3 Easy Ways to Draw a Rose in Procreate

Roses look like they’re hard to draw, but you’ll see in this tutorial just how easy it can be.

In this tutorial, we’ll go through 3 easy ways you can draw a rose using Procreate.

Here’s a quick overview of the article.

• Tools needed
• How to draw a rose (front view)
• How to draw a rose from the side
• How to draw a rosebud
• Final words

Let’s get started.

Tools needed

You will need an iPad, an apple pencil, or a compatible pencil, and Procreate for this tutorial.

I’ll be using my set of nifty brushes but feel free to use any brushes you want.

How to draw a rose (front view)

We’ll begin our tutorial by drawing the front view of a beautiful rose.

Step 1 - Draw a circle

Start by drawing a circle using the Main Pencil from my Nifty Brushes for Procreate.

This will be the space your rose illustration will cover.

Step 2 - Find the center of your rose

Mark a point where the center of your rose will be.

This point doesn’t need to be in the center of the first circle.

Step 3 - Draw the main silhouette

This tutorial will show you different styles to draw roses.

In this first method, you’ll draw the silhouette of the rose.

I'm using the Main Pencil form the Nifty Brushes for all the skethcing.

This will help you see if your overall illustration translates as a rose.

Step 4 - Draw the inner bud

Draw two circles to start defining the shape of the inner bud.

Step 5 - Curvy lines

From the center point you created, start to create curved lines that go in the same direction.

These lines should stay in the smallest circle you made.

These will be the inner petals.

I like to add a bit of shadow during this stage so it’s easier to add color later on.

Step 6 - Keep swirling 

Keep on adding curved lines that go in the same direction.

Step 7 - Turn them into petals

Add a curvy line that resembles a “V” to close the lines you did in the previous step.

Add some shadows to turn these lines into petals.

Step 8 - Keep building the petals

Continue to draw curved lines that touch the second circle you drew.

Add some shadows to define the petals.

Keep doing this until the second circle you made is full of petals.

You don’t need to worry about making this step perfect, right now we’re defining the shapes, and later, we’ll add color and details.

Step 9 - Finish the petals 

Connect the silhouette with the petals you drew already using lines and mild shadows.

Once you’ve done this, you can rename this layer “Raw Sketch”.

Lower this opacity of the raw sketch, make a new layer on top of this one.

Trace the lines so you can have clean lines for your sketch.

I'm using the Sharp H Pencil from the Nifty Brushes.

Step 10 - Get the colors out

Free color palette: You can get the color palette I used for this illustration here

Make a new layer under your sketch and add a base color.

For this part, I used the Base Color brushes from the Nifty Brush set.

Step 11 - Start to add shadows

Make a new layer and place it on top of the base color.

Click on that new layer and turn on “Clipping Mask”.

Clipping masks are a great way to add details without having to worry about staying inside the lines.

Step 12 - Start to add dimension

Using a darker color than the base, start to add shadows to the petals

I'm using the Pencil Fill brush from the Nifty Brush set for all the color shadows of this rose.

Choose a darker version of that color and continue to add shadows in the darker areas.

With a lighter version of the base color, add small highlights to the ends of the petals.

To finish this step, choose the darkest color so far and add some darker details in the dark areas of the rose illustration.

Step 13 - Bring in the Detail

Using a lighter version than the base color, start to add some details to the petals to make them look more delicate.

Continue to do this until you’re happy with how it’s looking.

Step 14 - Finishing touches

I love to finish my rose illustrations by adding some water droplets as a finishing touch.

They’re really easy to make.

Just start by drawing tiny circles on a new layer on top of your rose illustration.

For this I used the Base Color brush in small various sizes.

Once you’ve done that, add shadows to all of them.

I'm using the Pencil Fill brush again for the shadows and details of the drops on the rose.

Continue by adding highlights with a lighter color.

To finish them up, add shadows under each droplet.

And there you have it!

You finished your rose illustration.

How to draw a rose from the side

Step 1 - Draw a circle

This circle will determine the size of your rose.

I'm using the main pencil from the Nifty brushes fort he whole sketch of this rose.

Step 2 - Small ovals

Let’s determine where the center bud of this flower will be.

Draw a small oval inside the circle to determine the top of the center bud.

Draw a bigger oval shape for the bottom part of the center bud of the rose.

Join these two with slightly curved lines.

Finish up by drawing a small circle inside the top oval.

Step 3 - Start to make it a rose 

Make a new layer.

Using the small circle for reference, draw some soft triangular shapes to create the center of the rose.

Step 4 - Wrap the center with petals

Draw two petals around the center, the top one should go all the way up to the small oval shape.

Continue to add petals that go around the center.

