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How to Draw a Cartoon Surface of Mars

Mars is a good subject for drawing. Many space missions have gone to Mars to explore the planet, its atmosphere and attributes. For this reason, we now know much about its surface and physical features. According to Universe Today, the surface of Mars resembles the deserts on Earth, and is distinguished by large craters and other physical features -- such as shield volcanoes -- which are clearly identifiable. These features make Mars easy to draw and recognize.

Things You'll Need

Paper
Pencil
Picture of Mars

Instructions

- 1
  Find a clear picture of Mars to use as a model. The one shown in the Drago Art tutorial (see References) is simple, and is used as the basis for the instructions on that site. Draw a circle. Trace it around something, if necessary, so that it will be completely round. Draw a vertical line from the top to the bottom of the circle, dividing it in half. Next, draw a horizontal line across the inside of the circle, dividing the circle into quarters. These lines will function as guidelines, and will help you to place the elements of the picture in the correct positions. The lines should resemble what you would see in a gun scope, according to Drago Art.
- 2
  Sketch the holes and craters that are visible on the surface of Mars. Place them in the same places where they appear in the picture.
- 3
  Add more patches and crater shapes to your drawing. When you have included enough of these, begin to add some detail to the larger item. One way to do this is to add small, curved lines extending outward from the holes. These curved lines add the impression of depth to the craters, making it obvious that the holes recede inward from the surface. When you have added extra detail to all of the areas that require it, carefully erase the straight vertical line that bisects your circle. Then carefully erase the line that horizontally bisects your circle. Your cartoon of Mars is now complete, unless you choose to add shading and color, depending upon the picture you are using as a model, as well as your needs for the drawing.
- 4
  Consider software that can convert photographs to cartoons, if you don't wish to draw the picture yourself. One such program is Photo to Cartoon, which can be used to create gifts, jigsaw puzzles and avatars. Auto Vector is another -- this program can perform many of the same functions. Another option is Photo S, which converts photos into line drawings. Caricature.com (see References) provides further detail on these and other online tools and art software. Downloads also are available from this website.

Astronomy