African violets are a popular subject for artists due to their vibrant colors and delicate petals. This tutorial will guide you through the process of drawing and painting these beautiful flowers, using both traditional drawing techniques and watercolor methods.
Watercolor painting sketchbook studies of African violets can be a great way to relax and focus. Here’s how you can create your own watercolor painting of an African violet.
Materials You'll Need:
- Watercolor sketchbook
- Pencil
- Ruler (optional, for grid method)
- Watercolor brush
- Watercolor palette
- Cup of water
- Paper towel
- Photograph of an African violet
Eight items that fit in your hand, and a chair. That’s all you need to make something.
Step-by-Step Drawing Guide:
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Follow these steps to create a detailed drawing of an African violet.
Step 1: Draw the Stamens
The stamen of the violet flower is found in the center. To do this, draw three circles on your paper.
- The first small circle will be in the upper left portion.
- The second circle at the lower right portion of the first circle.
- The third circle will be located at the lower portion of the two circles made earlier. Note: this third circle must be bigger than the first and second circles above.
Be sure to put a space in every circle because in the next steps we will add petals to it.
Step 2: Add Petals
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Add the initial section of the crown of the leaf of the pineapple outline. On the top of the pineapple in the middle part draw a vertical oval with a pointed edge. Make sure that it looks like an ordinary leaf that we can see in our surroundings.
Step 3: Add Petals and Remove Extra Lines
Draw another set of petals to the first circle. Again, surround the first circle with the oblong shape. Make sure to overlap one petal with another. Clean the petals of the first flower that you made earlier. Erase the lines that overlap each petal.
Step 4: Add More Petals and Remove Extra Lines
The last set of petals will be drawn in the second circle. Again, surround the second circle with an oblong shape. Again, make sure that it will overlap on both sides. It will also, overlap the petal of the upper left flower. Then, erase the lines that overlap each petal.
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Step 5: Clean the Petals
Now that we are done drawing the three-violet flower, it’s time to erase some lines on it. Let’s clean the petals by erasing the curved lines inside each petal. Make sure that all petals are still connected.
Step 6: Add the Leaves
Leaves will add colors and beauty to your flowers. Let’s surround your flowers with six leaves. In this step, we will be using big and small curve lines. To do this, let’s make a curve line from the second flower connecting to the first flower. Then, add another curve line from the first leaf to connect it to the second flower.
Note: this is a repeated process, make sure to surround your flower with the leaves using curve lines to complete the six leaves.
Step 7: Draw the Pot
Let’s put your flower in the pot. To draw this, on both sides, draw two short vertical lines. These two vertical lines must have the same length. Then, Connect these two vertical lines with a horizontal line.
Step 8: Add Details to the Pot
In adding details to your pot, draw a half oval shape below the horizontal line. Draw this from the left corner of the horizontal line going in the opposite direction. On the opposite side draw another curve line. On the upper portion of the pot, draw a curved line from the left edge to the opposite side.
Step 9: Remove Extra Lines
In this step, we will focus on the lower portion of the pot. After adding details to it, let’s erase some lines that are not included in your drawing. Clean your pot by erasing the horizontal line and the curve inside. Make sure to erase the lines overlapping the leaves.
Step 10: Add the Veins and the Midrib of the Leaves
Let’s draw the Midribs of each leaf. In the middle part of each leaf, draw a straight line that connects to the edge of the leaves. After that, we will add veins to it. In drawing the veins, draw some lines from the midribs to the margin of the leaves. Please observe space in every vein. Lastly, in the center of the flower, draw one circle in the middle, then surround it with another set of circles.
Step 11: Finish Up!
Are you excited to show your talent in coloring your own drawing? Me too, I’m so excited! But before anything else, trace your drawing with the black pen or marker to see your drawing clearly. Then after that, you can start choosing colors for your flower, leaves, and pot. I believe that you will do a great job in coloring your drawing.
