Updated January 27, 2023 by Ernie
Howdy! Sushi folks! Do you feel tired of watching these delicious wee things in anime? Sometimes even art is kinda tempting, and you wanna place those hands into your screen? Then I’ve got some good news for ya! Yet, be ready! Cuz once I start talking, your lil’ tummies will definitely start rumbling! Better gear up for I shall teach ya how to make sushi! We ain’t cooking though! So better hide those kitchen knives because we’re going to make some art!
Table of Contents
DRAWING SUSHI: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Art Materials
Hold up lads and gals! Before we proceed, better gather up some reinforcements! Here’s the list of things we’ll need:
- Pencil & Pen (Nothing will happen without these wee lads)
- Eraser (Mistakes are inevitable! Always be prepared!)
- Paper (Feel free to use any size!)
- Markers (We need these boys to thicken some lines)
- Sharpeners (Pencils ain’t working if dull eh?)
- Coloring Materials (You can grab any sort of coloring materials!)
- Good music! (My master once said: “The more you distract, the more you concentrate!”)
Alright! It seems that we’re good to go! Now, Buckle up! And hit that music! Grab that scroll bar cuz we’re sailing! What ya waiting for? Come aboard!
Part 1: Sashimi
Before we start, it is better to know a few things! Short trivias coming in!
Sashimi “no rice sushi” is a raw fish (e.g. tuna, shrimp, mackerel etc.) that is usually served in long, thin, rectangular slices.
Step 1: The Outlines
First tip that you’ll need: don’t put too much pressure in your pencil, always keep it light and gentle! In that way, if you make a mistake you can erase it easily! Now, start making the outline of the fish.
Another thing! You might be wondering, where did I get the idea of the Sashimi’s Shape?! If you know what I’m thinking, then congratulations detective! That is exactly a shape of a shoe! and If that caught your attention then why don’t you point those magnifying glasses in some of drawing guides: How to Draw Anime Shoes Step by Step!
Is it difficult to draw the actual image? There’s no reason to worry! For this is just your reference, buddy! Art is not about perfection, it’s all about learning and self expression! Now that’s a good line! Gimme a second and let me right that down.
Step 2: Details
Inside the fish, draw these wavy thin lines. It might be tricky at first, but I guarantee that making it will definitely give you some fun!
Keep in mind that you should always use the “first tip” cuz later on we’re going to erase those thin lines.
Step 3: Color
Then let us start adding some hues! You’re free to use any sort of coloring materials.
Start pouring some light color on the wavy lines, so that once you erase them, things won’t be messy. But, you can also start on the fish meat, and you can leave the wavy lines white instead.
When coloring the wavy lines use light orange or white, meanwhile within the fish meat use orange.
You can also start using the markers to thicken the outlines
Here’s a palette incase that you need it! You can also use it for the next step!
Step 4: Highlights and Shadows
To add a little bit of appeal, we need to put some shades and lighting. Grab all the light and dark colors that you can find! Because these following steps will be truly tricky and require a lot of patience.
Start picking some lighter colors of orange, and sweep those colors above the fish meat. Same as the first tip I gave ya when it comes to adding some highlights always maintain a light amount of pressure, because in some coloring materials: the harder the pressure the darker it might appear. Always keep in mind the tips that I’ve been giving ya cuz we’ll be using them in this entire guide.
Step 5: Bonus Round!
Does it seem that Sashimi is a little bit lonely? Well then! Brighten up those smiles because you can add some of his pals! Just repeat the same steps to add more Sashimi!
But, Sashimi ain’t kicking without its spicy sidekick! Weebs and Otakus! I present ya, the one and only! WASABI!
What?! What are those mumbling and whispering I’m hearing? You wanna draw Wasabi?! You, folks, think I came out of the battlefield empty-handed? Better scroll down, because down below (at the BONUS FEATURE) you’ll see the cute Wasabi, waiting for ya!
Part 2: Maki
Have you ever heard of Maki? Maki Zenin? Of course not her! I need you to focus! Get a hold of your-otaku-self!
Maki means rolled sushi rice, commonly wrapped in dried seaweed known as nori, filled with different types of fillings in the middle (e.g. crab meat, shrimp, avocado, cucumber etc).
Step 1: The Outlines
To make things a little bit easier, try to imagine the outline of the sushi as a small cup. And as always, there is no need to achieve absolute perfection, just draw things as best as you can, learn and have fun!
