Choosing the Right Medium--Ultimate Flowers Drawing Guide

With different combinations of media and surface you can create quite different effects. Though these six designs are the same, each drawing evokes its own atmosphere and mood according to the medium and the background.

The first drawing is in 0.1 technical pen on layout paper. A technical pen will glide with ease over the white surface enabling you to record a plant with cool, botanical detail.

The second drawing is done in a water-resistant felt-tip pen and Indian ink wash on Bristol board. The flowing line of the wet brush gives both depth and texture to the flowers and leaves, while fine lines have been traced with the tip.

The third drawing is sketched in 9B and 3B pencils on cartridge paper. Varying the pressure on the pencil lead creates light and dark tones. A soft putty eraser lifted out highlights.

Pastel on Ingres paper lends light and atmosphere to the fourth drawing. The soft pigment can be gently smudged to create form and volume. Hard edges can be brushed away to give an illusion of depth.

The fifth picture is drawn in conté with white chalk highlights on rough cream cartridge paper. The side of the conté stick adds texture to the leaves while the point details the flower centers.

The sixth design is drawn with a sharp stylus on black scraperboard. Scraperboard is very effective for strong black and white designs. You can paint over mistakes with black ink. Don’t lean your hand on the scraperboard: it’s marked by perspiration.

1 Technical pen on layout paper

2 Felt-tip pen and Indian ink on Bristol board

3 Pencil on cartridge paper

4 Pastel on Ingres paper

5 Conté crayon and white chalk on cartridge paper

6 Stylus on scraperboard