How to Draw a Hibiscus Flower – Drawing Flowers for Hawaiian Shirts

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The islands of Hawaii have claimed the hibiscus flower as their national symbol. Whenever one thinks of living in paradise, we immediately envision a beautiful woman with sun-kissed cheeks and dark, wavy hair. Of course, she has a bright hibiscus flower tucked behind her ear! These gorgeous flowers can be found in a multitude of colors, ranging between red, pink, yellow, and orange. This flower will be the subject of today’s tutorial, as we cover the basic how-to knowledge on how to draw a hibiscus flower. Gather your art supplies together, find a well-lit spot to sit, and let the fun begin!

A Simple Guide on How to Draw a Hibiscus Flower

In this easy 20-step lesson, we will explain and illustrate the different stages of constructing a realistic hibiscus flower drawing. First, you will go through the foundation stages of laying down the construction lines of the hibiscus flower outline, and from there, you will learn how to create shading and add highlights to your hibiscus flower illustration. On completion, you will have a stunning hibiscus flower on your canvas or page!

Familiarize yourself with the image above. Each of these steps has been created to assist you with learning how to draw a hibiscus flower easily. This lesson has been designed for a painting medium, such as acrylic or oil, but this is your artwork, and you can choose whatever medium you feel comfortable with!

Step 1: Creating the First Petal of Your Hibiscus Flower Drawing

The first step in our fun and easy how-to-draw-a-hibiscus-flower tutorial is sketching the foundation lines. Decide where on your page you wish to create your hibiscus flower sketch. Draw the first hibiscus flower petal facing upwards.

Step 2: Adding the Side Petals to Your Hibiscus Flower Outline

It’s time to sketch the side petals of your beautiful hibiscus flower illustration. Put two petals adjoining the large petal. Each petal should expand outwards.

Step 3: Sketching the Bottom Petals of Your Hibiscus Flower Drawing

To complete your flower’s petals, you will now need to add the lower hibiscus flower petals on each side. Draw two individual petals on the hibiscus flower outline.

Step 4: Sketching the Base of Your Hibiscus Flower Illustration

The hibiscus flower has a unique feature. As such, it’s important to draw this part correctly. See our example sketch for guidance, and then begin drawing the flower receptacle at the base of your hibiscus flower petals.

Be sure to add pointy sepals!

Step 5: Adding the Pistil to Your Hibiscus Flower Outline

The one most identifiable feature of the hibiscus flower is its pistil. The pistil is found in the center part of the flower, and it extends outwards. Draw two lines and four antennae in a cross shape with little round ends.

Step 6: Drawing the Stamen of Your Hibiscus Flower Illustration

This step may feel a little tricky, so take your time! You must now add the stamen to your hibiscus flower drawing. The stamen is where the flower makes its pollen. Begin adding lots of small oval and circular shapes teaming at the base of the top part of the pistil.

Step 7: Adding the First Coat of Paint to Your Hibiscus Flower Sketch

Finally, the fun part begins! You have completed the hibiscus flower outline. Next is to add the first coat of paint. You can choose whatever color you wish. For this tutorial, we have used a traditional pink tone. Take a small paintbrush and the color of your choice and paint the hibiscus flower.

Be sure to leave the receptacle of your hibiscus flower blank.

Step 8: Applying Color to the Receptacle of Your Hibiscus Flower Outline

Now that the first color coat of paint has been applied to your hibiscus flower drawing, you will take a shade of green and add a coat of paint to the receptacle. Remember to keep your coat even and smooth.

Step 9: Adding Color to the Pistil of Your Hibiscus Flower Illustration

Finally, you must add color to the pistil. Take a fine paintbrush and gently add red color paint to the whole pistil.

Step 10: Applying Color to the Stamen of Your Hibiscus Flower Drawing

This will be the last stage of adding the base coat to your realistic hibiscus flower drawing. Take a sharp paintbrush and yellow shade of paint and gently apply color to the stamen. Let this coat dry for a moment before adding the tiny lines of the stem.

You can do this with red paint and a sharp paintbrush.

Step 11: Applying the Second Coat of Paint to Your Hibiscus Flower Drawing

To begin adding the shading to your flower petals, you will need to blend a lighter shade of the original color. Do this gently by using a soft paintbrush and your paint and applying the second coat by tracing the edges of the individual petals.