Step 2: Details
Add some lines within the maki fillings, imagine that you’re just cutting a small size pizza! Then add some small curves for the rice grains. Keep in note that when adding those lines within the filling, always keep it light, because we’ll remove that on the next step.
Step 3: Color
As I said, in step 2 about the lines, There is no need to actually follow those divisions, it only stands as a guide just to keep things neat and clean. Well then that is for you to decide! You can remove it or not! But in my case I’ve erased those lines! Then start coloring the fillings! You can pick the color red, yellow, and orange.
If you’re using plain white paper then you can leave the rice grain part. If not, then you can pick the colors: white, cream or light yellow.
Let us proceed with the seaweed wrapping. When using the color black, keep the pressure light… I’ll explain things at step 4. So, come along now if you’re done.
But don’t be shy! Go ahead and dip those hands into these vivid hues!
Step 4: Highlights and Shadows
Ok buddy, now the thing that I am saying… see the color of the wrapping? The difference between using the light pressure and the hard one? Yeah, the reason behind that magic is when applying a pressure using the same color: the lighter the pressure the lighter the color, the harder then the darker it will come out. To be honest, not all coloring material applies for this tip, but in my experience those things happen all the time!
Also, use the light color for the highlights, and darker ones for the shades. But the white color always comes in handy when adding some lights! You can also look up at the previous step, I’ve left that palette for you!
Step 5: Maki Buddies
Sashimi is not the only one that has friends, of course Maki’s pals can tag along!
Just like what we did in Part 1, repeat the same process! Remember step 2? The dividing lines? You can skip that and change the fillings into a whole single color!
Part 3: Ebi Nigiri
Are you starting to feel that crave? Want to grab your phone and start to order sushi? That ain’t working with me pal! You better set-up those big fans of yours cuz things will be a lot more intense! NOW, I’ll be turning off the easy mode!
But what is an Ebi Nigiri by the way? It’s a type of Nigiri sushi, but instead of fish, the shrimp is on top of the rice.
Step 1: The Outlines
Draw thy blade (pencil) fellow otaku! Begin sharpening thy weapon! For now, we shall draw this majestic beast! I would gladly advise that you should start on the outline of the shrimp, and then the rice underneath it.
Step 2: Details
You should warm up those fingers because in this part, we’ll be adding some details to our masterpiece! Get it? Details?De-tails?Tails? Cuz it’s a shrimp, and it has tails (Insert classic drum roll). Yeah, I knew you got it! Moving on!
You need to pop up those eagle eyes, because when I said details, then that means that we’ll be dealing with a ton of details. As you can see, we add some curves for the rice grain, and the other things that y’all see is for the texture of the shrimp.
Step 3: Color
When adding some color to our Ebi Nigiri, I suggest that you should start on the shrimp, then the rice. You can use the same color that we used at the Sashimi.
Do you see the lines that we used within the shrimp? Better use the color “Ruby Red” but if you don’t have that color, no worries! You can use “Reddish Brown” as an alternative. Still, if you don’t have these colors then better grab some color wheel because it’s mixing time! You can blend the color red and brown to make the magic happen and your worries be lessened!
You’ll also notice the small dots on our sushi (at the shrimp and for the grains), there’s no need to draw it with a pen to make those circles, just pierce those coloring tools right on those spots!
To completely toss aside that concern here’s a palette for ya!
Step 4: Highlights and Shadows
For the finishing touch, we’ll be adding some shades and lighting! Get those paint buckets! Pour down those light colors on top, then splash those dark colors at the bottom part of the shrimp, and a little bit above the rice grain, and to add some shadows underneath our Ebi Nigiri.
Would you look at that! Imma give you the capital G and P! G for Gorgeous and P for I am Proud of you folks!
Part 4: Temaki
Y’all sweating at Part 3? ALREADY?! Then, I hope you can bind that growling belly! Cuz this part will surely unleash that inner titan in ya!
Ever heard of the legend of the Japanese Burrito? Heed what I’m saying because the rumors are true! That’s Temaki for ya! Temaki is like maki but instead of a cylindrical shape, it’s a cone shape; also wrapped in a dried seaweed, with rice grain and packed with some yummy fillings (e.g. Tuna, yellow tail, cucumber, radish sprout etc.)
