Snail drawing for kids with pencil

Snails are creatures with a spiral house called a shell. It has a head, a body, and a leg with which it moves. The snail's mouth is located on the underside of its head. It also has a pair of tentacles called horns with eyes at the ends.

During the drawing process, you can experiment with different materials and techniques to find a unique style and approach to creating it on paper.

Necessary materials and tools

There are many materials and tools for drawing with pencils.

The most popular of them are:

Tools and materials	Brief description
Paper	There are different types and grades, including coated, offset, watercolor, pastel and others. Paper can be smooth or rough, thick or thin, colored or white.
Pencils	Hard pencils (H or 9H) are used to create clear contours and light shades, soft pencils (B or 8B) are used to obtain dark and rich tones. There are also different types of pencils: colored, charcoal, sanguine and others, which allow you to create a variety of effects and textures.
Erasers and pens	These are tools for erasing lines and correcting mistakes in a drawing. Erasers can be soft or hard, and kneaded erasers are a special type of eraser that is designed for delicate erasing and blurring of lines.
Stencils	They are templates that are used to quickly and accurately create repeating elements in a drawing. They can be made from various materials, such as plastic, cardboard or paper.
Rulers, compasses	These are tools used to measure distances, draw straight lines and circles. They are indispensable when creating drawings with precise proportions.
Sharpeners	These are tools designed for sharpening pencils.

Master classes

When drawing a snail, there are several key aspects to consider that will help make the image more realistic:

• Snails typically have a spiral-shaped shell, which acts as their main defense mechanism.
• 2 eyes can be small and round or slightly elongated.
• The snail's body should be slightly larger in size than the shell.
• It is advisable to add additional details, such as bristles on the shell or textured stripes on the body.

Schematic representation

This master class is basic and helps to create a basis for drawing a snail.

Each stage can be made more complex and new details can be added:

• Draw an oval, which will serve as the basis for the snail's body. Inside the oval, add a circle, it will become the snail's head. From the head to the body, draw a curved line - this will be the initial shape of the shell.
• To get the shell shape, you can use a semicircle. Draw it inside the body shape to indicate the shell shape, leaving the space open in the front.
• Add the shape of the body, connecting the head to the shell with thinner lines. This will give volume and realism to the drawing.
• Draw a small nose and eyes. The shape of the head should be slightly larger than the body to create the correct proportion between the body and the head.
• Draw 2 curved lines that form the snail's eye and nose.

• Draw small horns, similar to antennas, on the snail's head. They can be located symmetrically on both sides of the head or slightly shifted to the side. Make the antennae in the form of small short lines.
• Detail the shell by adding unique features to the shell. Create a spiral pattern or add textured elements.
• If there are unnecessary or erroneous lines, erase them with an eraser.
• Color the snail. Use different colors and shades to make the drawing more interesting and expressive.

In cartoon style

The snail in the picture can be depicted using a master class in a cartoon style:

• Divide the sheet into 4 equal parts. This will help distribute the elements of the drawing and maintain proportions. Outline the contour of the base of the snail shell using curved lines. The shell should be large enough and have a rounded shape. Leave space for the body and head of the snail.

• Complete the shell sketch by adding more detailed curves and folds. There may be a small ridge or ring in the center of the shell to indicate its center.
• Form the outline of the snail's body under the shell, giving it an elongated shape. Add a head with round eyes and small horns or antennae.
• In the eye area, use curved, elongated shapes. These contours will help emphasize the round shape of the eyes. Position the eyes so that they are symmetrical and evenly distributed relative to the horns or antennae.
• Prepare the base for the horns-antennae by drawing 2 curved lines above the eyes. It is important that the horns are long and thin, and also slightly tilted towards the eyes.
• Inside each eye, draw a small circle for the pupil. Add a small oval for the mouth and a small dot for the nose.

