How to Draw Carnation

The head of the Carnation flower resembles a mushroom. Draw two intersecting ellipses, vertical and horizontal, just like you see in the illustration. The vertical ellipse represents the calyx and the horizontal represents the opened flower with petals. So, you have now a rough basic outline.

Let’s break the flower into smaller parts and practice drawing Carnation “part-by-part”, beginning the drawing from calyx and flower bud first. I think these illustrations are simple and clear enough so that you can follow through.

Add the jagged edges and the petals are ready. Easy isn’t it? OK, let’s put these petals into the calyx and make a fresh-looking Carnation. Take a look one more time at the bud drawing, observe it a bit and then add the petals on the top.

To make the flower complete, we need to add the stem with leaves. Carnation stems and leaves are very easy to draw. The stem is just a kind of simple “stick”, and the leaves look like long curved arrows.

Practice first the various shapes of the leaves according to the illustration. You will soon understand their shape. These are the basic variations of Carnation leaf shapes.

Sure, there are many more, as every flower is individual but if you learn these you will easily draw any other.

A couple of split stems examples. Notice that the “knee” where the stem splits, grows leaves.

Make as many mistakes as possible. It is good to make mistakes in the beginning. That is the process of learning, especially when you learn to draw.

Remember you are not a camera, you are human and every line you create is good because it carries your individuality. We are still halfway and the only work you have completed is the outline of the flower.

To make this Carnation outline drawing complete, let’s put some life into it. Let’s dress the Carnation up. It will be only by pencil but you will see how entirely different is the final impression. You can draw directly with a colored pencil too if you wish.

All of them have a part of the body that defines the character and individuality of the person, animal, or plant.
 
You would certainly not draw details of a flower from the root stem, as you would not start to draw work out the details of a human figure from the legs.

Imagine how would it be, draw Carnation in color. Imagine you have the only black and white vision.

Certainly, the green parts will be of a darker tone and the petals of the flower would be lighter. Let’s assume that the petals are light pink or red.