1. Drawing a Fish – Get Started
Getting started is the easiest part. Gather your supplies: a blank piece of paper, pencil, some erasers, and a fine-point pen. And take a deep breath—you’re ready to get creative!
Begin by lightly sketching the basic outline of the fish. This will give you the framework you need to work within, before starting to create detail and texture. Visualize what type of fish you want to draw—a brightly-colored guppy or a sleek, saltwater salmon. Then draw lightly a shape that is similar. This shape won’t have details yet, it’s just a rough outline.
The trick is not to get too caught up in the details. You’ll add those later. Keep your pencil sketch light, so you’ll be able to erase it if needed. As you draw your outline, you’ll want to consider the size, shape and direction of your fish. Is it looking up from the ocean depths or will it swim directly at you? Will it be big or small? These are all questions you need to consider when sketching your fish.
Once you’re satisfied with the way your initial sketch looks, start adding details. Start with the outline of the fish and add the fins. Visualize what fin shape and size you’d like to have. You can either draw fins on either side of the fish or on the top or bottom. Also draw the tailfin and gills on either side of its head.
Also consider your fish’s features as you draw. It can have a long, wide or narrow body and any number of spots or designs. Or change the design up, and make it adventurous by adding scales or polka dots. Use the entire page to create a unique, colorful fish.
2. Build Layers of Color
Now that you’ve got the basic outline of your fish, start adding color and detail. Add shadows and highlights to make it come alive. If your fish is a bright orange or fiery red, consider adding in a few tones of yellow or pink.
For shading, use darker tones to give the illusion of depth. Or alternate between darker and lighter tones for the scales. If you’re going for a deep blues and purples for a more realistic look, then blend the colors together for a seamless transition. To create more texture, add more color and detail to the fins, scales and eyes. As you fill in the body of the fish, you’re really bringing it to life.
Adding color is not just an aesthetic choice, it’s also a way to add texture and dimension. Varying shades of the same color will bring out the details and create a living, breathing fish. Once you’re finished with the color, go back to the beginning and add a few more details for a more realistic look. Draw in the scales and gills, use a very fine pen to draw in individual hairs and add in a few more highlights and lowlights.
These won’t take much time nor effort, but they will really bring your fish to life. Just by adding a few shadows, highlights and textures you’ll be able to transform your artwork into something that’s truly memorable.
3. Finish with Finishing Touches
The best way to make your artwork look professional and eye-catching is to finish up with a few little touches. final details like scales, gills, hairs, and highlights can really bring your creation to life.
When you’re done, erase any mistakes and excess lines. If you need to, you can always add more details and enhance the overall look of your fish. After that, all that’s left is to let your creativity soar and enjoy the end product of your hard work.
Although drawing a fish might seem intimidating at first, just remember to start with the basics and work your way up. And you’ll be sure to come away with an incredible fish that is truly one of a kind.
4. Time to Dive In
Weave a colorful tale with your artwork as you start drawing your own fish. Don’t be afraid to go outside the lines or to go a bit overboard with the details—that’s what will make your fish truly unique. Let your creativity and imagination run wild as the sea, and it will be the most captivating fish you doodle.
When drawing, determine the size and shape of the fish, create the outline, add in the details and finish it with highlights and lowlights. With every stroke of your brush, you’ll be able to make your fish look alive as it digests its own tale.
Full of personality and attitude, don’t be afraid to make it as vibrant as you can. Dazzle with your own color wheel and show the world just how creative you can be. Any fish you doodle will wow everyone you know and make your artwork stand out.
But don’t forget to take your time. Before you start the drawing, take a deep breath and know that you’re free to be creative. With the right tools and know-how, you should be able to make a fish-tastic masterpiece.
5. Reel in the Fun
There’s no wrong way to paint a fish. You can keep it simple with a few colors, or you can go wild with a wide array of shades. Set yourself up with a blank canvas and some art supplies, take a deep breath and draw like there’s no tomorrow.
But don’t get too caught up in the details. Start with an outline and take things one step at a time. Nibble away at the scales, gills and eyes until you get the picture of your dream fish. And when you’re done, be sure to bask in the glory of your artwork and show it off to all your friends.
Drawing a fish is one of the most exciting and creative activities you can do. So bring out the artist within and show the world your version of seafood. Have fun, and happy doodling!
