How to Draw a Clam Shell

Drawing a clam shell relies on basic shapes and lines.

The basic shape of a clam shell incorporates simple lines, both straight and curved. Elemental shapes, like half-circles, complete these symmetrical, balanced forms. The lines in the center of a clam shell fan out from the bottom. By curving these lines slightly, you can suggest the three-dimensionality of the clam shell. These curves create the appearance of a bulge or swell in the surface, like you observe in nature. Curved lines used to demonstrate volume in this way go by the name of contour lines.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper
• Straight edge

Instructions

Draw the Clam Shell

1. Draw a straight, horizontal line about two inches long using a straight edge. Use this line to form the base of your clam shell.

2. Draw one vertical line, about .5 inches long, extending upward from the right corner of your first line. Repeat this line on the left corner. These two lines complete the base of the shell.

3. Mark the center point of your bottom line. Draw two symmetrical curving lines that fan out from this center point on the right and left side. Make sure each line touches the vertical line on the base of the shell as it arcs away from the center point. Make these lines about 3.5 inches long. These lines complete the sides of the clam shell.

4. Place your pen at the center point of the base line again. Draw seven lines fanning out from this center point between the two lines that form the sides of the clam shell. Make these lines gradually taller as they move closer to the center of the shell. Make sure that the right and left halves of the shell remain symmetrical.

5. Draw arcs or half-circles to connect the end of each of your fanning lines to the line that lies directly beside it. Make sure that these arcs remain taller in the center and shorter as they progress towards the sides. These lines complete your clam shell drawing.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have trouble making your sides symmetrical, you can use tracing paper to copy your lines on one side. Simply flip the tracing paper over and copy the lines onto the other side of your shell.

References

• Empty Easel; Drawing Tips
• Dictionary.com; Contour