Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Fish (Regal Blue Tang)" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

Written step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: Draw a big circle as a guide for the front part of the regal blue tang's body. First draw four small marks for the height and width of the circle, then connect the marks using curved lines. Draw the circle close to the right edge of the paper so that you have enough room on the left side for the rest of the body. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. But the circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. If you do want a perfect circle, trace the outer rim of a glass, a cup or any other object with a circular edge.

Step 2: Draw two intersecting lines (one vertical and one horizontal) inside the head. These are construction lines that will help you place the blue tang's facial features later. The end result should be similar to a scope.

Step 3: On the right side of the circle, draw a curved line as a guide for the front part of the blue tang's head. First draw a small mark on the right. Then connect the mark to the circle using curved lines. Don't draw the mark too far to the right.

Step 4: Draw a big arc on the left side of the circle as a guide for the second part of the body. First draw a small mark on the left to indicate the length of the arc. Tangs are pretty short, so don't draw the mark too far to the left. Then connect the mark to the circle using curved lines to create the rest of the arc. The shape of the blue tang's body, minus the curved line for the head on the right, should look similar to an egg.

Step 5: Draw a triangle on the lower, left side of the circle as a guide for the blue tang's pectoral fin. Use the construction lines as guides for the triangle's placement and to indicate where the triangle's three corners will be. The bottom corner of the triangle should stick out of the circle a little bit. The corner on the right should spill over to the right of the vertical construction line.