3D Tricks, ages 8 to 12
How to draw A Ball That Looks Real
Turn a flat circle into a ball you could pick up. You will pick where the light comes from, then add a shine where the ball faces it, shading that curves round the far side, and a shadow on the ground where the ball blocks the light.
- Level
- Easy
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Steps
- 7
- Ages
- 8 to 12
How to draw A Ball That Looks Real
What you need
- Paper Plain printer paper is perfect.
- Pencil (HB) For light first shapes you can erase.
- Black fineliner 0.5 mm, or any black pen.
- Eraser A soft white eraser.
- Coloured pencils Any set; sharpen them first.
Step by step
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01Placement
One light, one ball
Lightly draw a small sun in the top-left corner, a big circle for the ball, and an arrow from the sun to the ball.
-
02Construction
Plan the light and dark
Mark an oval shine facing the sun, a curved shadow line on the far side, and a flat shadow on the ground.
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03Details
Ink the ball
Ink the ball in one smooth line, then go over the shadow side again to make it thicker. Ink the sun too.
-
04Details
Erase the pencil
When the ink is dry, look once more at your plan, then erase all the pencil: circle, arrow, shine and shadows.
-
05Colour
Colour it lightly
Colour the ball red with light pressure, walking around the shine so it stays white paper. Press a little more toward the shadow side.
-
06Colour
Shade round the side
With purple over the red, shade the side away from the sun. Make it darkest just past the shadow line, fading toward the light.
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07Finishing touches
A shadow on the ground
Shade the ground shadow in grey, stretching away from the sun. Make it darkest right under the ball, where no light reaches.
Ages 8 to 12
