How to Draw a Forget-Me-Not Flower – Real Forget-Me-Not Sketch

The forget-me-not flower, also known as scorpion grass, is a beautiful bright purple blossom that springs up just as winter fades. In this forget-me-not drawing tutorial, we show you how to create a realistic forget-me-not sketch from scratch! We start with creating the forget-me-not flower outline, before moving on to adding realistic details and colors. 

Step-by-Step Forget-Me-Not Drawing Tutorial 

As with all drawings that require sophisticated detail and coloring techniques, it is important that we break the process down into easy steps. Our forget-me-not flower drawing follows this structure, beginning by using basic construction shapes, before we add the time-consuming detail and colors. You can see a brief outline of the forget-me-not sketch in the collage below. 

You can see that most of this forget-me-nots drawing involves coloring. This tutorial is suitable for beginners and more advanced artists. If you are a beginner, we suggest that you use a medium that you already feel comfortable with. The instructions are written for a painting medium, but you can easily adjust the steps in order to suit your chosen medium. 

Make sure to also have a look at our other Flower Drawing Tutorials.

Step 1: Begin by Drawing the Seed Pods

We begin our forget-me-not drawing by drawing the inner parts of each flower. In a roughly heart-shaped pattern, create several small round and oval shapes. You want to have roughly 11 shapes. The shapes in the center should be more round, and those on the edges should be more oval. 

Step 2: Draw the Inner Forget-Me-Not Flower Petals

This step is nice and quick. You may not know it, but there are two layers of petals in forget-me-not flowers. In this step, we are going to draw the inner layer of petals. There should be five small petals around each of the center shapes, and they should be slightly square around the edges. 

Step 3: Shape the Larger Petals

Now that we have the inner petals drawn, we can move on to create the final layer of large petals. Around each of the small petals from the previous step, draw some larger petals around each flower. 

Tip: layer the petals above each other to create a more realistic fill and depth.

Step 4: Outline the Stem of Your Forget-Me-Not Drawing

In this step, you are going to draw visible branches peeking through the petals. Begin at the bottom, before creating two branches that extend up to each of the top heart peaks. You want to ensure that the branches peek through the larger gaps between the forget-me-not flower outlines. 

Finish this step by creating two flowers from a side-on view.  

Step 5: Color the Inner Petals and Seed Pods

This is the first coloring step of our forget-me-not drawing. You will need a small brush and some egg yellow and light yellow paint. Begin with the light yellow shade, filling each of the inner seed pods with color. You can then use the egg yellow paint to carefully fill each of the small inner petals with an even coat of color. 

Step 6: Fill the Larger Petals With a Base Color

For this step, you will need a bright vibrant shade of blue and some purple. Use a regular paint brush to fill the larger petals of each flower with an even coat. You can then complete the step by filling the side-view flowers will purple. 

Step 7: Darken the Seed Pods

We are now going to add a darker color to the central seed pods of each of your forget-me-nots drawing. Use a small paintbrush and some dark brown paint, and carefully fill each seed pod evenly. 

Step 8: Apply a Base Color to the Stems

We are now going to apply the final base coat of color to the forget-me-not outline. Find a dark earthy green shade of paint, and use a regular paintbrush to fill the branches evenly where they are visible.

Step 9: Begin Highlighting the Flowers

For this highlighting step, you will need a small soft blending brush and some white paint. Begin by gently applying light brush strokes of white to each of the petals. You want the strokes to flow outwards from the center of each flower. 

You can then complete this step using the same small blending brush and some light purple paint to apply some color fade to the far right flower petals and the middle bottom flower.  

Step 10: Shade the Forget-Me-Not Flower Drawing Petals

We are now going to compliment the highlights with some shadows. You will need a small blending brush and either dark blue or black paint. Softly apply some shading around the edges of each of the petals, enhancing the structure and creating some casted shadows where petals overlap with each other. 

You can finish the step with some purple paint, applying a touch of color to the far left flower.  

Step 11: Highlight the Edges of Each Petal 

We are now going to enhance the highlights a little more, using a small blending brush and some white paint. Using these tools, apply some highlight streaks on the edges between each petal, around the central pod. These brush strokes should flow from the center outwards. 

Step 12: Enhance the Shadows Further

With a small blending brush and some tan paint, apply some light shading around the edges of each of the small inner petals. Do this for each flower, leaving the base coat still visible. 

Step 13: Highlight the Seed Pods

We are now going to apply some highlights to the inner seed pods using some mustard yellow paint. Use a small blending brush to add soft spots on each of the seed pods in every flower. 

Step 14: Shade the Branches of Your Forget-Me-Not Drawing

As we come to the end of our forget-me-not drawing, we are going to apply some structure and texture to the branches. To create realistic shading, you will need a small blending brush and a darker shade of green paint. Carefully apply soft brush strokes onto the branches. 

You can then repeat this a few times with slightly darker shades to create a realistic blend. The branches should be darkest at the edges.  

Step 15: Finishing Your Forget-Me-Not Sketch

To finish your forget-me-not flower drawing, we are now going to remove the outline. With a fine brush and the corresponding color at each point of the forget-me-not outline, carefully trace over the outlines. You can do the same for any texture lines, leaving you with a seamless, natural-looking final forget-me-not drawing. 

Well done for completing your very own realistic forget-me-not flower drawing! We hope that you have enjoyed the drawing process, and maybe you have learnt a few tips and tricks to help you on your artistic journey. If you want to learn how to draw any more flowers, take a look at our other drawing tutorials.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Draw a Forget-Me-Not Flower Realistically?

The key to creating a realistic forget-me-not sketch lies in creating realistic color blending and removing the forget-me-not flower outline to create a seamless result. We show you how to build up a realistic color in your forget-me-nots drawing, and then how to seamlessly remove the outline. 

What Color Should a Forget-Me-Not Flower Drawing Be?

Forget-me-not flowers are a light blue-purple color. In order to create this unique color, we use a combination of bright blue, light purple, and white. We show you how to blend these colors together smoothly, creating the characteristic forget-me-not flower color. 

Matthew Matthysen( Drawing and Painting Artist )

Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.

Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.

Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team.