• Draw details on the snail shell using light, rounded lines and strokes. These may include wavy lines along the edges of the shell, indentations or protrusions, and texture to mimic the shell's surface.
• Draw some algae around the snail using thin, curved lines. The algae can be of different sizes and shapes.
• Conduct a final check of the drawing, making sure that the proportions and symmetry are correct. Remove all unnecessary lines and contours, leaving only the main elements. Choose colors for the snail and background, taking into account the nature of the drawing.

The snail can be bright and colorful, and the background can be monochrome or with light accents.

Simplified version

The described approach will allow you to create a simplified, but expressive image of a snail.

It is important to remember that these are only general recommendations and the result depends on the artistic style and drawing technique:

• Draw a curved line that resembles a twisted spiral. This will be the main outline of the snail's body. Indicate the location of the shell on the sketch.
• Add an ellipsoid shape of the shell, which will protrude slightly above the contour of the body. Divide the shell into segments and draw them. Make the contours smooth.
• Draw the snail's body around the shell, it should resemble an elongated oval. Extend the front part of the body and make a rounded head.
• Draw the snail's head, giving it the shape of a cone with a rounded top. Mark the snail's eyes and mouth to add expressiveness.
• Draw 2 short antennae on the snail's head, and also add a couple of small horns or spikes on top of the shell to add realism.

• Emphasize the details of the shell: the pattern of the rings, the unevenness and other small details. Use different lines to create a volumetric effect.
• Remove extra lines that are not needed for the overall outline to get a clean and neat drawing.
• Shade the shell and body of the snail using different stroke directions to convey volume. Add shadows under the shell and on the body, creating a three-dimensional effect.

Hidden in the shell

The snail in the picture can be created using the recommendations, which, depending on the style, can be changed:

• Create a general sketch of its silhouette. For this, you can use simple geometric shapes: a circle for the sink.
• Draw the shell. It should be large and wide enough for the snail to completely hide inside it. It is better to draw the shell with a pointed tip that will point upwards.

• Add small details to the surface of the sink. For example, you can draw small protrusions or indentations.
• Add shadows to make the sink look three-dimensional.
• Erase all unnecessary lines that were used when creating the sketch.
• To give the drawing volume, you can shade the shell. The strokes should be directed from the shell outline inward. This will create the impression that the snail is in the shell.

Realistic

The snail can be drawn using a general outline that can be adapted.

The main thing is to pay attention to detail and strive for a realistic image:

• Draw the base of the snail. It can be an oval or egg-shaped form, which will serve as the basis for the further process.

• Start with the base of the shell. Draw a curved line around the snail's body, gradually narrowing and curling it towards the top. This line will become the base of the shell.

It is important to consider that it has an uneven surface and some curls. To create the impression of volume and naturalness, add some unevenness and curves to the sink.

• Proceed to the snail's body. It should be something like a crescent, adjacent to the bottom of the shell. To give volume, you can add a light shadow at the bottom of the body.
• Draw the snail's head on the top of its body. It should be relatively small compared to the body and have a rounded shape.
• Draw 2 short appendages on the snail's head - these will be horns or antennae. They should be directed upwards and to the sides, creating the impression of movement.

• Pay attention to the details of the shell. You can add small indentations, unevenness and additional curls to make it more realistic. You can draw small lines that imitate the texture of the shell.
• If there are extra or unnecessary lines, delete them.
• To give the image volume and depth, use various hatching techniques. Use soft light lines to highlight the main shapes, add darker and denser strokes to create shadows and volume. Do not forget about the falling shadows from the shell and the body of the snail.

With a house on the sink

The snail in the picture can be depicted by following the given steps and tips, with a house on the shell in a cartoon style:

• Start by sketching out the snail. Use a pencil and eraser to create the general outline of the snail and its shell. Add eyes and horns to complete the look.

