wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 68 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time.
This article has been viewed 307,925 times.
Learn more...
This is a tutorial that teaches you how to draw a basketball. You will learn how to draw a simple basketball icon design and a more realistic basketball. Let’s begin!
Steps
Basketball Icon Design
Realistic Basketball
-
1Begin with a sketch of a perfect circle outline. Use your pencil to lightly sketch a perfect circle.
-
2Add lines to show the actual shape of the ball. You can show a sphere by adding the perspective.
-
3Start coloring the draft. Choose the basic color in beginning the coloring.
-
4Continue coloring. Choose a color that is lighter than the basic color. Put it where the brighter areas should be shown which means that is where the light is being reflected.
-
5Blend the colors.
-
6Add the darker shades. To show a more realistic approach to the drawing, add the shades and shadow. This way, the basketball will appear like a sphere.
-
7Draw four lines on the ball. Two lines which are a vertical and a horizontal line in the middle simply follow the shape of the ball. The other two lines are curved lines conforming to the shape of the ball.
-
8Color the background.
Community Q&A
-
QuestionWhy is the basketball red?Community AnswerThat's just how they chose to color it. They're usually orange, but can really be any color.
-
QuestionHow do I draw a perfect circle?Community AnswerTrace something that looks like a perfect circle, like the bottom of a cup or anything circular.
-
QuestionHow do I make a football?Community AnswerStart by drawing a slightly curved line. Make another curved line and connect it to the first. Draw a straight line in the center. Add three marks to the line.
Warnings
- Don't worry if it's not perfect. Part of drawing is interpreting the subject.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Black marker
- Paper
- Orange coloring utensil (along with darker and lighter shades of the original color)
- stencil, protractor, or compass (optional)
About This Article
To draw a realistic basketball, start by sketching a circle and drawing a vertical and a horizontal line down the middle. Next, draw 2 curved lines at the top and bottom halves of the ball. Then, color in the ball with a basic orange, use a lighter orange on areas where light is being reflected, and blend the colors together. Finally, add darker shades to create shadows and make the ball look like a sphere. For more tips, like how to draw a perfect circle, read on!