How To Draw The Mayflower
Mayhew, the Mayflower-captain, sailed for sixty-six grueling days, braving storms and all things in between to reach the coast of America. Drawing the Mayflower itself is an immortalizing tribute, making it a popular yet challenging subject for all enthusiastic artists. Before you channel your creative energies into picturing the legendary ship that ferried the pilgrims to the ‘New World’, here’s a guide to help you get started.
Tracing the Outline
First and foremost, you need to trace out the broad strokes of the vessel. To do so, place a simulated image of the Mayflower in front of you, be it a visual in your medium of choice or a physical image printed out on paper. Remember to account for the perspective of the outcome and the fact that the Mayflower was tapered at both ends. This ensures that your ship is symmetrical, while the perspective makes it lifelike, in comparison to how it would appear from any angle.
Connecting the Dots
To make the image appear more realistic and ship-like, it is essential to draw more detailed features once the outline is finished. Here, you need to infuse the boat with a number of features- the sails, windows, ribbed sections, and more. Furthermore, the masts, anchors, the gangway, and the rigging need to be detailed as well to evince the most realistic semblance of the Mayflower.
Smoothening the Edges
You can confidently move on to rounding and smoothening the edges of the boat to make it come alive. This involves sketching curved sections such as the stern or the bow, or the sides of the boat. Doing so makes it look as if the boat has been intricately crafted by a carpenter or a ship-builder, so don’t forget to add those details.
Texture, Color, and Detail
The last step is texture and color to give the Mayflower a life of its own. Paint the windows, add the anchor and masts, spruce it up with wood patterns, give it a sail of a certain shade, and more. Add as much detail as you want, as per the photorealistic detail you wish to achieve.
Finally, take a deep breath and admire your version of the Mayflower. The toughest part is done, and all you need to do is watch a sea of happiness flow in with the compliments. Congratulations!
