"Class Bouquet (Stronger Together)" - Finished

Another 19"x25" colored pencil bouquet drawing is now complete for my "Stronger Together" series! There's just one more left to do ("Ability Bouquet").

If you're interested, you can check out the other completed bouquet drawings here:

• Race Bouquet (this post)
• Gender Bouquet (this post)
• Sexuality Bouquet (this post)
• Religion Bouquet (this post)

The fifth drawing is called "Class Bouquet" and it uses two-dozen flowers to symbolize the different social classes. America is made up of very poor people, very rich people, and everyone in between. It is important that we acknowledge all of these people - and help those that need assistance, remembering that we're all human and deserve equal respect.

Here is the finished drawing, which uses a general yellow-pink-white-green color scheme, with hints of orange, red, and purple.

I used a total of 26 colored pencils for this drawing (fewer than I've used for some of the others in this series!). Many of them were shades of green, red/pink, and neutrals (black, white, cream, and browns), though I also used a lot of the single yellow colored pencil for all those yellow flowers, as well as a few shades of blue, purple, and orange/peach.

Here are some details of the entire drawing:

This is not yet available for sale, but I will probably list it (and the others in this series) in my Etsy shop at the end of the year.

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To read about capitalism and the disparity between the rich and the poor, please read this blog post. For some interesting things to consider about the intersectionality of class, visit this one.

To read about the idea behind this colored pencil drawing and an explanation for the symbolism of the specific flowers used, check out this post.

To see "the making of" photos of this drawing, please visit these:

• Preliminary sketches ("In Progress 1")
• Drawing and lightly coloring in the first 12 flowers ("In Progress 2")
• Drawing and lightly coloring in the last 12 flowers ("In Progress 3")
• Adding detail and dimension to the hibiscus, hollyhock, bells of Ireland, sunflowers, French honeysuckle, and dandelions ("In Progress 4")
• Adding detail and dimension to the lupine, blackthorn, cactus, myrtle, tansy, and marigold ("In Progress 5")
• Adding detail and dimension to the kingcup, peony, carnations, coronella dahlia, clematis, and orchids ("In Progress 6")
• Adding detail and dimension to the angrec, lettuce, thyme, trumpet flowers, edelweiss, and poppies ("In Progress 7")

"Class Bouquet (Stronger Together)" - In Progress 7

This colored pencil drawing uses flower symbolism to represent the entire spectrum of social class from poverty to wealth and everything in between.

To read about capitalism and the growing disparity between the lower and upper classes, visit this blog post.

To read about the symbolism of each flower used in this bouquet, visit this blog post.

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It's time to finish up this colored pencil drawing! Today's blog post will focus on the step-by-step process of completing the last six plants.

For these white angrec flowers, I used seven colored pencils - black, blue, two shades of green, yellow-green, cream, and white.

Though not a flower per se, lettuce is considered part of the "language of flowers" and has symbolism attributed to it ("never give up"). For this small bunch of lettuce, I used the colors black, blue, three shades of green, yellow-green, and white.

For the thyme flowers, I used red-violet, light purple, blue, green, light green, and white colored pencils.

These orange trumpet flowers were colored in with white, peach, magenta, red, and orange - with yellow-green used for the viney leaves and stems.

These edelweiss were finished with white, yellow-green, light green, medium green, dark green, medium blue, and black pencils.

Only one flower left! For these bright poppies, I used two shades of green, white, cream, three shades of red, and black.

I also added some color and dimension to the vase, to give it the appearance of glass. Check back in a couple days to see the final blog post - pictures of the entire finished "Class Bouquet" drawing!

"Class Bouquet (Stronger Together)" - In Progress 6

This colored pencil drawing uses flower symbolism to represent the entire spectrum of social class from poverty to wealth and everything in between.

To read about capitalism and the growing disparity between the lower and upper classes, visit this blog post.

To read about the symbolism of each flower used in this bouquet, visit this blog post.

