Atlas beetle — Colored Example

Add highlights along the curves of the sharp horns

The Atlas beetle has three big horns that are its strongest weapons. Make them look extra sharp and sturdy!

• Leave a thin white line uncolored along the curves of the horns. This shows where the light shines!

• Press down harder with dark brown or black at the tips of the horns and near the bottom where shadows fall. This makes them look sharp and 3D!

Use a secret splash of blue for a shiny metallic look

Unlike Japanese rhinoceros beetles that are reddish-brown, the body of an Atlas beetle is shiny and dark like metal, with a bit of blue and green.

• Do not just color it black! Try adding a little bit of light blue, purple, or dark green first underneath your shades.

• Layer dark brown and black over those colors. Your beetle will get a fancy shiny shell that looks just like a cool insect from far away!

Make the long front legs and joints stand out neat and sharp

The Atlas beetle uses its long front legs to grip trees tightly. They are super cool, so make them look great!

• Sharpen your black pencil nicely. Trace the lines around the leg joints and small spikes so they look super clear.

• Color the darkest shadows under the legs and where they touch the tree stump. This shows how strong the beetle is standing!

Color the bumpy wood lines and cracks on the tree stump

Color the tree stump or thick trunk where the Atlas beetle rests by moving your pencil up and down.

• Move your color pencils up and down the way the tree grows. Mix yellow-ochre, brown, and gray unevenly to make it look like real bark!

• Use a sharp dark brown or black pencil to draw the cracks and grooves. Make some lines thick and some light to show the rough wood texture!

Softly blend the green background to make your beetle pop

Color the forest background with bright greens to help the black body of your beetle stand out the most!

• Tilt your color pencil sideways. Color gently in small circles to blend the colors smoothly together.

• Softly mix yellow-green, dark green, and a little bit of light yellow for sunlight. It will look like a real photo with a soft blurred background!