Use the video and step-by-step drawing instructions below to learn how to draw Shadow the Hedgehog from the Sonic video game series and cartoons. A new cartoon drawing tutorial is uploaded every week, so stay tooned!

 

 

Intro: Start off with a pencil sketch. In the beginning stages, don’t press down too hard. Use light, smooth strokes for sketching.

 

Step 1: Start by drawing a big circle near the middle of the page. This will be the basic shape for Shadow's head. Leave enough space on the top and sides for his spikes. The circle doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s just a guide.

 

Step 2: Next, draw two intersecting lines across the head, one vertical and one horizontal. Bend the lines so that they contour to the shape. The horizontal line should be placed pretty low on the circle. These will be construction lines that will help you place Shadow's facial features later on.

 

Step 3: As a guide for Shadow's eyes, draw an angled line similar to the letter M sitting on top of the horizontal construction line. Notice that the line dips and forms the point at the vertical construction line.

 

Step 4: Draw two angled lines on top of the circle as guides for Shadow's ears. The shape of these lines are similar to upside-down letter V's.

 

Step 5: Below the middle point of the guide line for the eyes, where the horizontal and vertical construction lines meet, draw a small oval with a diagonal orientation as a guide for Shadow's nose.

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Step 6: Now draw the first guides for Shadow's spikes as a series of curved lines that come to a point on top and on the right side of the head. The spike at the top starts at the left ear, then curves to the right before pointing back down to the right ear. The lines on the bottom curves and point to the right, and should be placed on the lower right side of the circle.

 

Step 7: Draw the last two guides for Shadow's spikes around the circle. Place the spike on the right side between the first two spikes. The spike on the left side should be small and should be on the lower left side of the circle.

 

Step 8: That’s it for the initial sketch! You have the basic shape of Shadow the Hedgehog from the Sonic video game series and cartoons. Now go in and tighten your drawing. From this point on, press harder with your pencil in order to get darker lines and a more defined sketch.

 

Step 9: Tighten the shape of Shadow's nose as you darken it. The oval should be thinner at the base and slightly bigger at the tip. Draw a small circle within it to represent glare.

 

Step 10: Use the initial M-shaped line as a guide to draw Shadow's eyes. Make the lines curve more on the sides as you follow the path of the guide. Draw an extra curve on top for the furrowed brow coming over the eyes.

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Step 11: Draw a curved line above each eye as the top portion of Shadow's furrowed brow. Inside the curvature of each eye, draw a small line for detail.

 

Step 12: Inside each eye, draw a long oval for Shadow's irises. Inside each iris, draw an even smaller oval to represent glare. Under each glare oval, draw a half-oval and shade it in for the pupil.

 

Step 13: Use the horizontal construction line and the lower part of the main circle as guides to draw Shadow's muzzle. The line for the muzzle dips below each eye and rises behind the nose.

 

Step 14: Darken the left side and lower right side of the original circle to complete Shadow's face. Draw a small curved line for his mouth inside the muzzle.

 

Step 15: Use the initial lines on top of the head as guides to draw Shadow's ears. Make the side curvier and draw a triangle inside each as inner structure.

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Step 16: Tighten the shape of Shadow's spikes as you darken the guide lines. The top spike is basically the same, but the spikes on the sides have a more angular shape. Draw them so they angle near the middle as you follow the path of the guides.

 

Step 17: Draw a few lines inside Shadow's spikes for extra detail. The line for for the top spike is long and shaped like a curved letter V. The other lines follow the basic path of the spikes and should be drawn near the top edge of each spike.

 

Step 18: That’s it! You now have a nice sketch of a Shadow the Hedgehog from the Sonic video game series and cartoons. You can stop at this quick drawing for a rough, sketchy look, or continue to the step below to go for a more finished look.

 

Step 19: For a more finished, inked look, carefully draw over the final sketch lines with a pen or marker. Wait for the ink to dry, and then get rid of every pencil mark with an eraser. You now have a finished inked drawing of Shadow the Hedgehog! You can stop here or go to the final step to complete your Shadow drawing.

 

Final Step: For a completely finished Shadow drawing, you have to color it. You can use markers, color pencils or even crayons! The main color on his head and nose is black. The detail on the spikes and his eyes is red. His muzzle and the inside of his ears are peach. If you don’t have peach, improvise and use yellow-orange or light brown. Experiment! That’s it! You now have a completed drawing of the Shadow the Hedgehog from the Sonic video game series and cartoons.