Illustrating Hibiscus Flower

• Software: Inkscape (or Illustrator)
• Level: Beginner
• Subject: Hibiscus Flower

This will be a simple step by step tutorial on illustrating a Hibiscus Flower using Inkscape.

Sketch

Use GIMP, any other graphics editors like Photoshop, or even on paper, to create a simple sketch of the hibiscus flower.

You do not need to focus on details. Just the rough shape and composition should be sketched, as we will be creating an illustration out of it.

Illustrate Petals

Import the sketch into Inkscape.

Use the Bezier Curve and Straight Line tool [Shift]+[F6] to mark out the main shape.

Use the Edit Path Nodes tool [F2] to shape these lines to curves, using the sketch as guide.

Draw another set of lines, just marking out the white area of the petals. You can ignore the Pistil and Stamens for now.

Shape them too with the Edit Path Node tool.

Give both these shapes the colors. You can keep the outline of the outer shape to create another gradation. For the inner shape, switch off the outline stroke.

Pistil And Stamen

This is the part of the flower that comes out from the center, and forms the reproductive parts of the plants.

Send back the two sets of shapes you had created for the petal, under the sketch, and then start shaping the remaining part. Remember to make its outline a bit thinner.

Now you can send back the sketch layer or even delete it.

Details

You can give another set of details, like the lighter hue on the petals, and more details on the stamens.

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