How I view & draw isopods

Today's hyperfixation/warm up drawing is isopods. Specifically, the rubber ducky and the panda king isopod. I just discovered these two different kinds and I'm obsessed. They're adorable and I need an isopod community tank now.

DISCLAIMER**I realise most artists are putting out videos for how to draw a thing. I'm choosing to do it through photos. I've never been one to learn through videos, or people showing me how to in real time.

I find comfort in reading and looking at photos with zero distractions. That is how I learn to draw best. So this photographic step style is with other people like myself in mind.

The art images are my own, the photographs of isopods are google images unless otherwise stated.**

I want to draw this panda king isopod. First thing I do is look for shapes within the isopod.

This little dude is basically a large oval body, a small oval head (that reminds me of a hammerhead shark)

And some half moons attached to his underside.

Once you have your basic shapes laid out, now we are going to fill out the rest of the body. Look at the photo again and follow the outline of his shape. It kind of goes up and around, Using your shape body as a guide, draw an outline of your isopod.

The isopod is segmented. The half moons represent each segment. Draw lines going from between each half moon up over the back and connect to your outline.

Color tips. The isopod is curved and rounded, not unlike a half pipe. Use the imagery of light falling on a steel pipe for ideas on how to place your light and dark shades along the isopod's curves.

Their antennae? I haven't read up on their anatomy yet forgive me. But these feeler things are important too. They're segmented into three parts on each one. Don't worry about getting segments right. You can get away with just straight lines until you get familiar with segmenting up parts.

I'm just showing you how to view the isopod and notice features about it that you can choose to draw or not. It's your artistic interpretation. Which is why I call this post “How I*” -because your mileage may vary. You may choose to draw your isopods differently.

I looooove to look up close at things and see the little details everything has. Look at this spikey isopod. Look at those EYES 💜. SO COOL. Love the little spots on their faces.

I went ahead and tried out a spikey isopod, a rubber ducky isopod and the panda king.

There is no hard and fast rule that colors must look realistic. Remember that. Have fun. If you are pulled to use a color that's not in the photo, just use it. What's the worst that could happen? You will always learn new things from experimenting. Experiment away, always have fun.