Caroline
There is a seemingly infinite variety of different species of fish in the many bodies of water that cover our Earth.
Salmon is one of the most recognizable fish in the world, and they are found in many places worldwide.
They are also part of an important economic industry in many places such as Alaska that become well known for their salmon production.
On top of this, they’ve also got a really simple yet distinctive look, and this can make it fun to learn how to draw a salmon.
If you would like to know how to recreate this famous fish, then you’ll want to read all the way through this guide!
Our step-by-step guide on how to draw a salmon in 6 steps will show you everything you could need to know about creating some artwork featuring this fish!
How to Draw A Salmon – Let’s Get Started!
Step 1
We shall start off this guide on how to draw a salmon by creating the outline of the fish. Use some curved lines to draw the lips of the salmon at the very top of it.
Then, we will be drawing the outline of almost the entire body of the fish.
These outlines can be drawn with some longer curved lines coming down from the top of the fish where you drew the lips.
The body of the fish will get thinner the lower down on it you get, and it will also curve sharply to the left, as shown in the reference image. Once this body outline is drawn, we will be ready for step 2 of the guide!
Step 2 – Now, add some fins and facial details
For the second part of this salmon drawing, we will be adding some facial features along with some fins and flippers for the fish.
First, draw a small circle for the eye of the fish, and then add some smaller details to the inside of the mouth. Then, use a curved and bumpy line to add the dorsal fin on top of the fish.
Then, we will be drawing two small flippers onto the front of the fish. These will be fairly triangular in shape and will have a jagged edge.
Finally, draw the outline for the tailfin. None of these elements will be particularly detailed right now, but we will add some more in the next few steps!
Step 3 – Next, draw some more details to the fish
You have finished drawing the outlines in this guide on how to draw a salmon, so for the remaining steps we will be adding some inner details and elements.
First, draw some curved, wavy lines near the head of the salmon for the gills. Then, we will be drawing another small, triangular fin near the bottom of the fish and pointing to the left.
That’s all that we will be adding in this step, so once you have drawn all of these details you will be ready to move on to the fourth step of the guide!
Step 4 – Now, draw some more fins and facial details
In this fourth part of your salmon drawing, we will be adding some facial details along with some more small fins.
First, using the reference image to guide you, you can draw some more wavy lines around the face area to give it more definition.
Then, we will be drawing a few more small, triangular fins near the bottom of the tail of the fish.
When you have completed all of the details in this step, you will be ready to add the final touches as we move on to the next step!
Step 5 – Add the final details to your salmon drawing
Now we will be adding the final details and touches in this fifth step of our guide on how to draw a salmon.
This step will focus mainly on adding some texture details onto the body of the salmon. First, draw some straight lines onto each of the fins on the fish.
Once you have drawn these line details, we will then add those texture details.
To do this, we will be creating a cross-hatch pattern along the body of the salmon to make it look more scaly. Then you will be ready for the final step of the guide!
Before you proceed, you could also draw a background or add some more details. You could even draw more fish that you like into the background! How will you finish it off?
Step 6 – Finish off your salmon drawing with color
This is the final step of this salmon drawing, and in it we shall finish off with some colors. In our reference image, we went with some light blues and greys alternating along the body.
This helps to create the more muted look of a salmon’s coloring in real life.
You could use similar colors to these if you like this more realistic look, but you can also experiment with some colors of your own!
Once you have chosen your colors, you can also have lots of fun choosing the art tools and mediums that you will use to achieve them. Be sure to have fun as you get creative with it!
Do this to take your salmon drawing to the next level
Let’s dive into these tips we have to make your salmon sketch even better!
Salmon are rarely seen swimming alone, so adding some more to this drawing of a salmon would be a great idea! To do this, you could follow through the guide again and then have some look a bit different.
These differences could be as simple as slight pose changes or having them face different directions. You could also go for some different markings on each fish to distinguish them.
How many salmon fish do you think you would like to have in this picture?
Whether you add some more fish or keep it to just one, adding a background would be a great way to elevate your salmon drawing.
Salmon can be found in some of the most beautiful places on earth, so you have lots of amazing options.
For example, the salmon industry is a big deal in Alaska, so you could look up some pictures of this state to use as a background.
What other places could you think of for some background inspiration?
Salmon fishing is very popular, and the way this particular salmon is posed would make it perfect for a fishing scene. With a straight line, you could make it show like someone is reeling in this salmon.
You could even take it a step further and show the fisherman reeling it in. For an extra fun touch, you could even base the appearance of the fisherman on yourself or someone you know!
Who would you use as a model for this image?
Another way you could make this salmon sketch even more unique would be by changing up the style a bit. You could do this by making the salmon more cartoony in style, or you could make it even more realistic.
These are just a few ways you could change it up, but there are many more! This is a good chance for you to show off your creativity as you play around with this composition.
Your Salmon Drawing is Complete!
This is the end of this guide on how to draw a salmon, and you have successfully completed all 6 of the steps to end up with an amazing picture!
Even though the salmon is fairly simple in its structure, there are still lots of little details and elements to get right that can make learning how to draw it a bit tricky.
We hope that this guide made it a lot easier and more fun for you to do!
Now that you have mastered this drawing, you can also keep adding to it by incorporating some details and ideas of your own.
We mentioned how you could draw a background or add some more fish, but what else can you think of to add?
Please be sure to check out our website when you’re ready for more amazing drawing guides! We have more on the way soon, so be sure to keep checking in.
We can’t wait to see your finished salmon drawing, and you can show us by sharing your artwork on our Facebook and Pinterest pages.
