How to Draw a Quick Dolphin Sketch

A lack of great detail makes dolphins easier to draw than other animals.

Dolphins are a favorite subject for artists in paintings, sculptures and drawings because of their playful yet docile nature and beautiful presence within the ocean waters. Fortunately for people who love to draw, dolphins are not overly complex animals with a lot of detail. You can complete a dolphin drawing by breaking down the animal into various shapes and concentrating on each body part separately.

Instructions

1. 

   The general shape of a dolphin's body tapers down to the tail.

   Draw the basic shape of a dolphin's main body lightly in the direction in which you want the dolphin to be swimming or jumping out of the water. The body is comparable to the shape of a curved comet. Draw a light circle for the head area and a long triangular shape coming off of it with curved sides tapering down to a thin point.

2. 

   A dolphin's tail uses the basic "V" shape with curved lines.

   Draw the tail at the end with the thinner tip. Make a small "V" on the point and draw a wavy line coming off of both of the top points of the "V." Connect the end of the wavy lines to the dolphin's main body with curved lines to complete the tail.

3. 

   The fin on the dolphin's back is a slanted "V" shape.

   Draw a fin on the dolphin's back toward the center of the body. Draw a larger upside down "V" that slants toward the tail of the dolphin with curved sides.

4. 

   The front fins are also slanted "V"s.

   Draw the side fin(s) toward the front of the dolphin's body just before the head at the end of the circle. Draw these fins the same way as the top fin, but as a sideways "V" with the curved sides and pointed end facing toward the back side of the dolphin. Depending upon the angle of the dolphin, only one side fin may be visible.

5. 

   The dolphin's snout protrudes out of the head.

   Draw the head of the dolphin at the larger top end with a protruding snout shaped like the end of a Q-tip or elongated "U" shape coming out of the circle.

6. 

   The mouth and eye placement add character to your dolphin drawing.

   Add a curved line through the mouth that extends slightly into the head, and draw a black circle for the eye where this curved line ends. Go back through the drawing and darken the sides of the dolphin that connect to the tail, fins and mouth you have just drawn.

7. 

   Add shadowing to your drawing to bring the dolphin to life.

   Add shadowing to the completed dolphin outline, such as a darker fin than the others or a whiter belly area and a darker upper body. Draw water lines or a splash below the tail if the dolphin is jumping out of the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Search through various pictures of dolphins to study its basic shape. The best way to learn how to draw an animal is to look at a photo for reference.

References

• All About Drawings: Dolphin Drawings

Resources

• San Diego Zoo: Dolphins
• The Dolphin Institute