How to Draw an Easy Realistic Spider

1. Begin the easy, realistic spider outline by drawing its two body segments - the larger egg-shaped abdomen and the rounded thorax. Draw a rounded "V" shaped line across the thorax.

2. In the opening of the "V," draw four small half-circles. These are the spider's eyes. Draw a vertical line down the center of the "V." Below the eyes, enclose two rounded shapes.

These are the chelicerae or mouthparts.

3. Draw the pedipalps or leg-like mouthparts next. Use curved lines to draw the three segments of each pedipalp. Then, extend long lines from beside the pedipalps and double them back on themselves.

These form the first segments of the spider's legs.

4. Use long curved lines, doubled back on themselves, to draw the next leg segments. Band them with short lines.

Then, extend and double back shorter lines for the final segments. Finally, extend curved lines above the first set of legs and double them back on themselves to begin the next set of legs.

5. Use long curved lines, doubled back on themselves, to draw the next leg segments. Band them with short lines.

Then, extend and double back shorter lines for the final segments. Again, extend and double back another pair of lines for the first segments of the third pair of legs.

6. Use long curved lines, doubled back on themselves, to draw the next leg segments. Band them with short lines. Then, extend and double back shorter lines for the final segments.

Then draw the first two segments of the final legs.

7. Band the previous segments and draw the last. Then, use curved lines to begin drawing a pattern on the spider's back.

8. Continue the pattern down the length of the abdomen.

9. Draw small hairs, represented by short lines, all over the spider's legs and cephalothorax.

Your easy, realistic spider outline is now complete. Color your spider. We've used shades of brown like the common house spider in our example, but different spider species come in as many colors as you could imagine.