Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in our solar system. It gets the nickname “Red Planet” from its reddish appearance, which is due to the rust on its surface.
In today’s tutorial on how to draw Mars, we’ll guide you through easy-to-follow steps to capture this planet’s basic and most engaging details. You’ll nail them all with simple strokes and shading colors, from its reddish-orange hue to its varied surface features (such as craters, canyons, or plains).
So, grab your pencils, brushes, and a dash of cosmic curiosity as you embark on this interstellar adventure.
| Difficult level | Normal |
| Estimate time | 15minutes |
| Drawing materials | Pen, Marker, Crayon |
| Painting materials | Watercolor, Pastel |
| Surfaces materials | Paper, Canvas |
How to Draw Mars – Step by Step
Well, we’ve divided our tutorial into two main steps, one of which is a combination of smaller steps that help you master the drawing smoothly and successfully.
Let’s begin!
Step 1: Sketch the Mars’ outline and add a base color
- Begin by drawing a circle in the center of your paper. This circle represents the basic shape of Mars. You can use a round object or a compass to help you create a perfect circle.
- Next, color the entire circle with a layer of reddish-orange hue. Apply the base color evenly, but don’t worry about shading or texture just yet. We’ll nail them later.
- We want to remind you that Mars’ surface is not uniformly red. Specifically, some regions are either lighter or darker due to variations in their terrain.
So now, we’ll begin with the lighter regions first. Use a much lighter shade of your chosen base color to gently add these regions to a specific side of your Mars. They can be irregularly shaped patches or streaks across the planet’s surface.
Step 2: Add more depth and dimension to make it look like a real Mars
- On the other side of the planet, use a light brown to shade towards the center. Again, use the irregularly shaped patches to depict the surface features.
- Next, add another layer of dimension by coloring along this right edge with a darker brown.
- Finally, it’s time to add a specific detail. You can use different tones of gray to mimic the appearance of a volcano. To start, draw an irregularly shaped patch and color it dark gray. Then place another shape upon it and shade it with a lighter tone. To finish, color a touch of lightest gray for the best effect.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you’ve got the Red Planet right on your canvas! But you know what? You can take your drawing to even greater heights.
How about adding a cosmic backdrop, a swirling galaxy or a starry night sky? If you love this idea, you might refer to our picture below for inspiration. Adding a dark background in the purple tone will make the planet more outstanding.
And don’t stop here! While our guide for how to draw Mars gives you basic steps to follow, feel free to explore other versions of your own planet.
How about changing its surface features by adding more canyons and volcanos in diverse shapes? What if it had unusual colors or fantastic landscapes?
Well, the universe is on your canvas. So have fun and be creative!
