Drawing A Barrel: The Basics
Understanding how to draw a barrel can seem like a daunting challenge, but it doesn’t need to be! Drawing a barrel can be as easy as drawing a few simple shapes. With some practice and attention to detail, anyone can learn to draw a realistic, three-dimensional barrel.
Outline the Barrel
Start by lightly drawing the basic shape of the barrel in pencil. To do this, draw a cylinder with a curved, domed top. Make sure that the sides are straight, rather than bowed. If it helps, you can use a straight edge or a ruler to get the lines perfectly straight. Then, draw a rounded rectangle on the bottom of the cylinder to represent the base of the barrel.
Details of the Barrel
Next, begin to distinguish the various panels that make up the barrel. Start by dividing the cylindrical body of the barrel into five equal pieces. To do this, draw straight lines from the center of each edge of the original circular shape, cutting it in half. Then, draw two short lines connecting the top of the cylinder to the top of the circular base, essentially cutting the two shapes in half.
Now, in the middle of each resulting triangle, draw a shallow arc. This arc should meet the middle point of each side of the triangle. The arcs will create the illusion of four separate panels.
Flatten the Panels
Now, you should have a basic outline of the barrel with five panels. It is time to “flatten” the panels to make the barrel look more realistic. To do this, draw a line near the center of each panel. This line should meet the middle of the rectangle below the cylinder.
Then, draw a line along the top of the panel arcing back to meet the center of the belly of the barrel. This will create a nice, rounded shape for each panel that will give the barrel some depth.
Drawing the Staves
The next step is drawing the wooden staves that hold the barrel together. Begin by drawing a shallow arc connecting the top of the barrel to the center of its base. Then, draw lines vertical to this arc, starting at the center of the bottom of the barrel. Make sure to draw these lines in equal lengths. This will create the illusion of multiple wooden staves.
Finally, just as you did before, draw a shallow arc back up to the top of the barrel from the center of each vertical line. This will help to keep the illusion of the round shape of the barrel.
Finishing Touches
The last step in the process of drawing a barrel is adding the finishing touches. Start by drawing two circles for the hoops on either end of the barrel. These should be larger than the panels of the barrel and can be drawn in any orientation.
Then, finish your masterpiece by adding some details, like shading and highlights. Make sure to use a light touch when doing this. It is easy to overdo it and make your barrel look flat. Adding subtle details can help take your barrel drawing to the next level and make it look more realistic.
