How to Draw a Baseball

Close up pencil drawing of a baseball with real baseball, sharpies, and pencil in background.

Drawing a baseball

Take the sphere we learned to draw out to the ballgame- let’s learn How To Draw a Baseball. It will leave you in “stitches”!

Bad pun, I know, but give this a try!! You can learn the skill of drawing. We are drawing spherical objects, like a baseball.

Here's a video if you prefer!

Stop the video at any point to do your drawing. You will fine written directions below.

If you have a baseball (or softball) place it on the table in front of you. It always helps to have the visual. You can pull up a picture on your computer or phone as well if you want.

It is great to have a sketch pad of paper where you can doodle and practice as you learn to draw- but any paper will do. I am known for doodling on every scrap of paper around the house! But the benefit of a sketch pad is that you can keep your drawings together easily and see your progress as well as look back on things you have drawn before for help and inspiration.

A tutorial pencil drawing of two 3-D spheres, sitting near a pencil and jar of drawing utensils.

Start with drawing a sphere shape

Start this drawing with the sphere shape and techniques that were taught in WTN How to Draw a Sphere. The circle shape can be drawn by hand or by using a circle object like the top of a cup or a small lid to a round container.

Tip: There are templates that may be used for drawing circles and other shapes. Here is a link to set of templates if you are interested.

Shading the baseball shape

Next, add some shadow below the circle (to the side that is opposite of the light source, this is where the shadow is cast). You can draw a little “sun” shape up at the top right to remind you of where the light is coming from if you want.

Add some contour lines to the circle, gentle and light shading on the circle in kind of semi-circle directions that will give the illusion that the circle is not flat but round. This is shown in the video.

Tip: Use the side of the pencil lead to do shading and contouring.

Close up drawing of baseball with hand holding pencil. Baseball, sharpies and additional pencil in background.

How do I draw seams on a baseball?

Add the lines that represent where the leather pieces meet on the ball. These are the seam lines of the baseball. They are in a gentle “s” shape on the right and a backwards “s” shape on the left.

Next, draw the stitches on the baseball. The stitches are little “v” marks down the seam lines.

Note: The “v” stitch lines on the left seam of my “How to Draw a Baseball” drawing should have been drawn the opposite direction. I goofed. Sorry.

Finish shading the baseball

Continue to use shading around the edges of the ball, contour lines, and some blending (I often call it smudging) until you are satisfied with the look of the drawing.

Tip: Leave a part of the ball basically white with no smudging to give the appearance of light hitting the surface of the baseball in that area. This will be in the upper right center area of the baseball if your light source is to the upper right side.

Draw any extra marks or scuffs on the ball, blend them a bit.

Of course this drawing is black and white. You can add color if you like. Colored pencils work wonderfully.

Final drawing of a baseball with sharpies, pencil and baseball nearby.

That’s it! How to Draw a Baseball.

There are so many objects around you that use the sphere as a base. You know how to get started sketching it when you choose to draw that object. Keep your eye out for those things and try to draw one in your notebook to practice.

Doodle!!

Doodle, doodle, doodle and your drawing skills will improve.

Next we draw a series of round objects in a grouping! Stay tuned.

Be sure to sign up for email reminders of posts coming from Welcome To Nanas. There will be more craft ideas and how to draw tutorials! I do not share email addresses.

Speaking of drawing practice...

Enjoy!

If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.

Come join the fun at https://welcometonanas.com

Supplies for How To Draw a Baseball

Drawing pencils (optional- can use a #2 pencil for sketching)
Sketch pad (optional- can use scratch paper or copy paper for practice)
Baseball or Softball (optional- but useful for seeing the actual object you are drawing)

How to Draw a Baseball

Drawing a baseball

Here's a video if you prefer!