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This article was reviewed by Jeanine Hattas Wilson. Jeanine Hattas Wilson is a Professional Painter and the President of Hattas Public Murals, Inc. With nearly 20 years of experience, Jeanine specializes in creating, overseeing, designing, and painting murals. Jeanine holds a BA in Advertising from Marquette University and a Studio Painting Minor from The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. She has studied at The Atelier Artien in Paris, France, Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, and under renowned artists such as Robert Liberace, Michael Siegel, and William Cochran. To date, Hattas Public Murals has painted nearly 5,000 commissioned works of art in homes and commercial and public spaces.
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Are you looking to draw a shark that is a little beyond your artistic abilities? Follow these quick, easy steps and learn how to draw a simple shark, a cartoon shark, a bull shark or even a sand tiger shark.
Steps
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![Step 1 Draw a circle.]()
Draw a circle. Below the circle, draw a curved line extending to the left with a cone shaped end. -
![Step 2 Draw a pointed angle on the right side of the circle.]()
Draw a pointed angle on the right side of the circle.Advertisement -
![Step 3 Sketch a "fishtail" on the bottom of the drawing using angled shapes.]()
Sketch a "fishtail" on the bottom of the drawing using angled shapes. -
![Step 4 Draw the shark’s fins.]()
Draw the shark’s fins. These are characterized by being pointy and slightly curved. -
![Step 5 Draw the shark’s nostrils and the eyes using an egg-like shape.]()
Draw the shark’s nostrils and the eyes using an egg-like shape. Add a curved line for the eyebrows. Real sharks do not have big eyes like these but it's okay to use your imagination for cartoon versions. -
![Step 6 Draw the shark’s mouth.]()
Draw the shark’s mouth. Sharks are known to have really sharp teeth, you can draw its teeth using triangles. -
![Step 7 Sketch out the shark’s body from the outline.]()
Sketch out the shark’s body from the outline. -
![Step 8 Darken the fins and tail.]()
Darken the fins and tail. -
![Step 9 Draw the shark’s gill slits using three curved lines.]()
Draw the shark’s gill slits using three curved lines. For a cartoon shark, you can divide the body into the posterior and anterior parts using a line straight across the body. -
![Step 10 Erase unnecessary lines.]()
Erase unnecessary lines. -
![Step 11 Color the drawing.]()
Color the drawing.
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![Step 1 Draw a triangle with the pointed angle facing the right.]()
Draw a triangle with the pointed angle facing the right. Stretch out the triangle by elongating the shape using two not so straight lines across and end it with a vertical line. At the left side of the drawing, draw a curved triangle with the pointed angle facing downwards. -
![Step 2 Draw the shark’s fins using triangles.]()
Draw the shark’s fins using triangles. The shark has pectoral fins, dorsal fins and anal fins. -
![Step 3 Add the tail using slender angles pointing towards opposite directions.]()
Add the tail using slender angles pointing towards opposite directions. -
![Step 4 Using the outline and sketch the shark’s head.]()
Using the outline and sketch the shark’s head. Add the eyes, nostrils and mouth. -
![Step 5 Darken the lines for the fins and tail.]()
Darken the lines for the fins and tail. -
![Step 6 Darken the lines of the shark’s body based on the outline.]()
Darken the lines of the shark’s body based on the outline. -
![Step 7 Add five lines on the side of the shark for its gill slits.]()
Add five lines on the side of the shark for its gill slits. Divide the shark into anterior and posterior part usually because of its color. The posterior part is darker in shade. Divide the drawing using slanted strokes right across the shark’s body. -
![Step 8 Erase unnecessary lines.]()
Erase unnecessary lines. -
![Step 9 Color the drawing.]()
Color the drawing.
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![Step 1 Draw an oblong for the midsection of the shark.]()
Draw an oblong for the midsection of the shark. -
![Step 2 Draw a sharp curve on the left part of the oblong drawn previously for the head section.]()
Draw a sharp curve on the left part of the oblong drawn previously for the head section. -
![Step 3 Draw a longer curve on the opposite side to make the body.]()
Draw a longer curve on the opposite side to make the body. -
![Step 4 Draw angled curves to make the fin outlines.]()
Draw angled curves to make the fin outlines. -
![Step 5 Draw a long angled sharp curve with another smaller curve the bottom for the tail fin.]()
Draw a long angled sharp curve with another smaller curve the bottom for the tail fin. -
![Step 6 Draw curves for the mouth and gills; Add a circle near the mouth and edge of the head for the eyes.]()
Draw curves for the mouth and gills; Add a circle near the mouth and edge of the head for the eyes. -
![Step 7 Based on the outline, draw the whole shark]()
Based on the outline, draw the whole shark -
![Step 8 Erase the unnecessary outlines.]()
Erase the unnecessary outlines. -
![Step 9 Color your bull shark!]()
Color your bull shark!
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![Step 1 Draw an arc with a sharp corner for the head.]()
Draw an arc with a sharp corner for the head. -
![Step 2 Draw a moon shape for the mouth and add thin needle like shapes inside the mouth for the teeth.]()
Draw a moon shape for the mouth and add thin needle like shapes inside the mouth for the teeth. -
![Step 3 Draw a curve connected at one end to complete the body outline of the shark.]()
Draw a curve connected at one end to complete the body outline of the shark. -
![Step 4 Draw angled curves to make the fin outlines.]()
Draw angled curves to make the fin outlines. -
![Step 5 Draw a long angled sharp curve with another smaller curve the bottom for the tail fin.]()
Draw a long angled sharp curve with another smaller curve the bottom for the tail fin. -
![Step 6 Based on the outline, draw the whole shark (add eyes and curves on the body of the sand tiger shark)]()
Based on the outline, draw the whole shark (add eyes and curves on the body of the sand tiger shark) -
![Step 7 Erase the unnecessary outlines.]()
Erase the unnecessary outlines. -
![Step 8 Color your sand tiger shark!]()
Color your sand tiger shark!
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat color does the top of my shark have to be?
Community AnswerGrey, blue or black would be fine. You can also shade the top if you are making a sketch. -
QuestionHow can I draw huge sharks like megalodon?
Community AnswerFocus on the body shape and curves. Look at pictures and try to mimic this. Zoom in on it and make these details bigger. Also, even little color details such as cream teeth make a difference in the overall painting. -
QuestionHow do I make the shark look real?
Community AnswerSketch it and smudge it and use different shades with your pencil to add details.
Tips
Things You'll Need
- Paper
- Pencil
- Pencil sharpener
- Eraser
- Colored pencils, crayons, markers or watercolors
About This Article
To draw a cartoon shark, draw a circle with a curved triangle on the bottom, extending to the left. On the right side of the circle, draw a curved triangle, and then sketch a fishtail onto the end of the bottom triangle. On the sides of the bottom triangle, draw two pointed triangles for the fins, with one larger fin on the back. Draw the shark’s eyes where the circle meets the top triangle, and add a small mark on the snout. Extend the triangle into a toothy smile and erase the excess lines to form your shark! For more tips, including how to draw a bull shark, read on!
Reader Success Stories
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"I didn't know how to draw a shark. I'm making a shark movie and a poster, so I needed it to be perfect."
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