In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Tiger Shark step-by-step.

 

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All of the tutorials on How2DrawAnimals.com are good drawing tutorials for beginners and experienced artists alike. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow.

 

The Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

 

To draw this Tiger Shark step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

 

The 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 circle on the right side of the paper as a guide for the front part of the tiger shark's body. First make four small marks to indicate the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a small, circular object like a coin or a lid. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle.

 

Step 2: On the left, draw another circle the same way as a guide for the mid-section of the body. This circle should be a bit smaller. Space out the circles. The farther apart they are, the longer your tiger shark will be.

 

 

Step 3: Draw the head by first making a small mark to the right of the circles. Connect the mark to the first circles using a curved line to form an arc-like shape for the tiger shark's head.

 

Step 4: Connect the circles using a couple of curved lines to finish the guide for the middle section of the tiger shark's body.

 

 

Step 5: Add the guide for the back portion of the tiger shark's body by first making a small mark on the left side. Connect the mark to the second circle using a couple of lines. The end of this guide should be flat, not pointy like the head.

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Step 6: On the left side, draw a line that slopes up to the top, left as a guide for the tiger shark's tail or caudal fin. On the bottom, draw a shorter line that slopes down. Then connect the two lines to form a triangular shape.

 

Step 7: To the left of the first circle, draw a line that's similar to a slanted letter V as a guide for the tiger shark's first pectoral fin. To the right, draw a smaller V- shaped line as a guide for the pectoral fin on the other side.

 

 

Step 8: Above the middle section of the body, draw a triangle-like shape as a guide for the first dorsal fin. To the left, closer to the tail, draw a smaller triangular shape as a guide for the second dorsal fin. Under the body, on the left, draw two more small, triangular shapes as guides for the shark's pelvic and anal fins.

 

That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.

 

 

Step 9: To the left of the first circle, near the top of the head, draw a small circle for the eye. Add a smaller circle inside and shade it using a dark value for the tiger shark's pupil. Sketch the eye lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. When you get the size and position right, darken the lines.

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Step 10: Draw a curved line inside the tiger shark's head for the mouth. The mouth should start on the right edge of the first circle, then curve and end at bottom of the head. You can make the shark's mouth open slightly by adding a second line. Darken the bottom edge of the initial arc for the bottom of the head.

 

Step 11: Use the initial arc as a guide to draw the rest of the tiger shark's head. Simply darken the top edge of the arc to create the shape of the head.

 

 

Step 12: To the right of the eye, near the top of the head, draw a small drop-like shape for the nostril. Draw a curved line above the tiger shark's eye and nose to give the head more structure. Inside the first circle, near the left edge, draw five short, curved, vertical lines for the gills.

 

Step 13: Use the triangular shapes under the body, on the right side, as guides to draw the tiger shark's pectoral fins. Follow the path of the guides but curve the lines more as you darken them.

 

 

Step 14: Darken the initial shape for the tiger shark's dorsal fin on top of the body but make it slightly curvier. Draw the smaller second dorsal fin the same way. Darken the initial shape but curve it a bit more.

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Step 15: Darken the remaining triangular shapes under the body to create the pelvic and anal fins. To the right of the pelvic fin, draw a small, angled line for the visible part of the other pelvic fin. As you follow the path of the triangle on the left, curve the lines a lot for the tiger shark's curved anal fin.

 

Step 16: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the body. Simply darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the tiger shark's body. Don't overlap the shapes of the fins as you darken the lines for the body.

 

 

Step 17: Use the triangular shape on the left as a guide to draw the tail. Darken the top and bottom edge of the initial shape but curve the tips a bit more. To draw the left edge of the tail, make the line curve in toward the body more. The top part of the tiger shark's tail should be longer than the bottom part.

 

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: Add a line across the tiger shark's body for the value separation. Then shade everything above the line. Use a medium value for the body. Shade evenly to give the skin a smooth texture. Add the value lightly at first and slowly work your way up to a darker tone. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

Add the distinctive tiger shark pattern to the body using a dark value. The stripes on the shark aren't like those on a tiger. They're more oval-like and short. The pattern should be darkest at the top, and it should gradually get lighter toward the bottom. The pattern on a tiger shark fades as it grows older, so the darker you make the pattern on your shark, the younger it will be. It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for a more accurate tiger shark representation.

Add a bit of a shadow at the bottom using a light value to give the tiger shark more volume and dimension. Continue adding value throughout the body until you're happy with the result. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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