How to Draw a Ranunculus

1. Begin the Ranunculus outline by drawing the overlapping petals at the center of the flower. Start with a round shape. Then, use semi-circle, "U" shaped, and wavy lines to enclose the overlapping petals.

2. Continue to draw more overlapping petals using curved lines. The petals on the far side of the flower should remain rather compact, while those closest to the viewer should gradually become larger and more open.

3. Draw more petals using curved lines. Again, those closest to the viewer should appear the largest.

4. Draw still more overlapping petals - few and large on the near side of the flower and smaller yet more profuse on the opposite side.

5. Round out the shape of the bloom by drawing a few more petals. Extend a pair of curved lines beneath the blossom to form the stem. Near its base, extend two short lines that meet at a point.

This will become the stem of a bud. Then, begin drawing a second bloom. Again, start with a round shape, and use overlapping lines to create petals around it.

6. Continue to draw gradually larger petals around the center of the second ranunculus flower.

7. Use curved lines to enclose more petals around the flower - smaller and more numerous on the far side of the bloom, with fewer and larger petals on the near side.

8. Extend two curved lines below the second blossom, forming its stem. Then, use short curved lines that meet at jagged points to enclose the deeply lobed leaf.

Enclose an egg shape at the tip of the small stem. This is an unopened flower bud.

9. Draw another lobed and serrated leaf using a series of jagged curved lines. Detail the leaves with branching veins and the bud with two curved lines.

Your ranunculus outline is now complete. Color your flowers. We've shaded one orange and one deep pink. Ranunculus can also be white, yellow, purple, red, or streaked with different colors.