How To Draw A Boat In Water
Creating a stunning image of a boat atop the lapping waves of the ocean or a peaceful, still lake is enough to set your heart a-flutter. You don’t have to be a top-notch artist to get a good looking boat – just some basic tips and knowledge of what materials you need to get the job done. Here’s how to draw a boat in three simple steps.
Choose A Reference Image
Before you start, it’s a good idea to grab a reference image to ensure you’re drawing your boat in the correct shape and perspective. Don’t worry about making it perfect – or even close. It doesn’t have to be a real-life photo of a boat – a sketch or a cartoon image can work just as well. Have the image to hand as you draw, so you can continually refer back in case you need to adjust something.
Outline The Boat
Once you’ve got your reference image sorted, begin outlining the boat. It might help to divide the boat into simpler shapes such as triangles and squares. You can even use a ruler to get the lines as straight as possible. Think about the different parts of the boat – how wide is it and what’s it made from? An easy way to draw a boat is from the top-down – starting with the cabin, then the deck and finally the hull. Outline the boat and make sure it looks the way you want.
Time To Take It To The Water!
Now for the fun bit! The water. Start drawing the waves starting from the middle, drawing away from the boat. In the beginning you should draw small, short lines to represent the small surface ripples. And then as you get further away from the boat, you can start to draw larger and longer lines that become more wavy. Vary the length of the lines and their distance apart to give the water a realistic, intricate look. Now that your boat’s in the water, make sure you pay attention to the reflections. Shade the right sections of the boat to give it a more realistic feel.
Add Some Colours
A boat without colour is just not dreamy enough so it’s time to add some hues! With careful consideration, think about what colours you’d like your boat to be and be creative. Try different combinations and have fun – there’s no wrong way to do it. And once you’ve got your chosen colours, you can use different shades to make the boat stand out. Use a few light shades for the comings and parts of the boat that are closest to the light, and provide some contrast with deeper shades for the parts that are in the shadows.
Make Your Boat Pop
Bring your boat to life with details like a flag, a rudder, and even some fish swimming in the water. Be sure to take time with the more intricate details like the flag and the ropes. They might take a few minutes to draw but it’ll be worth it when they make the boat come alive. And finally, why not add some rays of the sun in the sky, some seagulls or a crab on the shore. The possibilities are endless!
Now that you know how to draw a boat in water, it’s time to try it out! Get creative – think of different colour combinations and additional elements to make your sketch unique and dreamy. Before you know it, you’ll be turning your home into a maritime paradise. So grab your pencils, find a reference image and let’s get drawing.