I like to add light shadows during this part because it will make it easier when we get to the color to know where the shadows go.

Draw two more petals.

The further you are from the center, the bigger the petals.

Draw 2 more petals to finish the central bud of the rose.

Step 5 - More petals

Continue to draw petals until you reach the first circle you drew.

Finish the sketch with two more petals.

Don’t worry too much about the shadows, this is just your sketch.

Step 6 - Get to the details

Lower the opacity of the sketch you just made, make a new layer and place it underneath.

Choose a base color and add it to your illustrations following the silhouette of your sketch.

For this part, I used the Base color from the Nifty Brush set.

This is the color palette I used for this tutorial.

Make a new layer and place it on top of the base color.

Click on the new layer and turn it into a clipping mask.

With a darker version of the base color, start to add some shadows.

I added all the shadows and details with the Pencil Fill brush from the nifty brush set.

Make a new layer and turn it into a clipping mask as well.

Use a more saturated version of the base color to add some interest to your illustration.

Continue to do this until you like how it’s looking.

Step 7 - Lights

Use a lighter version of the base color to add some highlights.

Step 8 - Shadows

Using a darker version of the base color, start to add shadows to the darker areas.

Keep building the shadows with a slightly darker color.

Step 9 - Finishing detail

To finish your rose illustration, let’s add some water droplets.

To do this, use a lighter version than the base color and draw some small circles all over the flower.

I'm using the base color brush from the nifty brushes to create the small circles.

Make sure that the droplets are on a new layer.

Add shadows to the droplets.

I'm using the Pencil fill brush from the Nifty set.

Use a light color to add highlights to the drops of water.

Make a new layer and place it underneath the drops to add shadows to them and make them look more realistic.

And there you have it, you drew the side view of a rose.

How to draw a rosebud

Step 1 - Start with the main bud

To begin, draw a circle.

I'm using the main pencil from the nifty set of brushes for the whole sketch.

Draw a smaller circle on top of the first circle you made.

Now, connect the two circles with soft curvy lines.

Step 2 - Do the central spiral 

In the smaller circle, draw a spiral.

This will be the center of your rose.

Now, draw two lines to make the center of your rose.

Step 3 - Petals, petals, and more petals

Using soft lines, add 2 more petals.

Pro tip: When you draw petals, try to use lines that aren’t very smooth. petals are soft, flowy, and made with organic lines.

Add another petal so you create a soft heart shape.

Elongate one of those lines.

Connect that line with the soft heart shape and add another curved line to make more petals.

Turn this line into a floppy bubble.

Join the floppy bubble to the first circle you drew.

Using curved, organic lines, start working on the petals on top of the soft heart shape.

With another soft, curved line, draw the petal that is on top of the soft heart shape.

Draw the final petal.

I like to add shadows during this stage because it makes it easier later when it’s time to add color.

Step 4 - Add the stem

Using organic lines, create 4 “V” shapes to make the small leaves that join the flower and the stem.

Using two lines, draw the stem.

You just finished your rosebud sketch.

Step 5 - Time for color and details.

Make a new layer and place it underneath the sketch layer.

Lower the opacity of the sketch layer.

Choose a base color and apply it to the new layer and follow your sketch.

Here is the color palette I used in this tutorial.

For this part, I used the base color brush from the Nifty Brushes for Procreate.

Step 6 - Shadows

Using a darker version of the base color, start to add shadows to your rose illustration.

For all the shadows I used the pencil fill brush from the Nifty brushes.

Continue to build up the shadows.

Pick slightly darker versions of that color each time and keep adding shadows.

Define the shadows with the darkest color you’ve used so far.

Step 7 - Lights

Use a lighter version of the base color and start to add light to the petals.

Continue to do this to slowly build up the highlights.

Step 8 - Color the stem

Use a base green for the stem and small leaves.

I used the base color brush from the nifty brushes for this.

Once you have the base color, make a new layer, click on it and turn it into a clipping mask.

Start to add shadows with a darker shade of green.

I'm using the Pencil Fill brushes from the Nifty set of brushes to do the shadows and highlights on the leaves.

Use a lighter version to add some lights to the stem of your rose.

Step 9 - Extra details

Using a lighter version of the base color start to add small circles to create droplets.

Add shadows to the droplets.

Use a lighter color to add highlights to the droplets.

Make a new layer and place it underneath the droplets.

Use a darker color to add shadows to the droplets.

And that’s how you draw a rosebud.

Final words

That’s it, that’s 3 easy ways to draw roses.

I hope you found this tutorial helpful.

Let me know in the comments, what was your favorite of the tutorials.

Until next time, stay awesome and remember, practice makes perfect.