• Draw the base of the snail's house, which will be its foundation. Use straight and curved lines to outline the shell and its base. It is important that the shell is voluminous, but at the same time its contour is soft and smooth.
• Work on the details of the sink. Mark the borders and add additional elements, such as ridges or holes. This will give the sink volume and realism.
• Proceed to the drawing of the snail's body. Start with a rounded body, which will be connected to the shell. Draw the head and 2 small legs on each side.
• The snail's head should be proportional to the body. Outline 2 small bulging eyes, as well as a nose and mouth. The eyes should be oval, the nose triangular, and the mouth smiling.
• Draw the snail's eyes, adding the iris and pupils. They can be round and black, with bright pupils.

• The nose should be small and sharp, and the mouth should be depicted as a curved line with rounded ends, small but expressive. It can be smiling or frowning, depending on the character of the snail.
• Add horns to the head. They should look symmetrical and bend back a little. They will help create the image of a funny and cute snail.
• Draw the pupils in the eyes, they can be round or oval.
• Add small eyebrows above the eyes.
• Use fine lines to depict fine details on the shell, such as patterns or ridges. You can draw swirls, lines, or other decorations on the surface of the shell.
• To add personality to the image, add windows and a small balcony on the sink. The windows can be circular or square, and the balcony can be decorated with railings to create the feeling that it is a real snail house.

• Make sure all the necessary lines and contours are in place. Erasing unnecessary lines will help make the drawing more neat and professional.
• Choose bright colors for the drawing. Color the snail shell using several shades to give it volume. Color the snail's body and head and its house on the shell.

You can use contrasting colors to highlight details. For example, the shell can be blue, the body green, the head and horns yellow, and the eyes red.

Gary Wilson Jr.

Gary Wilson Jr. is a sea snail from SpongeBob SquarePants, a fictional character from the popular animated series. It has the characteristic features of its species: a flat shell with rounded edges, as well as a wide body with a mouth opening on the underside.

The shell color can vary from pale pink to dark brown.

The snail in the picture is depicted according to the master class, which changes based on the artist's vision of the character:

• Start with a simple sketch to define the basic shapes of the snail. Sketch out an oval body, 2 lines for the horns, and circles for the eyes.
• Draw a crescent-shaped shell. It should be slightly curved and located on top of the body. Add a line for the edge of the shell, which will indicate its border.
• Draw the body in the form of an oval, which can slightly widen in the head area. Place it at the bottom of the paper.
• Draw 2 small antennae at the base of the body. They should be directed in different directions from the body. The horns can be slightly curved.
• Add 2 circles at the tips of the horns. These will be the snail's eyes. Place them symmetrically relative to each other.

• The mouth can be drawn as a small semicircular line under the eyes. It should be located at the level of the center of the body.
• Work on the details of the sink. You can add small protrusions and indentations to make it look more realistic.
• Check the sketch and remove all unnecessary lines and contours.
• Use bright colors to paint the snail. For example, the body and shell can be painted green, the horns and eyes brown, and the mouth orange.

Tips for Beginners

To create an accurate and realistic snail drawing, there are several key aspects to consider:

Basic principles	Brief description
Form construction	It is necessary to draw the base of the snail using simple geometric shapes, such as an oval or a circle. It is important to remember that the snail has an elongated shape, so the base should be slightly elongated. It is also worth considering that the snail shell usually has a spiral shape.
Adding details	After building the base, start adding details such as eyes, mouth and antennae. Pay attention to the proportions and placement of these elements. The eyes should be small and oval, the mouth small and rounded, the antennae long and thin.
Creating a texture	To add volume and texture to the drawing, use soft pencils or charcoal. Apply strokes along the contours of the snail to emphasize the shape of the shell and body. You can also add shadows to create a volume effect.
Completion of work	When the main elements of the drawing are ready, make final adjustments to details such as the shape of the shell, detailing the eyes and mouth. If necessary, use an eraser to correct errors.
Creative approach	Experiment with different styles and techniques of drawing. You can add unique elements that will make the drawing special.

Snails move slowly and smoothly, making them ideal subjects for drawing. They can be depicted in different poses and angles, allowing for a variety of compositions.

Video about drawing

Snail - drawing: