Step 15: Use the triangular shapes on the right as guides to draw the caudal fin or tail. Darken the outer edges of the guides to create the shape of the whale shark's tail.

Step 16: Draw three long lines across the whale shark's body for the ridges found on the back. The lines should be long, but they shouldn't reach the head.

Step 17: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the whale shark's body. Darken the top line but curve the tip in toward the head to create a middle ridge. Now darken the outer edges of the initial guide to create the shape of the body. Don't overlap the shapes of the fins as you darken the lines for the whale shark's body.

Step 18: For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step: Shade the inside of the mouth using a dark value. Draw a series of small circles all over the body for the distinctive whale shark pattern. This process will take some time, so be patient and take breaks when you add the pattern. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade. Draw a few stripes between the circles on the body. Shade the body using a medium value. Don't overlap the small circles or stripes. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Shade slowly so that you don't overlap the pattern on the whale shark's body. The circles are very close together, so you might shade over some and that's okay.

The underside of whale sharks is very light, so don't shade that part. Add a bit of light value to the underside for shadows to give the figure volume and dimension. Add a darker value at the top to make the ridges stand out more. Continue to add value throughout the body until you're happy with the results. It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for a more accurate depiction of a whale shark. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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