Unfurling fern fronds

Long fern fronds unfurl above a cluster of stones. Repeated leaflets and curled tips give this page a steady, detailed pattern to work through a little at a time.

How much detail?

Many narrow leaflets and small curled tips need careful pencil control. About the labels.

Try this palette: Unfurling greens

Alternate light and dark greens along each frond, then keep the stones neutral.

A small coloring tip

Use a sharpened pencil for the narrow leaflets; color one frond at a time and turn the paper as its angle changes.

Let one frond be lighter than the others, as if sunlight is catching just that part of the plant.