"28 Years" - Year #16

For general information about this 22"x30" colored pencil drawing, see this blog post.
For more information about the flower symbolism I used (Years 15-28) and life events that led me to select those particular flowers, see this blog post.

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For my 16th year, I looked to marigold and hollyhock as my symbolic flowers.

• Marigold: symbol of pain, grief, cruelty, jealousy, beauty, warmth of the rising sun, creativity, and a drive to succeed
• Hollyhock: symbol of ambition, abundance, and fertility

I first drew outlines of the plants on black paper:

I looked at these two botanical drawings while I worked (I do not own these images; I found them on Google):

I lightly filled in the graphite outlines with colored pencil, then erased the graphite.

Then I started adding layers of bright colors to the marigold flowers and leaves.

Next, I colored in the hollyhock, starting with the leaves and stem, and then the flowers.

Here are the first 16 "mini-drawings." Only 12 more to go until this large drawing is complete!

"28 Years" - Year #15

For general information about this 22"x30" colored pencil drawing, see this blog post.
For more information about the flower symbolism I used (Years 15-28) and life events that led me to select those particular flowers, see this blog post.

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This 15th "year" marks the first mini-drawing of the third row - the halfway mark on this large piece. To symbolize this year, I decided on cherry blossom and fern as my plants of choice.

• Cherry Blossom: symbol of transience, good education, womanhood, love, wisdom, and the short lived beauty of youth
• Fern: symbol of sincerity

I first drew outlines of the plants on black paper:

I used these two botanical drawings (which I do not own; I found them on Google) as reference while I worked:

I drew the fern in the background first, since I knew this would be a one-step drawing. I outlined and drew it all at once, making sure my pencil was sharp enough to get some crisp leafy lines.

Then I lightly sketched in the cherry blossom flowers.

To complete this "year," I next colored in the cherry blossoms with shades of pink and white - and dark purple for the inside details.

Here is the drawing so far. The first two rows are completed, and now the third row has begun!

"28 Years" - Year #14

For general information about this 22"x30" colored pencil drawing, see this blog post.
For more information about the flower symbolism I used (Years 1-14) and life events that led me to select those particular flowers, see this blog post.

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For my 14th year, the final "mini-drawing" in the second (out of four) rows, I decided on chamomile and chrysanthemum.

• Chamomile: symbol of patience, wealth, and healthfulness
• Chrysanthemum: symbol of cheerfulness, lasting friendship, support from friends and family, rest and recovery after a challenge, enduring life and rebirth, and loyalty and devotion

As always, I first drew outlines of the plants on black paper:

These are the two botanical drawings I used for reference while I drew (I do not own these images; I found them on Google):

I sketched in the chamomile flowers and stems, and then the large chrysanthemum (a flower, by the way, that I never, ever spell correctly on the first try).

Once the sketch was complete, I added more color and detail, starting with the chamomile flowers.

Then I tackled the chrysanthemum, where I used pink, orange, yellow, red, and white.

I am finally at the halfway point with this large drawing! I have broken up this 22"x30" piece of black paper into four rows of seven "mini-drawings" each, and now the first two rows are complete! 14 more "years" to go!

"28 Years" - Year #13

For general information about this 22"x30" colored pencil drawing, see this blog post.
For more information about the flower symbolism I used (Years 1-14) and life events that led me to select those particular flowers, see this blog post.

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For my 13th year, I drew thyme and yellow carnations.

• Yellow Carnation: symbol of disdain, rejection, and disappointment
• Thyme: symbol of courage, strength, thriftiness, activity, bravery, and overcoming shyness

As always, I first drew outlines of the plants on black paper:

I used two botanical drawings for reference while I drew (I do not own these images; I found them on Google):

I didn't include much detail with my initial "drawing" of the carnations, because I knew it would be impossible to erase all the graphite outline the dense petals once I started going in and coloring them. Instead, I just marked a general oval where the flowers would go, and then drew the petals in directly with colored pencil, skipping the graphite step.

Once I had the carnations lightly sketched in, I drew in the thyme. There isn't much detail to the tiny thyme flowers, so I just went ahead and drew them in one step, rather than lightly sketching and then going over them a second time, as I usually do.

Then I added details to the stems and leaves of the thyme and carnations, and started adding more color and detail to the carnation petals.

Here is the whole drawing so far. Almost halfway done - 13 down, 15 to go!