How to Draw a Howler Monkey

The Howler Monkey

Learn to draw a Howler Monkey step by step with drawing pencils and paper. Howler monkeys get their name from their characteristic howl that fills the air of the nighttime jungle. These monkeys have large expressive faces and a bulge under their chins that sets them apart from other monkeys. Due to their dark coloration and large faces they can resemble small gorillas and so, by learning to draw a howler monkey, you are setting the foundation for drawing even more large monkeys and apes.

Things You'll Need

• Pape
• Pencils
• Eraser, preferably a kneaded eraser

Instructions

1. 

   Draw a rectangle in the center of the page. This will serve to frame the picture of the howler monkey.

2. 

   Draw a hump on the top of the rectangle for the top of the Howler monkeys head. Next, draw to small circles for eyes one oval in the upper right hand corner for the ear, and two overlapping ovals for the mouth and throat pouch.

3. 

   Add six overlapping long squashed football shapes. Two for the upper arms, two for the forearms, one for the exposed hind leg and one for the exposed shin.

4. 

   Draw a mash shape around the eyes, small curved shapes for the nostrils, a curved line for the mouth, a curved line inside the ear and football shaped ovals for the finger and toes.

5. 

   Draw fur around the shapes you have created to flesh out the Howler monkey. Next add small circles inside the eyes for pupils, and detail the fingers. Finally erase the guidelines and shapes that have built the frame so that you have a clean howler monkey to which to add shading and details.

6. 

   Add shading with small lines around the face and under the throat bulge. Create the impression of fur with rough gathered lines inside the limbs and torso of the howler monkey. Add fingernails and wrinkles to the fingers on the feet and hands to make them more realistic.

7. 

   Add shading to the limbs further back to create the illusion of depth. Add dark shading all around the body of the Howler Monkey to indicate its black fur. Further detail the fur by adding more dark, small gathered lines to create the impression of its rich coat of fur. Now you have drawn your very own Howler Monkey. Mount the picture on the wall and imagine the haunting howl of this monkey as is echoes through the dark jungle throughout the night.

Tips & Warnings

• Shading can make the drawing seem much more realistic. It's easy if you remember to keep the areas that would be furthest away from a light source the darkest.

• Fur is easily done with simple short line strokes. You can build layers by going over the drawing multiple times with light strokes.