Drawing a black widow spider—the beautiful yet dangerous arachnid—can be a real challenge for aspiring and experienced artists alike. But fear not, because with a few simple steps, you can learn to draw one that looks as menacing, menacingly majestic as the real deal. Read on for all the tips and tricks you need to create your own black widow spider masterpiece.
First, take out your pencil and paper and start sketching out the size and shape of your black widow spider. Using a ruler and compass, draw an oval-shape with lines radiating out. This will be the main body of the spider. Then draw two circles, overlapping the two top points of your oval. This will be the head and thorax. On the sides of the head, draw two small triangles extending up. These will be the eyes.
Now it’s time to add details. Using your ruler, draw small lines from the sides of the head to the thorax, like spider legs. On each side of the head and thorax, draw several short lines for the “hairs” on the spider’s body. If you want your spider to look realistic, you can draw in the characteristic red hourglass shape on the abdomen. Finally, draw in the spinnerets below the abdomen, which can be made up of several curved lines meeting in the middle.
Erasing any unnecessary or sketchy lines, fill in your black widow spider with black ink. Now is the time to really bring this spider to life. Use light touches to make the hairs more voluminous. Then add darker ink around the edges and in between the legs and thorax to give your spider depth and texture. Since the whole point of a black widow spider is to look menacing, be sure to add sharp edges and give your spider an aggressive, intimidating look.
With a few more final touches, your black widow spider is complete. It’s the perfect time to sit back and admire your work. It takes a lot of skills and creativity to bring a black widow spider to life—so you should be extra proud for conquering the challenge. You can make even more complex drawings or imagine up some creative settings for your little (yet terrifying) creature.
Now that you know the basics, it’s time to hone your technique and practice. Get creative and think outside the box when it comes to materials, poses, and more! Before you know it, you’ll be a black widow spider drawing master.
There are a few other techniques you can use when you’re ready to move beyond basic sketches. To make your black widow spider look extra menacing, use markers to fill it in. To make your spider look even more realistic, add some subtle highlights and shadows to areas of the spider where the light would hit. Or, if you want to take it up a notch, use different colors to create a classic comic book style.
If you’re striving for a more realistic look, you could use airbrush paints or color pencils. Airbrush paints can create a smooth, almost flawless finish. Start by sketching out the shape and details for your spider and then add highlights or shadows as desired. With color pencils, you can blend colors to create subtle gradients.
These methods will require a lot more precision, but the results will be worth it. As you get better and more comfortable with the techniques, your black widow spider drawing will look more and more realistic.
