So I thought drawing a gorilla would be super hard until I tried breaking it down into shapes. Saw some tutorials online but they jumped too fast into details. Figured I’d start from absolute zero myself.
What I Grabbed First
Just grabbed my kid’s school notebook and a chewed-up pencil. Didn’t even get my good sketchbook because I knew this might turn out trash. The eraser was down to a tiny nub – that should tell you how confident I felt.
The Shape Breakdown Process
Started by drawing a lopsided potato shape for the body. Not fancy at all. Then smashed a flat circle on top for the head – looked like a snowman built during a hurricane. For the limbs:
- Arms as bendy cylinders like wet noodles
- Legs as thicker bent tubes
- Feet as lumpy rectangles
Where I Messed Up Big Time
Tried doing the face too early and oh man. Made the eyes uneven, nose looked like a squashed plum. Had to erase like crazy with that tiny eraser nub. Almost quit right there. Then realized I should’ve done basic face shapes first:
- Oval muzzle that leans out
- Upside-down triangle nose hole thing
- Eyebrow ridges as bumpy lines
The Turning Point
Stopped thinking “gorilla” and just focused on connecting blobs. Like playing with play-doh. The shoulders got these round mounds on top of the potato body. Added knuckle lines on hands – just three scribbles per fist. Suddenly it stopped looking like a mutant bear.
What Actually Helped
Seriously just using shapes as scaffolding. After blocking everything in:
- Went over the messy sketch lines with darker strokes
- Added fur texture as zigzags in shadow areas
- Thickened the limbs near joints
Didn’t worry about realism. My gorilla’s left leg is still shorter but hey – he’s got character now.
Shock of My Life
When I stepped back? Actually looked like a grumpy gorilla! Not museum quality but definitely recognizable. My kid even said “whoa is that King Kong?” which is the highest praise. Might frame this wonky dude on the fridge after all.