Use a blending paintbrush for an even coat.

Step 12: Creating Texture on Your Hibiscus Flower Illustration    

To create texture on your hibiscus flower drawing, you will need to take a sharp paintbrush and red paint and begin to gently add hairline brushstrokes to create tiny veins in the flower petals. This will give it that realistic edge.

Step 13: Enhancing the Petal Texture of Your Hibiscus Flower Drawing

To enhance the texture of the petals, you can swap the red paint for a dark pink tone and gently trace between the vein lines you painted in the previous step.

Step 14: Applying Shadow to Your Hibiscus Flower Drawing

To make this drawing look realistic, you will need to add shading to the center part of the hibiscus flower drawing. Select a soft paintbrush and apply a touch of black paint to create an even and dark base under the pistil.

Be sure to move the brush strokes upwards.

Step 15: Highlighting the Petals of Your Hibiscus Flower Illustration

By this stage of your drawing of a hibiscus flower, it is beginning to take shape! Next, you will need to add highlights, and to do so, add white paint with a sharp paintbrush as you trace along the hairline veins you created in the 12th step.

Using a touch of white paint, you can now add highlights and fade between the lines.

Step 16: Shading the Receptacle of Your Hibiscus Flower Illustration

At the base of the receptacle, you can now add some shading. Take a soft paintbrush and add some black paint directly near the bottom petals so that this will be the darkest area of your hibiscus flowers receptacle.

Step 17: Applying Highlights to Your Hibiscus Flower’s Receptacle

Continue working on the flower receptacle by adding highlights. Take a small paintbrush and bright green paint and gently add the highlights between the shading you did in step 16.

Step 18: Shading the Pistil of Your Hibiscus Flower Illustration

Take a soft paintbrush and a touch of black paint and trace along the outline of the pistil. Allow this coat to dry before adding a tiny bit of white paint to create a highlight.

Step 19: Adding Shading to the Stamen of Your Hibiscus Flower Illustration

As you are nearing the end of our how-to-draw a hibiscus flower tutorial, you will notice that the one thing needing attention is the stamen area. To add the texture, you should take a sharp paintbrush and a touch of gray paint and begin to gently apply the color between the yellow pollen dots.

Step 20: Completing Your Realistic Hibiscus Flower Sketch

By now, your drawing of a hibiscus flower should be quite fabulous! At this stage of the drawing, you will need to erase and tidy up any pencil lines from the beginning steps. You can also trace around the edges and inner lines with the corresponding colors of your hibiscus drawing.

You have completed our fun and easy how-to-draw-a-hibiscus-flower tutorial! Now that you have a good understanding of constructing the foundation lines of the hibiscus flower, the shading techniques used to create a realistic hibiscus flower drawing, and finally, the use of creating effective highlights and shadows. We hope you keep practicing your drawing skills!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Easy Is It to Sketch a Realistic Hibiscus Flower Drawing?

Drawing a realistic hibiscus flower is easier than you would expect. This simple how-to-draw-a-hibiscus-flower tutorial was created to teach you the basic steps for creating a stunning flower. Learning how to draw a hibiscus flower has never been more fun and easier!

What Colors Should I Use for My Hibiscus Flower illustration?

Traditionally, the hibiscus flower blooms in bright summer colors, including pink, red, yellow, and lilac. But because this is an art project, and you are the creator, you could paint your flower any color you like! If you are sketching a realistic hibiscus flower, we suggest sticking to a traditional color. However, feel free to use your imagination and choose any color you like! Remember to have fun and relax while you create your artwork!

Izzy Benloulou( Digital Artist and Content Creator )

Israel Benloulou aka IzzyBll is a digital artist and content creator from Israel, currently living in South Africa. Originally, he started his career in videography but later shifted his focus to digital graphic art. He specializes in using digital drawing software like Photoshop and Procreate. Drawing and photo editing have always come naturally to Izzy, and he now has 5 years of experience in the industry, working on commissions for various renowned brands such as Audi. Izzy creates drawing tutorials on his drawing tablet and produces related content for Craft Art since 2021.

Learn more about Israel Benloulou and about us.