How to Draw a Beetle
Learning how to draw a beetle is easy and fun, if you follow the right process. We’ll show you how to break things down into basic shapes, how to outline your beetle drawings, and how to color with markers.
Learning how to draw should feel fun and relaxing. Don’t stress too much about the end result. Instead, focus on enjoying the process.
Now let’s grab some supplies and have fun learning how to draw a beetle.
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Art Supplies
- Thin black marker
- Paper or cardstock
- Markers
- Pencil
- Click Eraser, Pink Pearl Eraser
- White Gelly Roll pen
Beetle Sketches
Lately I’ve been doing a quick sketching exercise before each drawing session. And it’s been an amazing habit to get into.
Quick sketching is a great way to warm up. But it’s also a great way to learn about what you’re getting ready to draw. And doing a quick sketch exercise is easy and fast.
Just set a timer for three or five minutes. And then quickly sketch as many beetles as you can before the timer goes off.
You can also do your sketches until your paper is filled Instead of using a timer. Just be sure to sketch quickly and don’t worry too much about specific details.
The goal is to get familiar with the subject matter. And better see the shapes and proportions of what you’re drawing.
How to Draw a Beetle Step by Step
Learning to draw is much easier if you break things down into basic shapes first. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do when learning how to draw a beetle.
Begin by drawing an oval for the main part of the body. Then add a circle for the head and add some lines for the antenna.
Next, draw some lines to indicate where the legs will go.
At this stage of the drawing process, you’re just trying to get the basic size and shapes down. These shapes and lines will be used to guide you through your drawings.
The next step is to start working on adding some details. Begin by drawing the different sections of the shell. Use a reference photo to help with this.
Then refine the shape of the head, and add eyes and details to the antennae.
Now let’s start working on the legs. Draw the section of the legs where they connect with the body.
Next, draw each section of the leg. Pay attention to the shape of each section.
Repeat this process for all of the other legs. Add in some hair to legs as needed.
Finish up your beetle sketch by adding some lines to the shell. And add in any other details you want to include.
Beetle Outline
After you’ve finished your beetle sketch, go over your pencil lines with a black pen or marker. You can use thin lines, thick lines, or a combination of the two.
After you finish your beetle outline, use an eraser to remove your pencil lines. And then you can use your black pen to add some shading as well.
There are many other ways to finish your beetle drawing. You could use a different color for your outline instead of using black. Or you could choose to skip the outline altogether.
How you finish your beetle drawing will depend largely on your own artistic style. If you’re not sure what your style is, just keep practicing and it will develop.
Beetle Drawing with Markers
The final step in learning how to draw a beetle is to add some color. I like using markers for my drawings. But you can use whatever medium you prefer.
When adding color you want to use two or three colors for each section of your drawing. For the head and body of my beetle drawing I used yellow, yellow-green, and a light green.
For the shell, those same three colors were used, along with a light brown.
A white Gelly Roll pen can be used to add in some highlights.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Now that you know how to draw a beetle, what’s next? Well, that’s easy to answer… you need to practice.
Art and drawing are skills that anyone can learn. All it takes is time and practice. Repetition is the most beneficial when learning how to create art.
The more you practice, the better you will get. Even if it’s only for a few minutes each day, you’ll see good results.
Challenge yourself to do a series of drawings and see where it takes you.
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