CKnoxArticle

merican

Establishing partnerships between artists and art museums

alon

uried

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HOME

PRISMACOLOR PENCILS USED: Black, Burnt Ochre, Canary Yellow, Crimson Red, Dark Green, Dark Umber, Goldenrod,
Indigo Blue, Jasmine, Kelp Green, Olive Green, Orange, Pumpkin Orange, Tuscan Red, White, Yellow Ochre, Yellowed Orange

STEP ONE: I first sketch out the rose in Yellowed Orange.
Please note that the background in the first two images have been grayed to better accentuate the flower's outline.

STEP TWO: I outline the exterior of the rose with Black to establish the background edging. I layer the large top petal with Jasmine and Yellowed
Orange. Then I add Orange in the dark areas. With Yellow Ochre and then a burnishing of White, I complete the basecoat. Then I use Pumpkin
Orange and a touch of Crimson Red in the reddish areas. I blend Canary Yellow over the entire petal with firm pressure. I use Yellowed Orange
to build up the orange areas and White to lighten. I lightly shadow the base area with Burnt Ochre. Then I add Jasmine and White highlights as
well as touches of Yellowed Orange and Canary Yellow.

STEP THREE: Still working on the outer petals, I build up the shadow areas with Burnt Ochre and blend with Yellowed Orange and Canary
Yellow. These three pencils, along with Pumpkin Orange and Orange, create the remaining petals above and around the center. For the bright
reddish areas, I add a Crimson Red topcoat. Then I use Dark Umber on the left petal and burnish everything with White.

STEP FOUR: In the background I create a rich, dense hue first with Black, then Tuscan Red, Indigo Blue, and a final burnish of Black. I give the
background leaves an initial coat of Black using light pressure.

STEP FIVE: On the lower petals, I follow a Jasmine wash with Pumpkin Orange. Then I apply Orange, Crimson Red, Yellowed Orange, and
Canary Yellow. For the highlights, I use Jasmine, White and Pumpkin Orange. To the right of that, I gently apply Dark Umber in the shadows, and
I complete the bottom recessed petal using Goldenrod with light streaks of Crimson Red and Pumpkin Orange. To finish the remaining back
petals, I add Burnt Ochre and Goldenrod, as well as a light application of Dark Umber for the shadows. Touches of Dark Green and Crimson Red
bring the petals to life. I also add highlights with Jasmine and White.

STEP SIX: I add Jasmine and Pumpkin Orange at the bud’s base. Next I layer Yellowed Orange over both sides and cover the red area to the left
with Tuscan Red. Then I use Crimson Red with a light, circular touch on both sides of the bud and Canary Yellow for the yellow areas. The
interior of the bud is like a puzzle, and I complete it one piece at a time. For the orange areas, I use Yellowed Orange, Pumpkin Orange, Orange,
and finally Crimson Red. I deepen the shadows and crevices with Tuscan Red, and I color the light yellow areas with Canary Yellow and White. I
lightly outline the water drops and fill them in with Goldenrod. Then I blend them down using White. I finish each leaf by layering Dark Green,
Kelp Green, and Olive Green over the existing Black. Then I add Black back in and burnish with White for highlights.

I hope you try this method of creating art, and if you do, ENJOY!
Sincerely, Cynthia

Technique
The following step-by-step of drawing a yellow rose in colored pencil is excerpted from my book, Drawing Made Easy: Flowers
in Colored Pencil. If you have any questions, please contact me at cknox1@nycap.rr.com or www.cynthiaknox.com.

Top of Page

Home Page

Creating Art with Colored Pencils
By Cynthia Knox

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////