Step 7: Above the nostrils draw two shorter barbels. Darken the outer edges of the guides on the left to complete the shape of the catfish's head. Curve the bottom line inside the head to create the gill cover. Draw an extra curved line for texture on the gill cover. The gill cover should be up against the triangular pectoral fin.
Step 8: Darken the arc on top of the body and the small triangular shape inside the body to create the catfish's dorsal fin and pectoral fin. Draw a series of lines within the shapes for the segments on the fins.
Step 9: Darken the shape under the catfish's body for another fin and add a few lines inside the shape for the segments. Draw two more curved lines along the top and bottom edges of the body for two more fins. These fins should be small. Add lines inside the shapes too.
Step 10: Darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the catfish's body. Don't overlap the shape of the dorsal fin as you darken the lines. Use the triangular shape on the right side as a guide to draw the tail. Darken the shape but curved the right edge more to make the tail thinner. Draw a series of lines inside the shape for the segments on the tail or caudal fin.
Step 11: 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 you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step: Shade your catfish drawing for extra detail. Shade lightly at first and gradually build up to darker values. For light values, push down very lightly on your pencil and push down harder for darker values. Use a very light value to create a strip on the top part of the body for a highlight. Leave the bottom of the body blank. Catfish don't have scales, so shade slowly and evenly for a smooth texture. Use a darker value on the segments of the fins and on the barbels. Add a medium value along the bottom of the body to create a shadow. It's a good idea to use reference as you shade for a more accurate depiction of a catfish. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.
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