How To Draw A Centipede
Centipedes can seem like daunting beasts, with all those spindly legs and wriggling body, but getting the basics down is actually quite easy. Drawing a centipede is a great way to practice building complex characters and to brush up on your sketching skills. In this quick guide, you’ll learn the step-by-step process for sketching a centipede that’s both lively and realistic.
Outlining The Centipede
Getting the basic shape of the centipede laid down is the first step. Start by sketching a number of ovals in a horizontal line. Add two rectangle-like shapes on either side of the ovals to give the centipede a bit of dimension. You can draw a few lines in between the shapes to separate the segments and give the centipede a more natural look. Fill in the centipede’s head, too, by adding a small and narrow triangular shape at the top of the first oval.
Adding The Legs
This is where the real fun begins! Centipedes have many legs, so it may seem a bit intimidating to draw them all. But fear not. Start by adding a line at the middle of each oval, so that they branch off into two. Then, draw a number of thinner lines extending from the outer sides of the ovals in a curved direction, so they look like they originate from the centipede’s body.
Highlighting & Defining
Now you can use shadows and highlights to give your centipede character. Shade in the oval shapes in either dark brown or black and create a subtle gradient on the centipede’s body by adding lighter shades toward the bottom of the segments. Outline the centipede’s legs by tracing a thin line along the exterior of them and adding a few curved lines to define their shape. You can also add a few wrinkle-like lines for texture.
Putting It All Together
For the finishing touches, you can throw in a few additional details to your centipede. Add a few dots around the centipede’s body to make it look more alive, and draw a pair of bulging eyes on the head. Aim for a simple, minimalistic look that still gives the centipede personality. Then, you can set your centipede free on the page!
Injecting Movement & Realism
Finally, if you really want to show off your sketching chops, add some movement and realism to your centipede. Vary the legs’ length and position – some may jut out at sharp angles while others coil back in a circular motion – to give the centipede a dynamic look. You can also make the centipede appear to be crawling by extending some of its legs outwards and adding curved lines beneath them to represent the shadowed ground. These small touches make a huge difference in bringing your centipede to life!
