How do I draw a rose that looks real?

There are many different ways to draw a realistic rose, and some general things to keep in mind when making a drawing look realistic are 1) how you shade an image to make it look three-dimensional 2) observing the object in nature, and drawing from a live model 3) using familiar shapes (circles, D-shapes, etc.) as guides for more difficult images.

When drawing a realistic rose, I've found two strategies that are very helpful. The...

There are many different ways to draw a realistic rose, and some general things to keep in mind when making a drawing look realistic are 1) how you shade an image to make it look three-dimensional 2) observing the object in nature, and drawing from a live model 3) using familiar shapes (circles, D-shapes, etc.) as guides for more difficult images.

When drawing a realistic rose, I've found two strategies that are very helpful. The first is to start in the center, with the "rosebud" and work outwards, building towards larger petals. The second is to start with an outline of the outer petals, and work inwards. Either way, you will want to learn how to draw petals and repeat the shapes, going inwards or outwards. It's always easier to learn to draw with images as guides, so below are two helpful websites that demonstrate with pictures how to draw a good-looking rose using the two methods I mentioned:

1) drawing from the inside out

2) drawing from the outside in

Good luck, and remember, the best way to draw anything that looks real is to observe real objects, and practice a lot!