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Step 15 (optional): For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step (optional): Koi can be colorful, so instead of the usual shading, try coloring your drawing. Add some shading first using gray to give the drawing more dimension and volume. Lightly draw a series of small curved lines overlapping each other for the scales. Don't draw every individual scale. Just a few for the basic semblance of scales. Pick the direction of the light source to draw the shadows consistently. Shadows are usually at the cool end of the color spectrum, so use some blue and purple on the shadows.
Here's the fun part! Color your koi drawing any way you'd like. Koi come in a variety of colors and patterns, each with an individual name. The most predominant colors are usually red, orange, white, black and yellow. Pick the colors you want your koi to have, and then block out the shapes lightly all over the body. Koi come in a wide variety of patterns, so the color shapes on the body don't have to be perfect. Just add them randomly. Continue building up the shapes on the body by gradually adding darker coats of color. Push harder on your pencil to achieve a richer hue. Use a different shades of a color too. Instead of just using red, try combining red, orange, brown, etc. Leave a portion across the middle of the entire body lighter for a shiny appearance. Continue adding color to the shapes gradually until you achieve the saturation you want.
Coloring can be very time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. If you have pet koi, try to duplicate their pattern on your drawing. Remember to pause the "How to Draw a Koi" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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