How to draw a rose

Most people try to draw every petal of a rose and end up with a cabbage. The easy rose skips that: a loose spiral suggests the tightly wrapped centre, and two curved side petals suggest the rest.

This is the rose you see on cards and tattoos, and it works at any size.

Step-by-step: how to draw a rose

1. 

   1Guide circle and stem line

   Draw a circle for the head of the rose and a faint line down for the stem.

2. 

   2Draw the spiral bud

   Start in the middle with a small curl and spiral outwards in two or three loose turns, leaving the end open at the top right. Keep it in the upper half of the circle.

3. 

   3Wrap the petals around it

   Draw a U-shaped cup around the bottom of the spiral, then a rounded petal on each side that meets at the bottom. Close the top with a gentle arc over the spiral.

4. 

   4Stem and sepals

   Draw the stem down from the bottom point, and three small pointed sepals — the green leaves that hold the flower — curving out under the head.

5. 

   5Leaves, thorns and erase

   Add a leaf on each side of the stem at different heights with a centre vein, and two little triangle thorns. Erase the guide circle.

6. 

   6Colour the rose

   Classic red with a darker red inside the cup to show depth, deep green leaves and stem. Pink, yellow or white roses work exactly the same way.

Tips for a better rose

• Leave the spiral open. A closed circle in the middle looks like a target; an open curl looks like petals.
• Darker inside the cup. One darker shade inside the petals instantly adds depth.
• Curve the stem slightly. A rose on a dead-straight stem looks artificial.

Try a variation

Draw a bouquet: three roses at slightly different angles, stems crossing at the bottom, tied with a ribbon. Or add a heart behind it for a card.

More things to draw

Level up

• Basic shading
• Colour theory for beginners
• Drawing ideas
• Easy things to draw