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Halfway done with this colored pencil drawing means I also have half more still to go! Today's post will look at the step-by-step process of finishing up the next six flowers in this bouquet drawing.

For these yellow kingcup flowers, I used seven colored pencils: tan, yellow, three shades of green, white, and black.

Over on the right side of the bouquet, I used cream, purple, magenta, pink, red, dark red, and black colored pencils to finish up this tight cluster of peonies.

For the yellow carnations, I used black, orange, white, cream, yellow, and three green colored pencils.

This coronella dahlia has a signature orange color. I used yellow and orange for the petals, dark red and black to add some shadows and define edges, and two dark shades of green for the leaves.

These evergreen clematis flowers were drawn with three shades of green (for the leaves, stems, and stamens), and white, brown and pink (for the petals and shadows).

Finally, the branch of pink orchid flowers was finished up with pink, red, brown, yellow, and white colored pencils.

I have only six more flowers to finish up until this entire drawing is complete!

"Class Bouquet (Stronger Together)" - In Progress 5

This colored pencil drawing uses flower symbolism to represent the entire spectrum of social class from poverty to wealth and everything in between.

To read about capitalism and the growing disparity between the lower and upper classes, visit this blog post.

To read about the symbolism of each flower used in this bouquet, visit this blog post.

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I've already completed six flowers - the hibiscus, bells of Ireland, hollyhock, sunflowers, French honeysuckle, and dandelions. Today's post will focus on the next six - starting with lupine.

For the purple lupine in the upper right corner, I used a white colored pencil for highlights, yellow-green and green for the stalks and leaves, light purple for the petals, and magenta and blue colored pencils for shadows.

For the group of blackthorn blossoms, I used white, yellow-green, tan, two shades of red, and black.

In the middle of the bouquet is this group of flowering cacti. I used two red pencils, pink, white, yellow, three green pencils, and black.

Off on the left side of the bouquet, I next worked on these myrtle flowers, with black, two shades of brown, red, pink, cream, yellow, white, and two green colored pencils.

The tansy flowers below the myrtle got built up with orange, yellow, white, black, and three shades of green.

Finally, I worked on this trio of marigold flowers. I used white for the highlights, dark red for the shadows, and orange and yellow for the petals. I also employed two green colored pencils for the leaves.

My drawing is now halfway complete! I now have a dozen more flowers to finish up.

"Class Bouquet (Stronger Together)" - In Progress 4

This colored pencil drawing uses flower symbolism to represent the entire spectrum of social class from poverty to wealth and everything in between.

To read about capitalism and the growing disparity between the lower and upper classes, visit this blog post.

To read about the symbolism of each flower used in this bouquet, visit this blog post.

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I've already finished the first layer of this bouquet on my 19x25" black Canson Mi-Teintes paper, putting down the light sketch and working out where all of the flowers will go. Now, it's time to start building up more color, detail, and dimension by working through each flower one-by-one.

I started with the yellow hibiscus in the upper left corner. I used seven colored pencils for this small group of tropical flowers - black, two shades of green, red, magenta, yellow, and cream.

Next, I finished up the pink hollyhock stalk, using a white colored pencil, pink, two shades of red, yellow, yellow-green, green, and black.

In between those first two flowers is a group of bells of Ireland. I used three shades of green for this interesting shaped plant, as well as a white colored pencil for highlights and a black colored pencil for shadows and to define edges.

To the right of the hollyhock, I worked on the sunflowers. I used three shades of green, yellow, cream, white, orange, brown, and black colored pencils to complete these cheery flowers.

Back on the left side of the bouquet, I used two shades of red colored pencils, pink, white, and two shades of green, to draw in the French honeysuckle plant.

For the the sixth flower - a group of dandelions - I used black, brown, orange, tan, yellow, white, and green pencils.

I'm now a quarter of the way done with this "building up layers of color" stage. Only 18 more flowers (and a vase) to complete, and another one of these bouquet drawings will be finished!