How to Draw a Basketball

Sporting equipment is easy and fun to draw. It usually requires little attention to detail, and you can make it from the basic geometric shapes, such as circles, lines and squares. These basic shapes make it easier to start drawing so you can then work on more advanced projects. Follow these steps to learn how to draw a basketball.

Instructions

1. Draw a perfect circle using a compass. If you want to make a life-size basketball, it should have a circumference of 29.5 inches. If you don't have a compass, just trace a circular object such as a plate.

2. Look at a basketball as a model for your drawing. Depending upon how you position it is how the horizontal and vertical lines will appear. Draw what you see.

3. Color the basketball in regulation orange with the coloring utensils of your choice. Thicken and darken the black lines on the basketball. Draw any designs or NBA logos you desire, or personalize the basketball with a favorite college team's logo or colors.

4. Shade the bottom of the basketball to add depth. Select another area of the basketball to make brighter, then gradually darken it outwards towards the bottom.

5. Sketch in a background if desired. Try drawing a hoop or backboard in proper proportion to the basketball. A regulation hoop is 18 inches in diameter.

6. Add texture to the basketball. If you colored it with a crayon, rub the coloring until it begins to flake off. This will give a worn appearance to the basketball.