Watercolor Techniques for African Violets
Once your drawing is complete, you can bring it to life with watercolor paints. Here’s how to approach painting your African violet:
- Snap a Photo: Start by taking a photo of a pink African violet in good lighting.
- Print the Image: Print the photo on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper.
- Sketch Lightly: Lightly sketch the outline of the flower on your watercolor paper.
- Prepare Your Palette: Set up your watercolor palette with various shades of purple, green, and brown.
Painting with Inks
Experimenting with inks can add a unique touch to your watercolor paintings. Here’s how you can incorporate inks into your African violet artwork:
I had recently been watching a YouTube channel by Alex at The Daily Nature Journal about using botanical inks in his drawings and this inspired me to dig out some of my inks. Not that I have botanical inks (not yet), I have normal inks, but I did have one bottle of Purple Mojo ink from Private Reserve ink company which I’ve had for years. I dug out this old inkpot, shook it up and got out my palette. I took a regular paint brush and dipped it in water first and put some water on my palette just a few drops because I was going to dilute the ink down. It was serendipitous that I happened to have purple ink and I was drawing an African Violet. I mixed up the water and ink which dissolves immediately.
To dry paper, I washed the purple ink onto my violet petals. I did end up with quite a few hard edges and thought that I perhaps could have wet the paper beforehand, but I kept going. I painted a first light coat on all the petals and let it dry a little bit. I applied a second coat of the same consistency of ink wash over the petals as well. I let the second coat dry. Finally, I came back with some stronger ink, straight out of the inkpot, and added a few dimensional shadows to the petals for interest. I let the ink thoroughly dry before I moved on, but I have to say that with working with ink gets on all your fingers. It stains everywhere and I had to stop and do some washing up of my hands and the palette and brush before I went any further.
Tips for Finding Inspiration
- Take Photos: If you’re in a blooming season outside, grab your phone or a camera and go for a walk.
- Close-Up Shots: Take photos of single flowers, in the sun, with no flash, and close up.
- Online Resources: If you don’t like using your own images, you can use photographs taken by others who’ve given permission to paint from their images.
Overcoming Obstacles to Art-Making
Try not to invent obstacles to your art making time. If you think about making art, but the idea gets squished with thoughts like:
- My house is messy.
- I have no room to make art.
- I need better supplies to sketch and paint.
- My watercolors aren’t the right quality/color/brand.
Pay attention to what you’re telling yourself. Try a bit of thought-rearranging, to gift yourself just two hours of painting time. All your other To-Do’s will wait for you. I promise.
The Benefits of Making Art
Art is a salve. It’s the compass at our helms, the air in our sails and the keel on our boats. Give yourself permission to dive into the comfort of creativity on a regular basis.
Staying Connected
Get yourself sketching, listing ideas, and scribbling compositions in a sketchpad today. Pick up the phone to chat with art friends, and keep yourself connected to the people who encourage the artist in you. We’re going through this together. Remember all those moments when we wished for more time? Try hard not to squander this gift. This craziness also includes pockets of free time.
Artists all over the internet are doing a fantastic job of using social media during this Great Pause. Social Media is percolating with musicians, actors, painters and authors, all using their computers and phones to broadcast free content to the world. It’s quite remarkable - and poignant - to feel the generosity of the creative community out there. These folks are part of our tribe, you know? Be sure to visit and support them!
Table: Essential Art Supplies for Drawing and Painting African Violets
| Supply | Description |
|---|---|
| Watercolor Sketchbook | Provides the surface for your paintings |
| Pencil | For sketching the initial outlines |
| Ruler (Optional) | For using grid method to copy image |
| Watercolor Brush | Used to apply watercolor paints |
| Watercolor Palette | Holds and mixes your watercolor paints |
| Cup of Water | To clean brushes and dilute paints |
| Paper Towel | For blotting excess water from brushes |
| Photograph of African Violet | Reference image for drawing and painting |
