What you'll learn

Drawing a tennis ball teaches shading and value by allowing beginners to explore light direction and texture. The object’s subtle curves and its fuzzy surface provide opportunities to practice applying various shading techniques such as hatching.

What you'll need

✏️ Pencil (HB or 2B)🩹 Eraser📄 Paper or sketchbook⏱ 15 minutes of focus

Step-by-step: how to draw tennis ball

Begin by sketching a simple circle to represent the basic shape of the tennis ball.

Identify the light source and lightly indicate where the highlight will be on the surface of the ball.

Use hatching to start shading the area opposite the highlight, gradually building up value to create the illusion of form.

Add texture to the surface by varying the direction and density of the hatching lines to mimic the fuzzy appearance of a tennis ball.

Refine the shading and texture, ensuring a smooth transition between light and dark areas, and emphasize the contrast along the seam lines of the tennis ball.

Pro tips for drawing tennis ball

—Maintain consistent line spacing in your hatching to produce an even texture.

—Vary pressure on your pencil to achieve different values without changing the type of line.

—Use an eraser to subtly lighten areas if needed, enhancing the effect of light on the ball.

Self-evaluation checklist

Evaluate the sketch by checking if the shading correctly suggests a three-dimensional form and if the texture effectively captures the fuzziness of a tennis ball. Ensure the light direction is consistent across the drawing.