- Level: Beginner
- Subject: Fish
This would be a beginner level tutorial on drawing a fish. You can walk along the tutorial either using a pen, pencils, eraser and paper, or you could use any graphics software that has layer handling feature like GIMP or Adobe Photoshop along with a graphics tablet like Wacom products.
I create this using GIMP. At the end of the tutorial, you will find the XCF and PSD downloads that shows the progression in different layers.
Rough
You need to not draw the above – but basically, as I have explained in the You Too Can Sketch book, simplify the subject to simple shapes. Here it reduces to three triangles. With the above shapes in mind, do some rough markings. If you are doing it on paper, do the following marking very lightly (ignore the colored shapes).
If you are doing it on the computer, start of with a layer named ‘Rough’ and you need not worry about the darkness of the lines. You will be able to switch the layer visibility or even reduce its opacity to any percentage.
Sketch
Now we would get to some sketching over this rough work. Note that even the different details can be reduced to simple shapes. The lip/mouth area and the fins become are triangles and the eye is simply an ellipse.
If you are doing this on paper, sketch with darker lines. You can either increase the pressure you put, or as an alternative, use a pencil with softer tip (if you had used HB for rough work, use a 2B for shading).
On the computer it is easier. Create a new layer above ‘Rough’ and name it ‘Sketch’. Reduce the opacity of the ‘Rough’ layer.
Lineart
On paper, at this point, run your eraser lightly over what you have done to this point so that your sketch marks are lightly visible and the rough work is cleared up. Take a pen and start going over the sketch you have done, with clean and confident strokes. Once you are done, and you are sure that the ink has dried, use the eraser again to remove any pencil markings. Go over the basic lineart again, adding details and varying the line width to make it more interesting.
On the computer, create another layer over all the other layers and name it as ‘Line’ or ‘Lineart’. You can now turn off the visibility of the ‘Rough’ layer, and bring down the opacity of the ‘Sketch’ layer. Use a solid brush, or use a inking tool to do a basic line art. Once you are done, swith off all other layers (except background). Use a smaller tool size to add details, and a larger one to add line weight.
Download Link: Draw A Fish – XCF | PSD
You can use either of the two files to study the different layers. Download XCF if you use GIMP or PSD if you own Photoshop. Each step and guides have been provided as a layer.
When you follow this tutorial, and try to draw a fish, chances are that if you have not been drawing earlier, the resulting artwork would look a bit stiff. Do not worry about it. Keep practicing and you would start to learn intutively on how to make the subject flow and look alive.
I have been writing tutorials here for different styles of digital artwork – digital painting and vector illustration. But being able to draw is a prerequisite for both of them. Drop in a comment below if you would like some drawing tutorials on specific subjects (or you can contact me).
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Pingback from How To Draw A Tortoise | KalaaLog on October 26, 2008 at 12:01 pm
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Thank you so much! I was clueless until I saw this. Thanks again! (:
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this picture is so easy to make that is why i am copying it to do a homework of mine
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Nice…. thank you
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