Snowdrop is an easy watercolor spring flower project. The only colors are green, white, shadows, and a contrasting background. Free line art.
Snowdrop is the first flower to burst through the snow to announce that spring is on the way. If you are looking for a watercolor spring flower project, this is an easy one. The shape is simple to draw, and the only colors to contend with are green, white, and shadows. A contrasting background will bring this innocent, white beauty to life.
Snowdrop is a symbol of overcoming obstacles, as well as rebirth, hope, and purity. These are the self-evident meanings peoples of many cultures have ascribed to snowdrops. Pushing its way through snow is not every flower’s kind of deal, that’s for sure.
There are many lovely vintage illustrations with snowdrops. These four are some examples. The top left is by Elsa Bescow, a Swedish illustrator who loomed large in my childhood.
Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to bloom in late winter, their nodding white blooms signaling the arrival of spring. Capturing the delicate beauty of snowdrops in a drawing is a great way to celebrate the changing seasons. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll walk you through an easy method for drawing a snowdrop flower. With just basic supplies and following some simple steps, you can create lovely snowdrop art.
Supplies Needed
To draw a snowdrop you only need a few basic supplies
- Drawing paper
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Ruler (optional)
That’s it! Having the right drawing tools is key, but you don’t need any fancy art supplies to start sketching snowdrops. You may also want to have a reference photo of a snowdrop on hand. Now let’s get into the drawing instructions.
Step 1: Draw the Stem
Using your pencil, lightly sketch a vertical line about 5-6 inches tall on the paper. This will be the stem. Snowdrop stems are slender but sturdy, so keep your line thin but straight.
Step 2: Add Leaves
About halfway up the stem, draw a small sideways “V” shape on each side to represent the leaves. Snowdrop leaves are long and pointed. They grow alternately along the stem in a staggered pattern.
Step 3: Sketch the Flower Bud
At the top of the stem, draw an oval bud shape that’s just beginning to open Snowdrops have a nod or droop to them, so tilt your oval slightly downward
Step 4: Refine the Bud
Turn your oval into a more bell-like shape for the flower, tapering it narrower at the bottom. Erase any stem lines that show through the bud.
Step 5: Draw Petals Emerging
Inside the bell, sketch a cross shape to indicate the petals starting to emerge. Have the lines touch the inner edges of the bell shape.
Step 6: Define Petals
Erase the bottom of the vertical petal lines to distinguish them from the outer bell shape. Add curved detailing on the ends of each petal.
Step 7: Add Shading
On the back side of the petals and at the base of the bell, use light shading to show depth and form. Leave the fronts of the petals white. Add darker shading under the leaves.
Step 8: Draw Details
Use short, curved lines to add veining to the petals and leaves. Dot the leaves and stem with small flecks for texture.
Step 9: Draw Pistil and Stamens
Inside the petals, sketch a small circle for the pistil Add thin stamen shapes radiating outward
Step 10: Draw More Flowers (Optional)
Once you have one snowdrop down, repeat the process to draw clumps of them, varying the heights and angles. Show buds closed and fully open.
Step 11: Add Color (Optional)
With colored pencils or markers, shade your snowdrops. The petals and pistil are bright white. The leaves are dark green with light veins. The stem can range from green to brown. Leave white highlights.
And there you have it! By following these simple snowdrop drawing steps, you can create beautiful floral art. Snowdrops make a refreshing subject to draw as winter fades to spring. With practice, you’ll be able to sketch them from memory.
Tips for Drawing Snowdrops
Here are some additional tips to help you draw realistic, graceful snowdrops:
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Lightly sketch the initial shapes and lines before pressing down hard. This allows for easy erasing and revisions.
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Use smooth, fluid strokes to capture the natural curves of snowdrops. Avoid hard scratched lines.
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Pay attention to the angles and spacing between the flowers, leaves, and stem to make your snowdrop drawing feel more lifelike.
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Focus on the white color and delicate details that make snowdrops so distinctive. Convey their ephemeral winter beauty.
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Use shading judiciously to create depth and form. Heavy dark shading can make snowdrops look mushy.
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Practice from life by sitting outside and sketching snowdrops in nature to understand their real shapes and growth patterns.
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Look at snowdrop photos for more examples of how the flowers look. Notice how they nod and sway.
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Start simply, then add more detail once you’re comfortable with the basics. Don’t overwhelm yourself at the start.
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Draw lightly at first so you can refine the drawing as you go before committing to hard lines.
With a little time and practice, you’ll be drawing lovely, lively snowdrops. Let them inspire you as a sign of renewal and optimism this coming spring.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drawing Snowdrops
What are snowdrops a symbol of?
Snowdrops symbolize hope, rebirth, and overcoming adversity. Emerging while snow still covers the ground, they represent perseverance and the arrival of spring. This makes them a meaningful flower to draw.
What do snowdrop flowers look like?
Snowdrops have nodding, bell-shaped white flowers with six petal-like parts. They grow on thin green stems with long slender leaves. Two leaves often droop down from each flower stem.
What supplies do I need to draw snowdrops?
You just need basic drawing tools like paper, pencil, eraser, and optional ruler. Colored pencils or markers can be used to add color after completing your snowdrop line drawing.
Should I use a reference photo?
Yes, having a snowdrop photo to look at will help you accurately capture details like the angles of the stem, spacing of leaves, and flower petal shapes.
What are some snowdrop drawing tips?
Tips include sketching lightly at first, using fluid strokes for the curves, paying attention to angles/spacing, keeping the white flowers the focal point, using shading sparingly, and practicing from life.
How do I draw the snowdrop leaves?
Draw the leaves in a sideways V shape, pointed at the ends. They alternate up the stem with one leaf on each side at different heights in staggered placement.
How do I draw the snowdrop petals?
Sketch them emerging from inside the bell shape, meeting at the edges. Erase the bottom to distinguish them from the outer bell. Add curves and veining.
How do I shade a snowdrop drawing?
Use light shading on the back of petals and base of the flower. Add darker shading under leaves and on the stem. Keep the snowdrop petals white.
Following this snowdrop drawing tutorial and referring to reference photos will have you creating gorgeous floral art in no time!
Step 4: Using white gouache to paint the white watercolor spring flower
First, paint a thin layer of white gouache on the left petal. (Note: I earn a small commission if you buy through the link). The grey color must be completely dry to avoid making a mess.
Let the first layer of white dry. With plenty of white gouache on your brush, paint again. While the paint is still wet, use pointed tissue paper to draw stripes. You can wet the tissue paper point a little bit.
When dry, use a pointed brush to paint solid white stripes. You now have both shadows and highlighted stripes.
Follow the same procedure for the middle and right petal.
Step 5: Draw details with colored pencils
With a sepia-colored pencil, outline the flower, stem, and leaves. Pick your light and dark green colored pencils and draw on top of the dry, green watercolor. Use a white colored pencil for highlights.
