Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 6.

4
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 68.8
Drawspace Curriculum 5.1.A12 – 4 Pages and 12 Illustrations

Study of a Rosebud
(Leonardo da Vinci)
Outline and add shading to a rosebud with both
contour lines and hatching lines
that vary in weight

Resources:
• 5.1.R2 The Anatomy of Individual Lines
• 5.1.R3 Making Lines More Powerful
As an Aside
Supplies: paper, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B grades of graphite pencils,
This activity is based on a small
section (Figure 1) of a larger
pencil sharpener, erasers
drawing by Leonardo da Vinci:
Study of the Flowers of Grass-like This tutorial has three sections:
Plants, c. 1481-1483, pen and
ink over metalpoint on prepared • Sketch Rosebud Proportions
paper, 7.2 by 8.3 in (18.3 by 21
• Outline with Lines of Different Weights
cm), Gallerie dell’ Accademia,
Venice, Italy. • Add Shading with Mixed-Weight Hatching Lines

Figure 2
Figure 1
Sketch Rosebud
Proportions
1. Use feathered lines and
an HB pencil to sketch a
circular shape that’s tilted
to the left (Figure 2).

2. Add a smaller circular

shape below which
overlaps the first circular
shape.

ISBN: 978-1-927539-79-8
Copyright © 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
2 Drawspace Curriculum 5.1.A12

3. Sketch a small curved line on the upper right Figure 3

of the large shape (Figure 3).

4. Add a long, slightly curved line that cuts

through the large shape on the right.

5. Sketch the large petal on the left.

Figure 4 6. Add three

leaves growing
from the
lower section
of the large
circular shape
(Figure 4).

7. Sketch the stem below the rosebud.

8. Lighten your sketch lines with a

kneaded eraser.

Outline with Lines of

Different Weights
9. Refer to Figures 5 through 9 to
help you neatly outline the rosebud
with lines that vary in value and
thickness.

Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7

ISBN: 978-1-927539-79-8
Copyright © 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 5.1.A12
3

Figure 8 Use HB, 2B, and 4B pencils. When

you need a thin line, simply sharpen
your pencil.
Add thicker lines when the point of the
pencil is slightly worn down.

Figure 9

Use a 2B or 4B in sections needing bolder,

darker accents.

Figure 10

Add Shading with

Mixed-Weight
Hatching Lines
10. Use 2H and HB pencils
to add light values with
hatching (Figure 10).
Note the slight differences
in lineweight.

ISBN: 978-1-927539-79-8
Copyright © 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
4 Drawspace Curriculum 5.1.A12

Figure 11
11. Create medium
values with HB and
2B pencils by adding
more hatching lines
in between others
(Figure 11).
Note that some
hatching lines are
thick and others are
thin.

12. Use 2B, 4B, and 6B

pencils to add dark
hatching lines to
create dark values
(Figure 12).

Figure 12

Compare your drawing to

Figure 12 and touch up any
sections that are too light or
too dark.

Challenge!
Find a living rosebud or a photo
of a rosebud and render another
drawing in the style of Leonardo
da Vinci.

ISBN: 978-1-927539-79-8
Copyright © 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.