How to Draw Dory
Use the video and step-by-step drawing instructions below to learn how to draw Dory from Disney•Pixar's Finding Nemo. A new drawing tutorial is uploaded every week, so stay tooned!
Intro: Start off with a pencil sketch. In the beginning stages, don’t press down too hard. Use light, smooth strokes for sketching.
Step 1: Start with a big circle near left side of the paper. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It’s just a basic shape for Dory’s head. Leave enough room on the right side for the tail.
Step 2: Inside the circle, draw two intersecting lines, one horizontal and one vertical. The lines should split up the circle into four equal parts. The end result should be similar to looking through a scope. These are construction lines that will help you place Dory’s facial features later on.
Step 3: On the right side of the circle, draw a small arc to complete the guide for Dory’s body. The shape of the arc should be similar to a little hill on its side.
Step 4: To the right of the arc, draw a shape as a guide for Dory’s tail. The shape consists of a short curved line on the right side that connects to the body by two longer, straight lines.
Step 5: At the bottom of the main circle, draw a small triangle as a guide for Dory’s fin. The top corner of the circle should be placed where the edge of the main circle meets the small hill-like arc. Use the construction lines to guide you with the rest of the placement.
Step 6: Above the horizontal construction line and near the left edge of the main circle, draw a small circle as a guide for Dory’s eye. Outside of the main circle, draw a half circle as a guide for the eye on the other side of Dory’s head.
Step 7: That's it for the initial sketch! You have the basic shape of Dory from Disney•Pixar's Finding Nemo. Now go in and tighten your drawing. From this point on, press harder with your pencil in order to get darker lines and a more defined sketch.
Step 8: Darken the edges of the small circles to create Dory’s eyes. Draw a couple of lines above and below the shapes to indicate the folds around the eyes.
Step 9: Inside each eye, draw a tiny circle off to the side to represent glare. Behind each tiny circle, draw a bigger circle for the irises. Inside each iris, draw a smaller circle and shade it in to create the pupils. Draw two curved lines above the eyes for Dory’s brow line.
Step 10: Draw the top part of Dory’s mouth under the eyes and on the left edge of the main circle. Using the construction lines as guides for placement, draw a long curved line for the smile. Under the smile, draw a shorter line for Dory’s teeth.
Step 11: Under the smile, draw a series of curved lines for the lower part of Dory’s mouth. Draw one curved line for the inside of the mouth, another for the lower lip and one last line inside for the tongue.
Step 12: Add the front part of Dory’s face by drawing a line that connects the eyes to the mouth. Draw a longer curved line at the bottom for the lower part of Dory’s body.
Step 13: Draw the top part of Dory’s body by using the main circle as a guide. Follow the basic path of the circle as you add a row of small curved lines at the top for the dorsal fin.
Step 14: Use the triangle at the bottom as a guide to draw Dory’s fin. Follow the basic path of the triangle as you darken the lines. Make the sides of the shape rounder and curvier.
Step 15: Darken a line at the top and bottom to create the main portion of Dory’s body. Draw some small curved lines at the bottom similar to the ones on the dorsal fin at the top.
Step 16: Use the shape on the right side as a guide to draw Dory’s tail. Darken the sides of the tail and make the right edge wavier.
Step 17: Draw a few lines inside Dory’s tail and fin for the ridges inside. On the lower left side of the body, draw a small curved arc for the fin on the other side.
Step 18: Add Dory’s pattern by drawing some lines inside the shape of the body. Draw a curved line at the top. Near the center of the body, draw a long curved line similar to a backward letter S. Use the construction lines as guides for placement.
Step 19: Add the rest of the pattern by drawing a small circle-like shape on the right side of Dory’s body. Draw a long arc inside the shape of the tail.
Step 20: That’s it! You now have a nice sketch of Dory from Disney•Pixar's Finding Nemo. You can stop at this quick drawing for a rough, sketchy look or go for a more finished look by continuing to the next step.
Step 21: For a more finished, inked look, carefully draw over the final sketch lines with a pen or marker. Wait for the ink to dry, and then get rid of every pencil mark with an eraser. You now have a finished inked drawing of Dory! You can stop here or go to the final step to complete your Dory drawing.
Final Step: For a completely finished Dory drawing, you have to color it. You can use markers, color pencils or even crayons! Color the pattern inside the body black along with a thin stripe on each fin. Dory's body is blue. The tips of her fins and tail are yellow. Her eyes and the inside of her mouth are reddish-brown. Her tongue is pink. That’s it! You now have a completed drawing of Dory from Disney•Pixar's Finding Nemo.