An iris with three gently falling petals

Practice an iris with three upright petals and three gently falling petals. Clear overlaps at their shared base show how the flower opens, while broad leaves keep the supporting shapes simple.

A way into the drawing

1. Gather the petal bases

   Mark a small shared base and place three broad upright petals around it. Keep their interiors open.

2. Lower the falling petals

   Add three broad drooping petals in front with clear overlaps. Use one short broad center stripe on each.

3. Attach the stem and leaves

   Draw a short curved stem with two long pointed leaves. Use small gray at the petal roots rather than shading the bloom.

A small thing to tryDraw the petal bases close together before sweeping their tips apart.