Quiet Winter · Plate 15 of 45

Poinsettia color reference

Euphorbia pulcherrima

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and is a favorite plant at Christmas. Its red parts are not petals but colored leaves called bracts. The true flowers are the small yellow buds in the center.

Colors to reach for

Use bright and deep red for the bracts, green for the leaves below, and yellow with a touch of green for the small center flowers.

• bright red
• deep red
• green
• yellow
• dark green

How to color the poinsettia, step by step

1. Read the gray shading guide first. It already marks where the poinsettia is darkest, so the shadows are mapped before you pick up a pencil.
2. Lay a light first layer of bright red and deep red over the largest areas, with soft pressure and small circles, letting the gray show through.
3. Build depth with green and yellow, going over the gray areas a second and third time until they read as shadow and form.
4. Finish with dark green for the smallest details and highlights, then step back and compare with the color reference above.

Questions about this page

What colors do I need to color the poinsettia?

Start with bright red, deep red, green, yellow and dark green. Use bright and deep red for the bracts, green for the leaves below, and yellow with a touch of green for the small center flowers.

Where is the poinsettia in Quiet Winter?

It is plate 15 of 45 in Quiet Winter. Like every Nibfern drawing it is printed on one side of the page, with a light gray shading guide under the lines and a dotted cut line at the spine.

Can I frame the poinsettia page?

Yes. Cut along the dotted line and trim to the corner marks for a 7 x 9 inch print that fits a standard 8 x 10 frame.

More from Quiet Winter

• Blue jayQuiet Winter, plate 17
• Red foxQuiet Winter, plate 18
• Antique ice skatesQuiet Winter, plate 19
• BisonQuiet Winter, plate 20

See all