To learn how to draw a rose, start with a small swirl for the center, wrap a U-shaped cup around it, then add a big petal on each side and one along the bottom. A long stem, two leaves, a few thorns and two sepals finish an easy rose in six steps.
This rose drawing is made only of curves, with no tricky overlapping petals, so it is a great first flower for beginners and kids. The free PDF has the step-by-step sheet, a tracing page, a practice sheet with a grid and a coloring page.
What’s in the free PDF
- Step-by-step sheet with 6 numbered steps; new lines are black, earlier lines are grey
- Tracing page with a large rose in light grey to trace over
- Practice sheet with a small reference and two boxes with a light grid
- Coloring page with the finished rose in bold outlines
How to draw a rose step by step
- Center swirl. Draw a small spiral, like a snail shell, near the top of your paper. This is the tightly closed center of the rose.
- Cup. Draw a U shape around the swirl. Start the two sides at the edges of the swirl and round the bottom.
- Side petals. On each side, draw a big rounded petal that starts behind the top of the cup, curves out and comes back in under it.
- Bottom petal. Draw one long, gently curved petal along the bottom, joining the two side petals.
- Stem and leaves. From the bottom of the flower, draw two long lines close together for the stem. Add a pointed leaf on each side, one lower on the left and one higher on the right.
- Details. Draw a vein down the middle of each leaf, two small thorns on the stem and two little sepals (tiny pointed leaves) right under the flower.
If your rose looks flat, make the side petals a little bigger than the cup. The petals that stick out past the cup are what make a rose look full.
Easy rose drawing: common mistakes and fixes
- The swirl is too big. Keep the center small; it should fit easily inside the cup.
- The cup is pointy. Round the bottom of the U, like the inside of a teacup.
- The stem is one thin line. Use two lines close together so the stem has some thickness.
- The flower is too small for the stem. Make the flower about as wide as the stem is long from the flower to the first leaf.
Trace, practice, then color
Trace it first
If drawing freehand feels hard, start with the tracing page. Go over the grey lines with a pencil, pressing lightly, and you learn the shapes and their order without worrying about mistakes. Then try again on the practice sheet.
Practice on the grid
The practice sheet has a small finished rose for reference and two boxes with a faint grid. Count how many squares wide and tall the reference is, then draw your rose the same way. The grid keeps the parts the right size next to each other.
Color the finished drawing
Red is the classic rose, but pink, yellow, white and peach roses all look lovely. Color the petals a shade darker near the cup and lighter at the edges, and use two greens for the leaves and stem.
Rose drawing tips
- Draw the swirl lightly first; it is easier to fix a light line.
- Add a second rose bud next to the first: just a swirl and a small cup on a short stem.
- Draw a bunch of three roses and tie the stems with a ribbon for a bouquet.
- Use the finished rose on a handmade card for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.
Download the pages one by one
Prefer a single page? Click a link to open the full-size image, then print it or save it. The PDF with all pages and a cover is in the download box.
- How to draw a rose: step-by-step sheet (PNG)
- a Rose tracing page (PNG)
- a Rose practice sheet with grid (PNG)
- a Rose coloring page (PNG)
More flowers to draw: 36 easy flower drawings, flower doodles and Valentine’s Day drawing ideas. Want to draw animals next? Try how to draw a butterfly.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw a rose?
Draw a small swirl, put a U-shaped cup around it, then add a big petal on each side and one along the bottom. Add a stem and two leaves and you have a simple rose.
How do you draw a rose for beginners?
Start with the center swirl and work outward, one petal at a time. Use the tracing page first to learn the shapes, then draw it on the practice grid.
How do you draw rose petals?
Each petal is a curved line that starts behind the one in front of it. Draw the inner petals first and the outer petals last, so the lines never cross.
How do you draw a rose stem?
Draw two long lines close together, a little curved, from the bottom of the flower. Add leaves with a vein down the middle and a few small triangle thorns.
