How to Draw Animals Step by Step

Learning how to draw animals is can be a challenge. It is a subject with as much variety as just about anything, and come characteristics are extremely difficult to capture on paper. Making common mistakes can add to the misery that some people experience while trying to draw a favorite animal or pet. The steps below will help you get on the right track though, whether you are a beginner or have some experience drawing already.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Photo of your favorite animal

Instructions

1. 

   With a pencil, you'll begin by sketching very basic shapes. This drawing of an elephant was made from looking at a photo. At this stage details are not important. Only simple shapes, like circles, squares, rectangles, etc. Try to forget you are drawing an animal at all.

2. 

   Next, connect the basic shapes with lines. These lines should be significantly darker than the sketch lines. At this point you should start recognizing the subject of the drawing.

3. 

   Next add value. This means look for how light or dark each of the basic shapes is. Copy all of the values. Try to imitate them exactly. Don't worry about drawing details at this point. Just look for areas of dark, medium, and light, and shade them in.

4. 

   Add the details and texture. When most people try to draw animals, they tend to skip to this step. But without the proper foundation of basic shapes, lines, and values, the drawing collapses in on itself. It's just like building a building. The framework must go up first, then the walls, then the paint and the wallpaper. Now you know how to draw animals.

Tips & Warnings

• Really focus on doing the first two steps right. They are a vitally important of any drawing.

• Keep practicing! Drawing animals is not an easy thing to do!