Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a Great White Shark. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this incredible ocean predator!

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To draw this shark step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.

Materials You'll Need Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pencils (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)	Kneaded Eraser	Drawing Paper

Step 1: Setting up the Initial Sketch

When drawing guidelines, sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake.

• Head Circle: Start by drawing a circle as a guide for the head. To draw a circle, first make a couple of small marks to indicate the circle's height and width, and then on the sides, make a couple more small marks to indicate the circle's width. Then connect the small marks using curved lines to finish the shape of the circle. You don't have to draw a perfect circle, but if you're having trouble drawing one, just trace the outer edge of a coin, a bottle cap, or anything else with a circular edge.
• The Jaws: First draw a horizontal line across the middle of the circle for a construction guide. Then on the top left side, make a small mark for the first part of the top jaw. Connect the small mark to the circle using sloping lines to create the guide for the top jaw. The shape of this guide should be similar to a triangle.
• The Body: Make this circle slightly bigger than the head circle. Don't overlap the head as you draw this guide. Further to the right, draw a curved line as a guide for the middle section of the body. This guide should be similar to an arc on its side. Finally, to the right of that, draw a small triangular shape as a guide for the back portion of the body.

Step 2: Drawing Fin and Tail Guidelines

Finish up the initial sketch with the fins and tail guides.

• Tail: Now, draw a long vertical line on the right side for the first part of the tail. Connect the tips of this line to the body using curved lines to finish the guide.
• Dorsal Fin: On top of the body, draw a triangular shape as a guide for the dorsal fin. Draw a vertical line for the right side and a sloping line for the left.
• Lower Fins: Under the body, draw two long diagonal lines as guides for two more fins. Make the line on the left smaller.

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

Step 3: Drawing Eye, Head, and Mouth Features

Add details to the face before finalizing the body.

• The Eyes: Inside the head, lightly sketch a small circle for the eye. Place the eye above the center of the head circle. When you get the shape right, darken the lines, making the shape of the eye thinner than the circle. Above the eye, draw a short horizontal line for a ridge, and then shade in the eye.
• The Nostril: To the left of the eye, draw a small thick wavy line for the nostril. Now draw a very long wavy line across the entire head for the color separation, curving this line down on the right side.
• Jaw Construction: Darken the outer edges of the guides to the left to create the head and the top jaw. Sketch lightly at first and only darken the line when you get the shape right. Don't make the front of the head too pointy.
• Upper Mouth and Teeth: Below the construction guide, draw a curved horizontal line for the first part of the mouth. Curve the right tip of the line down, drawing this line farther to the right than the eye. Draw a series of small triangular shapes along the bottom of the line for the teeth, making the teeth on the right slightly smaller.
• Lower Mouth and Jaw: Below that, draw a long curved line for the bottom edge of the open mouth, following the curvature of the head circle. Draw rows of small triangular shapes inside the mouth for the teeth, following the curvature of the mouth. Draw smaller triangles higher up for another row of teeth. Darken the outer edges of the guides at the bottom for the lower jaw, making the bottom of the shape longer than the initial circle.

Step 4: Finishing the Body and Adding Details

Draw a horizontal line across the front part of the head to give it structure. Follow the outer edges of the rest of the guides to create the shape of the body. The top of the head and body is made up of a long continuous line. Make the shape of the body more curved as you darken it.

Fin and Tail Outlines

• Main Fin: Darken the long diagonal line on the right side of the body for the first part of the fin. A bit farther down, draw another long diagonal line to make the shape of the fin wider. Draw another diagonal line inside the shape for the color separation.
• Secondary Fin: Darken the line on the left for the other fin. Draw a sloping line for the bottom edge of the fin, and add another sloping line inside the shape.
• Dorsal Fin and Tail: Darken the triangular shape on top of the body for the dorsal fin. Make the shape more curved than the guide and add a line inside. Darken the shapes on the far right side to create the tail. Add a couple of long lines inside the shape to give the tail structure, making the shape more curved as you darken it.

Final Fin and Gill Additions

• Rear Fins: Draw a couple more small triangular shapes along the back portion of the body for more fins.
• Gills and Color Separation: Draw a series of vertical lines across the body for the gills. Not all the gills will be visible from this angle. Finally, draw another wavy line for the color separation along the body.

Step 5: Cleaning Up and Shading Your Shark

Now erase your initial guidelines. You don't have to erase all of the guidelines; it's okay if you leave some behind. Redraw any of the final lines that you may have accidentally erased. After cleaning your drawing up, you are ready to add depth with pencil shading.

Shading Techniques for Realism

• Body Shading: Use a medium value to shade the top part of the body. Shade lightly at first and gradually build up to darker values. For light values, push down very lightly on your pencil. Then push down harder for darker values. Leave a few thin sections blank for highlights.
• Mouth and Underbelly Shadows: Use a dark value to shade inside of the mouth. Slowly and gradually add darker values to your drawing. Use a light value to create shadows along the white underside of the body. Shadows will give the figure more dimension and volume. Darken the final lines to emphasize the shapes. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient, take breaks, and keep shading until you're happy with the result!

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