How to Draw Steak in 5 Simple Steps
Whether you’re a master illustrator or just picking up a pencil to draw for the first time, drawing a steak can add delicious flair to your art! Here’s how to get started:
1. Sketch the Charcoal. Begin by lightly sketching the shape of your steak with a basic charcoal outline. Keep it general and focus on getting the placement on paper, rather than intricate details. This will form the basis for the rest of the drawing.
2. Add in the Juiciness. Use light strokes to add details to the charcoal outline. Give your steak that glossy, greasy look and feel by smudging out parts of the outline like a brush stroke. Be sure to draw in the juicy, fatty streaks present in most cuts of steak.
3. Design the Ribbons. Adding the border ribbons give your steak drawing depth and dimension. Start by lightly drawing in two line on either side of the steak, curving in towards the centre. Make sure these curves are of the same length and follow the same direction. Then, use those lines as a foundation to draw out the five ribbon lines towards the centre of your steak.
4. Fill in the Fibres. One of the signature details that separate steak sketches from others is the channels of fiber. In order to create this effect, imagine if you were cutting the steak with a fork, and draw a few curved lines along the steak’s center—variating in length, thickness and density—which signify the fibers of the steak.
5. Adding the Finishing Touches. Spice up your steak drawing with the wrapping of surface details. Use the charcoal outline to add strong shadows, suggesting the juicy thickness of your steak. Add some light color tones to coat the surface, reflecting off the fat streaks and creating that perfect steak image.
Enhance with the Grill Marks. Finish up your steak portrait by adding those grill marks! Use straight lines and curved lines to create a cross-hatch pattern on both sides, which adds that char-grilled effect. Don’t forget to draw a few above and below your steak as well.
Add Color. When you feel confident enough in your ability to draw a steak, experiment with adding color to your sketches! No matter what color you pick—from golden brown to ruby red—developing your steak through color makes the design pop and stand out.
Create Textures for Variety. Take your steak drawing to the next level with detailed textures. Brush strokes, cross-hatching, and smudging will add softness and complexity to your drawing, while also simulating realistic textures and effects.
Through the Ages. Finally, as you continue to practice your steak drawing and perfect your own personal style, you can take it even further with unique and fun variations. Take your steak visuals through the ages with iconic styles like Japanese’s yakiniku, Italian’s saltimbocca and porterhouse, and American’s Western, Texas, and Philly steaks!
