How to Draw Wrestling
Every aspiring artist wants to learn to draw wrestling—one of the most popular sports around the world. Whether you’re a fan or just want to capture the drama and intensity of the sport with your art, you’ll need to know the right basics to get you started. From the styles of wrestlers to dynamic fighting poses, here’s all you need to draw an effective and realistic depiction of wrestling action.
Study the Wrestler’s Physique
These gladiators may look intimidating as they flip, jump, and grapple in the ring, but they’re also highly skilled athletes. To draw them correctly, you need to understand the shapes and proportions of their bodies. Large wrestlers often have a V-shaped torso that tapers down to their hips. Reflect this in your artwork and note how the chest swells, narrows, and then tapers off above their waist. As you draw wrestling poses, pay attention to the correct placement of the shoulders, arms, legs, and hips for a realistic look.
Sketch From Reference Photos
References are your secret weapon! Watching wrestling matches can be insightful and help you understand how wrestlers move in action, but it’s hard to remember all the angles and poses. Make it easier to practice and sketch by getting references photos of your favorite wrestlers online. Before you start drawing, use the photos to study the wrestler’s muscles, the shapes of their moves, the folds in their costumes, and their facial expressions in those key moments.
Focus on the Movements
When drawing wrestlers, show their powerful moves through your art! Capture the momentum of the fighter as they lunge, block, and flip in the ring. As they grapple, try to show the two opponents pushing, pulling, and turning against each other. Show the faces of the wrestlers to emphasize their determination and strength. Even when the wrestlers are still, use muscles and facial tension to show their readiness and focus.
Draw a Dynamic Crowd
In any pro wrestling event, the fighter’s story is set against the roaring crowd of spectators. Show the energy of the match by drawing a dynamic crowd in the stands. Capture the range of facial expressions: some looking in awe and wonder, some clapping and cheering, and other booing and heckling. Give the crowd a variety of poses, with some standing and applauding, others craning their necks to see the match, and a few fanatics raising their fists in the air.
Work on Effects and Finishing
Now that you’ve got your wrestlers and crowd drawn, it’s time for final effects. Add sparkles for an extra touch of intensity and make their movements shine with flow lines. Shadow and texture will also make your art look more realistic. Give the ring an aged look with a gradation of tones and consider the lighting on the wrestlers. Finally, add in some dust and bright flashes of light to make your artwork look like it jumped out of the stadium!
