Learn how to draw a great looking Rib Cage with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.
By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Rib Cage.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Rib Cage
How to Draw a Great Looking Rib Cage for Kids and Beginners - Step 1
1. Begin by drawing vertebra, the bones of the spine. Use a series of curved lines to enclose an irregular butterfly-like shape. Beneath this, use curved lines to enclose a drooping "T" shape. Below this, enclose two nearly square shapes. Note how the sides of the squares bend inward. Extend a line from each side of the squares, doubling it back upon itself.
Easy Rib Cage Drawing - Step 2
2. Enclose an irregular shape beneath the spine, forming the manubrium, or upper portion, of the sternum. Extend a curved line from each of its corners and double it back upon itself. Then, enclose a curved, elongated shape on each side of the sternum. From these shapes, extend pairs of curved lines that attach to the spine. This is the first of the true ribs.
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Easy Rib Cage Drawing - Step 3
3. Use a wavy line to enclose the elongated shape of the body of the sternum. Enclose three elongate shapes on one side of the sternum. These are the costal cartilages that connect the rib bones to the sternum. Then, extend a pair of curved lines from each costal cartilage, looping them to connect to the spine. These ribs should overlap, with lower ribs appearing to pass under higher ribs.
Easy Rib Cage Drawing - Step 4
4. Enclose costal cartilages on the opposite side. Then, extend a pair of curved lines from each to form the ribs.
Easy Rib Cage Drawing - Step 5
5. Extend two wavy lines from the bottom of the sternum. Then, double the shape back upon itself using a series of "U" shaped lines. This forms additional costal cartilage.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
Easy Rib Cage Drawing - Step 6
6. Beginning with the uppermost lobe of cartilage, draw a pair of curved lines to form each rib. Then, draw another pair of lines from the end of each rib to the spine, completing the rib bones and giving the skeleton a three-dimensional appearance.
Easy Rib Cage Drawing - Step 7
7. Draw the rib bones on the opposite side, first extending pairs of lines from the lobes of the costal cartilage. Then, draw lines connecting each rib to the spine.
Add More Details to Your Rib Cage Picture - Step 8
8. Continue the spine beneath the rib cage. For each vertebra, draw a curved square. Extend curved lines from the sides of the three lowest vertebrae, and double them back upon themselves.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
Complete the Outline of Your Rib Cage Drawing - Step 9
9. Draw pairs of curved lines extending from the spine to form the floating ribs.
Color Your Rib Cage Drawing
For more great Body drawing tutorials, see the 37 Body Drawing Ideas for Kids post.
Learn More About The Rib Cage Drawing
Images of skulls and bones have long been a symbol of death.
Consider the "elephant graveyard" in Disney's The Lion King.
Skeletons are common decorations during holidays such as Halloween, and many people consider the appearance of a skeleton to be frightening.
Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.
Skeletons are also used in a medical and anatomical education context.
The rib cage, as pictured in this drawing guide, is located in the chest or torso of humans and animals.
The rib cage protects vital organs, such as the heart and lungs.
Ribs can also be found in literature. For example, the Bible book of Genesis describes a rib being taken from the first man in order to create the first woman.
Did you know? Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo performed human autopsies, or examinations of a dead body. They did so to improve their drawing skill and understand human anatomy better.
The autopsy, which means "to see for oneself" in Greek, allowed them to understand how the bones and muscles work together to support the human form.
Would you like to draw a rib cage?
This simple, step-by-step bone drawing tutorial will show you how.
All you will need is a pencil, pen, or marker and a sheet of paper.
If you liked this drawing tutorial, see also the following guides: Sugar Skull drawing, Flaming Skull drawing, and Skeleton drawing.
Rib Cage Drawing Tutorial - Easy & Fun Printable Pages
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