Step 15: On the lower, left side of the abdomen, draw the other back leg peeking from behind. Below the head, draw the other front leg peeking from behind too. The Hercules beetle's other middle leg isn't visible from this angle.

Step 16: 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: Add some shading to your Hercules beetle drawing for extra detail. Use a dark value for the pattern on the elytron. Use a light value for the main part of the elytron but leave a section near the middle blank for highlight. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Use a dark value along the bottom edge. Shade lightly at first, and gradually build up to a darker value. The edges should be darker than the middle. Using a dark value, draw a series of irregular shapes for the markings on this rhinoceros beetle's elytron. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

Draw a few thin, long shapes inside the top horn for the highlight that will be left blank. Shade the Hercules beetle's top horn using a dark value but leave the highlight shapes blank. Build up the dark value gradually. If you push down too hard on your pencil, the graphite may get shiny.

Use a dark value for the underside of the Hercules beetle's body and for the legs too. Shade the bottom part using a dark value too. Leave a section in the eye and bottom horn blank for highlight. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Use a dark value for the underside of the body and for the beetle's legs too.

It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for an accurate depiction of a Hercules beetle. As you shade the beetle's legs, leave a section along the top edges blank for highlights. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps to ground the beetle so it doesn't appear to be floating.

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