Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Seahorse" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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 as a guide for the first part of the seahorse's head. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. Leave enough room at the bottom so you can draw the seahorse's body.
Step 2: Draw an arc on the right side of the circle to complete the shape of the seahorse's head.
Step 3: Draw a thin, long rectangle-like shape on the right side of the head as a guide for the seahorse's mouth.
Step 4: Draw another circle under the head as a guide for the seahorse's body. This circle should be about twice the size as the first. Don't place it too low, otherwise the seahorse will be too long.
Step 5: Draw two wavy lines that connect the head to the body to form the guide for the seahorse's neck.
Step 6: Draw a long, spiral line under the seahorse's body as a guide for the left side of the tail. The spiral can be tricky, so draw it very lightly at first to get the shape right. The line should start on the left side of the body.
Step 7: Now draw a similar line on the right side to finish up the guide for the seahorse's tail. You can make the tail longer if you'd like.
Step 8: Draw a small shape similar to a curved rectangle on the left side of the body as a guide for the seahorse's fin.
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 9: Draw a circle inside the arc for the seahorse's eye. Draw a smaller circle inside for the pupil. Shade it in except for a tiny circle that represents glare. Draw a few lines around the seahorse's eye for extra detail.
Step 10: Use the shape on the right as a guide to draw the seahorse's mouth. Follow the basic path of the shape but make the mouth curvier as you darken the lines.
Step 11: Use the circle and arc as guides to draw the rest of the seahorse's head. Follow the path of the guides, but make the edges lumpier and draw the top of the head higher. Different types of seahorses have different-shaped heads, so you can draw yours however you'd like. Also draw the bottom portion of the head and make it less lumpy.
Step 12: Add a few extra lines within the seahorse's head as extra detail and added texture. Draw a few curved lines on the left side of the head for the gills and pectoral fin.
Step 13: Use the initial lines as guides to draw the seahorse's neck. Follow the guides and make the neck bumpier as you darken the lines.
Step 14: Use the shapes near the middle as guides to draw the seahorse's body. Darken the initial shape to create the dorsal fin and add a few lines inside for extra detail. Darken the right side of the circle and make it bumpier to finish drawing the body.
Step 15: Use the spiral shape under the body as a guide to draw the seahorse's tail. Simply go over the guide lines using a darker stroke. Add a few bumps to the lines as you darken them for extra texture.
Step 16: Add a series of lines on the left side of the seahorse's body for skin texture. Seahorses are fish, but they don't have scales. They have skin stretched over bony plates, which are arranged in rings throughout their bodies. Draw these small lines across the body and tail to represent these bony rings.
Step 17 (optional): Draw more lines throughout the body to complete the series of bony rings. Each species of seahorse has a distinct number of rings, so you can add fewer lines if you'd like. Or just skip the lines altogether!
Step 18 (optional): For a cleaner look, erase as much 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 that you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step (optional): Some seahorses are colorful, so instead of the usual shading, try coloring your drawing. Using gray, add some shading to give the drawing more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source to draw the shadows consistently. Shadows are generally at the cool end of the color spectrum, so add some blue or purple to the shadows.
Now start adding whatever color you want your seahorse to be. It's usually best to gradually add multiple colors rather than one solid coat of a single color. This seahorse will be yellow-orange, so you can build its color by adding hues of yellow, orange and even red! This helps create a rounder, more three-dimensional look rather than a flat, graphic texture you get from a single-color coat. Use red and orange in the sections with the shading and use yellow for the highlights of the brighter areas. Continue adding color gradually, alternating between different shades of yellow, orange and red. Vary the pressure on each pencil to get different shades of a color. Start coloring lightly, then darker by applying more pressure.
The coloring can be a bit time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's also a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Or you can just color your seahorse using your favorite colors! You can be creative and make yours blue with stripes or green with polka dots. Have fun with it! Remember to pause the "How to Draw a Seahorse" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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