Step 15: Use the two parallel lines in the middle as guides to draw the thorax. Draw a long, thin shape for the top part and a series of curved lines as you follow the guide for the bottom part.

Step 16: Draw the top part of the praying mantis' abdomen by using the initial ellipse shape as a guide. Draw a smaller ellipse within the abdomen for the folder wing resting on top. Try not to overlap the shape of the ellipse with the leg. Draw the end of the abdomen on the left of the initial guide just outside of the original ellipse.

Step 17: Draw the bottom of the abdomen by using the rest of the ellipse as a guide. Extend the abdomen toward the outside of the ellipse and draw a few curved lines inside for the individual segments.

Step 18: Draw the set of legs on the other side of the body by using the first set as a template. First draw the praying mantis' leg on the left by duplicating the previous leg. The middle segments should be hidden behind the body. Now draw the leg in the middle by following the path of the initial leg and drawing a similar one to the right of it but smaller. Finish up by drawing the leg in the front. Most of it will be hiding behind the leg on this side, so just draw the bits sticking out.

Step 19 (optional): You can stop here for a sketchy look or erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines for a cleaner look. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your praying mantis drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Shade each segment separately and take your time, as adding the value can be time-consuming.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the mantis so it doesn't appear to be floating. Use a darker value near the middle of the shadow and a lighter value along the edge for the shadow's diffusion.

You can add more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. Praying mantises are usually a single color, so add a solid value throughout the body. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. If you have mantises in your backyard, check them out and use them for reference. Remember to pause the "How to Draw a Praying Mantis" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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