Step 1: The Outlines
We imagined Maki as a “small cup” last time, then this time, start drawing it as an ice cream cone but, you can make it a little chunky, for the bigger it is, the better it fills thy belly!
Step 2: Details
So if the details are a little bit unclear, I’ve already drawn the cucumber (Left) and the radish Sprout (right). Everything is already prepared for ya!
Erase the back of the oval. Then start adding some popcorn like curves for the rice grain. Then draw the fish meat.
If drawing the Cucumber and the Radish Sprout is a little difficult for you, then that’s fine! take your time, I’ll be waiting!
Step 3: Color
Begin wiggling those coloring tools at the seaweed wrapping, then use light yellow or cream for the rice (or leave it white instead). Use orange for the fish meat, then light green for the stem of the sprout, then use green for the leaves. Grab those dark green, and light green for the cucumber.
Come and take a hold of this palette! That’s plenty of colors eh? You’ll need it! No buts! This is for your own sake!
Step 4: Highlights and Shadows
Now for the last part we’ll be adding the final ingredients! You know what to do! We’ve been on a very long and tremendous journey, I know you’ve pick-up some tips! Yet that won’t keep me from reminding ye! It’s a good thing to take out those light and dark colors out of those unfathomable pockets!
Start swinging those light colors for the fish meat, then add a few highlights on top of the cucumber, and a few white dots for the sprout’s leaves. You can grab a few colors from the palette I gave you, but if you don’t have those colors, you can improvise! And we’ll see the result of that.
Part 5: Bonus Feature “Wasabi”
Are those fans still spinning? Or those temp. still rising? Better call a back-up lads, and when I said back-up that means water! Cuz YOU ain’t leaving without any parting gifts for me pals! Tear down another sheet of paper! For we’ll be drawing the one and only spicy WASABI!
Step 1: Construction
Y’all familiar with constructions in drawing eh? This is the very first thing that you should learn especially when constructing a face. This thing will be your guide, to keep those eyes, ears, nose, and mouth in a proper order. But in this case, we’ll focus much more on just the mouth and eyes.
Start drawing an oval for the shape of Wasabi’s face, then add the vertical curvy line, then add two horizontal lines as a guide for the mouth and eyes. Actually, we also have a guide on how to draw anime boys head and face!
Step 2: Details
Begin drawing Wasabi’s eyes and make it as cute as you can! Then follow it up with the pouty mouth, then begin drawing the rest of the outlines. But, if you want to know more about how to draw mouths, you can check out some of our blogs: How To Draw Anime and Manga Mouths Side View!
Keep an eye on those wiggly feet and those curvy lines above his head! That looks simple but in my case that took me a while!
Step 3: Additional Details!
Start removing the construction lines, and take out those markers and slide it down to thicken the outlines! And for the ultimate detail! The key to achieving absolute cuteness! NEVER FORGET adding the circles for the rosy red cheeks!
Step 4: Color, Highlights, and Shadows
For the final touch! We’ll be needing a lot of greens! See the image below? Yeah that’s right! You’ll see the colors that I’ve used! For the highlights: use light green, for the outline I use dark green, but you can also choose black instead. For the shades, I used “Avocado green” if you don’t have it then just do the trick that I’ve taught ya: either mix the colors or give it a hard press! For those cheeks I use pink, or use red for an even hotter alternative!
Conclusion
It seems that all journeys come to an end eh? I am thankful that we’ve reached this conclusion! Our adventure was filled with a lot of fun and learning! I am really proud of the outcome of your work! Then, lads and gals! Better hop down the ship and go back to the port! Yet before we part ways, Imma says a few words, words that I’ve also learned from a very good teacher of mine: don’t stop doing the: 3 P’s! What in the sushi–world is that?! That means Practice, Practice, Practice! Whatever challenge you encounter, just don’t stop pushing! Just as what they say at Hero Academia: Go beyond Plus Ultra! Always keep in mind those teachings, and always keep that raging steam pounding and pumping in that chest of yours, and don’t make it stop beating! So what ya waiting for! Grab a boat and drop down your own sails! Art is a sea that contains unfathomable discoveries! Set sail and you’ll see what I’m saying!
If ever you’ve found anything or something to share, always head back to this port cuz I’m always open arms, and always had a coffee to share! Farewell! and have a smooth sailing ahead!
For additional references, you could also check our other drawing blogs: How to Draw Anime Hair for Beginners, and How to Draw Hand Poses.
