Fish are fascinating creatures – all too often underrated, especially considering the complexity and elegance of their life cycles. Ready to learn more for yourself? Then read on for everything you need to know!
Tutorial Video
Step-By-Step Images and Instructions
1.
Start with a black pen, and draw three small circles, arranged in a “triangle” shape on the right of your page.
2.
Grab a red pen, and draw a curved arrow pointing to this group of circles.
3.
Use an orange pen to shade the circles, and then label them “eggs”.
4.
Switch back to the black pen, and draw two sets of double-ring shapes below the eggs.
5.
Draw a small, curved creature inside the right ring, wrapping the body around the central circle. Add a small circle for an eye, and then fill the body with short, curved lines.
6.
Repeat this creature in the other shape, on the opposite side.
7.
Grab a gray pencil, and shade both of the small creatures…
8.
And then fill in the inner circles with a bright orange pen. Use the same orange to add a curved arrow between the eggs and this new section.
9.
Shade the area around the creatures with a lighter orange pen, and label this “embryo”.
10.
Use the black pen to draw three circles to the left, with two close together, and one after a slight gap. Add a curve to the left side of the very left circle.
11.
Add two small circles, one inside the other, to the right of this space…
12.
And then bring across a curved line at the top, taking this to a “bump” at the end, and then bringing the line back across to the right, continuing it after the small circle at the bottom. Add another line inside this outline, and then add a series of arrows in the center, all pointing to the left.
13.
Repeat this with the circle below, creating another small creature.
14.
Use the orange pen to draw an angled arrow from the embryo to these creatures…
15.
And then shade the circles with the orange pen.
16.
Shade the creatures with a gray pen, and label them “larva”.
17.
Now, use the black pen to create another face, just as you did on the other larva, but this time facing the right instead of the left.
18.
Bring another body stretching out to the left…
19.
And add a curved shape to the top, as well as two small “fins” on the bottom.
20.
Now, add the outline of another face to the bottom, this time facing the left.
21.
Bring another body out to the right…
22.
And then add an eye to the front, as well as fins at the top and bottom.
23.
Shade both of these with the gray pen…
24.
And then use the red pen to add an arrow between the two groups.
25.
Use the gray pen to label this latest group “fry”.
26.
Now, use the black pen to draw a “teardrop” shape, rotated to 90 degrees, above the last group. Add a slight bump to the bottom, with a short curved line for the mouth.
27.
Add a circle to the top, and then a small black ring inside this to create the eye.
28.
Now, add a wavy tail to the back, and a small fin just behind the eye.
29.
Add a sharp, pointed fin to the top, and then two angled, more curved fins at the bottom.
30.
Add a small mark to the bottom fins, and the side fin. Next, add a series of angled lines to the fin at the top, and the tail at the back.
31.
Next, add a series of small “bumps” all across the body of the fish…
32.
And add another body, this time pointing to the left, below this first one.
33.
Add an eye to the left.
34.
Now, add another set of fins to the top and bottom, and a tail to the back.
35.
Add a “loop” behind the eye for another fin…
36.
And then add a series of small marks across the top, tail, and fins.
37.
Add a curve behind the face…
38.
Now, add a series of small bumpy shapes across the body.
39.
Grab the red pen, and add another arrow connecting the “Fry” to the fish you have just drawn.
40.
Shade these in with the gray pen, and use this to label them “Fingerling”.
41.
Next, add another fish outline above this, complete with a tail and fin on the top…
42.
And add two small curved fins to the bottom of this.
43.
Add a small circle to the front of the body, and add a ring inside this.
44.
Draw a curved line behind the eye, and add another fin behind this.
45.
Next, add a series of short lines to the fin at the top, the tail at the back, and the fins at the bottom of the body.
46.
Next, add a series of curved scales all across the body of the fish.
47.
Repeat this fish with another fish to the right of the first, this time facing the left…
48.
Now, use a gray pen to shade these fish, and label them “adult fish”.
49.
Use the red pen to connect the final stage in the cycle.
And there we have it – the complete life cycle of a fish. Why not take a little time to research each stage in more detail – there is plenty to learn!
