How to Draw Animals Realistically
Drawing realistic animals can be a challenge because drawing anything realistically can be a challenge. Still, the steps are the same whether you're a novice or an experienced artist. During the drawing process, remember to enjoy yourself. Many artists tense up while drawing, which causes them to become easily frustrated and affects their ability to make wise aesthetic choices. Keep reminding yourself that the drawing won't be perfect, and try to relax.
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Instructions
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1
Select the animal you wish to draw. Find a photograph of that animal---either in a non-fiction reference text or by typing the name of that animal into a search engine. The photograph should be clear and large enough to see many details. It is important to choose a picture to look from that shows the animal in the pose you wish to draw and preferably at the time of day and in the same surroundings that you'd like to draw. The more changes you need to make from the original photograph, the less realistic your drawing will be.
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2
Break down the animal into its most basic shapes, and then draw the basic shapes of the animal on your paper. For example, to draw a bear standing on its hind legs, you would draw the boxy shape of the head, the boxy shape of the body, rectangular arms and rectangular legs. Draw these shapes lightly so that you can cover them up or erase them later.
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3
Draw a more realistic outline over the shapes you just drew in Step 2. This outline will connect all the shapes of the body to create one continuous figure. Look at the photograph of your animal carefully as you do this. Flick your eyes back and forth between the photograph and the drawing, looking for differences between your animal and the animal in the photograph. Make changes as necessary.
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4
Draw the features of the animal, like the nose, mouth and eyes and major body features like mane, gills, fins, etc. Draw the details in order from large to small---address the largest details first and then the smallest details should follow. Draw these details lightly and then darken them later when you are sure about their placement. If you're having a hard time placing symmetrical features on the face of the animal, draw a horizontal line straight over the face where you will draw the eyes, straight down the middle. This will help you draw the eyes on the face evenly. These lines are called "mapping lines"---draw them lightly, and erase them later.
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5
Shade the animal with your pencil in the places where the animal has shading on its body. If the animal has medium- or dark-colored fur, you'll also want to indicate this with shading. Additionally, shade any patterns or stripes on the animal. Again, move your eyes quickly back and forth between the photograph and the drawing. This will help you compare the drawing to the photograph and reveal inaccuracies.
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Tips & Warnings
Sharpen the pencil frequently for fine, accurate lines.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wellensittich image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
