How to Draw a Fox Fur

Foxes in colder climates have denser and longer fur.

You can draw a living fox, a fox fur coat or fox stole with the shaggy variations of real fox fur. There are a variety of distinct patterns and markings within the more than 30 species of fox. A picture of real fox fur gives the drawing a true life frame of reference. Capturing the texture of fox fur in a drawing requires a steady hand and sharp pencil. Add natural looking fox fur to a drawing so it is unmistakable to the viewer.

Things You'll Need

• Fox pictures
• Blank paper
• Sharp pencil
• Fine point ink pen (optional)
• Markers (optional)

Instructions

1. Sort through pictures of foxes in magazines, science textbooks or the Internet to find a high-quality photo of a fox with the fur texture you want to draw.

2. Place four pieces of blank paper over the fox picture so they are covering everything except a 1-inch square section of the fur.

3. Sketch the viewable section of fur pressing lightly with a very sharp pencil. Mimic the jagged lines of overlapping fur and the shadows they create by slightly darkening the pencil strokes.

4. Move the four pieces of paper to a new 1-inch section of fox fur with different lengths. Practice drawing sections of fox fur until you are satisfied with the quality. Do not attempt to draw every hair, instead draw the hairs that define the texture of the fox fur by catching the light.

5. Remove the four sheets of paper and attempt the final drawing in pencil using all the techniques you learned while practicing. Work slowly and focus on small sections of the fur at a time.

6. Shade the fox fur with the side of the pencil according to the patterns and markings on the chosen photo. Add an outline of protruding fur sections with a fine-point ink pen or color with a set of art markers.

Tips & Warnings

• Shade gradually with the pencil to avoid making the fur too dark. Erasing an error when drawing fur usually leaves behind a smudged blurry section.

References

• DragonArt.com: How to Draw a Fox
• SibleyFineArt.com: Tips and Techniques: Drawing Hair: An Introduction