAT SKETCHING PENCIL

Erasers

Erasers are not only useful for correcting mistakes, but they are also fine drawing tools. Choose from several types: kneaded, vinyl, gum, or rubber, depending on how you want to use the eraser. For example, you can mold a kneaded eraser into a point or break off smaller pieces to lift out highlights or create texture. A gum or rubber eraser works well for erasing larger areas.

KNEADED ERASER

Paper

There are many types of paper that vary according to color, thickness, and surface quality (e.g., smooth or rough). Use a sketch pad or inexpensive bond paper for practice. For finer renderings, try illustration or bristol board. Bristol board is available in plate finish, which is smooth, or vellum finish, which has more tooth. As you become more comfortable with drawing techniques, experiment with better quality paper to see how it affects your work.

Other Helpful Materials

You should have a paper blending stump (also known as a tortillon) for creating textures and blends in your drawing. It enhances certain

Reviews for Drawing

[montzaleew · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Drawing: Flowers with William F. Powell: Learn to draw step by step by William F. Powell is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. I love his art books because there is something about them that clicks with me. His teaching methods I understand easily. I first started my journey with art with one of his book. I wanted to learn to draw but I couldn't draw anything but a stick man but I got his book and I was able to draw a car, teddy bear, mountain man and more and it looked realistic and I learned all from his book! This book is like that too! It takes complicated items but he simplifies it down to something I can understand and draw! These are step-by-step lessons with lots of illustrations and instructions. Some books I just don't get but him I understand! This is a beginner's book and I plan on getting it to add to my collection. Thanks so much Mr Powell, I would have given up on art of it wasn't for you!