Watch it draw itself · tap to replay
How to Draw Shading a Sphere
Draw shading a sphere in 11 easy steps, about 8 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the ball.
Step 1: The ball
In the middle, draw 1 big round circle, about as big as your fist.
Tip Leave the top left corner free for the sun: the light comes from there.
Step 2: The sun
In the top left corner, draw a small sun. Give it 2 eyes with black dots and a smile.
Step 3: Sun rays
Draw short straight rays all the way round the sun, leaving a small gap.
Step 4: The floor
Draw a straight line across the paper right under the ball, so the ball sits on the floor.
Step 5: Cast shadow
On the floor to the right of the ball, away from the sun, draw a long flat oval shadow.
Tip The shadow always falls on the side away from the light.
Step 6: The highlight
Inside the ball, near the top left edge facing the sun, draw a small circle. The light hits hardest there.
Step 7: Light side
Start on the ball's top edge. Curve a line down towards the sun, stopping on the lower left edge.
Step 8: Dark side
Start on the right edge. Curve a line in towards the middle and stop on the edge at the bottom.
Step 9: Yellow sun
Colour the sun yellow, leaving the eyes white.
Step 10: Blue ball
Colour the light side sky blue, leaving the highlight white. Colour the middle band blue.
Step 11: Grey and navy
Colour the shadow grey and the dark strip navy. Go over your lines and your ball looks round!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: shading a sphere, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
