You don’t have to be a professional artist to draw stunning sharks! Drawing sharks is actually surprisingly easy, so there’s no need to be intimidated. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, with a bit of practice and patience you’ll be crafting jaw-dropping ocean predators in no time.
The key to drawing awesome sharks is to take it step by step. Start with the basic outline then, layer on details until you’re left with a cartoon, or lifelike, masterpiece – whatever suits your artistic style best.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your favorite pencil, charcoal stick or pen, lean back and relax. It’s time to drift into the deep sea of creativity to learn how to draw a shark!
Start with a Basic Outline
To kickstart your creation, start out with a basic outline: draw two curved, triangular shapes for the body and tail, as well as two oval shapes for the eyes (see Fig 1). As for the teeth, stick to the inner sides of the shark’s mouth – drawing teeth on the outside of the shark gives the image an awkward, lopsided feel.
Using your pencil’s eraser, lightly erase away the extra lines until your silhouette looks clean and neat. This also gives you an easy-to-follow roadmap of where defining aspects like the eyes and tail will go.
Add Details
Now that the basic outline is complete, make your shark come alive by adding details. If you were going for a cartoon appearance, draw sketchy lines for the fins and draw the mouth slightly curved down, as if it’s in the process of closing. Give it a light smirk, maybe a fin lifting up over the eye, and a slight curve to the tail.
If you’ve opted for a more realistic approach, draw a few line along the sides of the shark’s body and a couple near the eyes. This indicates layers of gill pouches. Sketchily shade in the outline for the pointy, triangular fins (like a crescent moon). Provide your shark with a wider mouth, and make it look almost open. Lastly, draw the tail with a straighter line, with the point slightly sticking out the back.
Shade & Color
Who doesn’t love adding shades and colors to their creations? This step is arguably the most rewarding! Start off by shading in the outside of the outline. Make sure each shader is light and has a subtle fading or blending. This adds texture and highlights the details to the shark.
To add color (unless it’s a cartoon style) use various shades of the same hue: make the bottom half darker and the top half lighter for a more realistic look. Don’t forget to provide dimension by adding highlights in a few areas of the fins, tail and body. For a cartoonier look, make the shark any color of your choosing and use a white colored pencil for the highlighter portions.
Almost There!
As your shark takes shape, all that’s left to do is add a few minor details. If you’re aiming for a more realistic look, feel free to draw in light, wavy lines under the shark to suggest the ocean’s currents and movement.
To highlight the eyes and mouth, draw a small black dot in the center of each eye, and fill in the shark’s teeth using a white crayon or white colored pencil. To complete your masterpiece, erase away any unwanted lines, smudge out rough patches (you can use a tissue to do this) and add a bit of shading in areas that need it.
