Animal drawings challenges start with the subject you’re using. Pets or wild animals the hardest part is picking which one. Once I pick the animal my next step is to note the features that best represent this beautiful creature.
When we start just like any other subject by picking your focal point and build the composition to support the center of interest. The center of interest may be the eyes, the coat or the emotion you want to portray through your drawing.
Animal drawings questions
Does it have skin or hair? Is the skin wrinkled or smooth? Is the hair straight or curly? Long, short, rough or fine?
The approach is the same for all drawings. Fill in the picture area with the best composition by doing so some rough sketches if you need to. By look at the angles, picking positive shapes in the negative space helps to keep our focus on the composition and not the details.
So after I have decided on the composition I work on the feature shape. Whether the hair is smooth or curly it will have distinctive ways the light hit it. This shows you where the light and shadow fills the area. The curves of the curls or waves is just another area with lights and shadows where the straight hair may only show the curves of the animals body as it cascades down it’s body. Features of the animal’s characteristics are exposed by the length of its hair. Skin or hair may also be the center of interest in the patterns that is distinctive to that species.
Animals with skin exposed without hair such as a rhino or snake have the same challenge so the process is the same. Every subject is so beautiful in their own right it is up to us as artist to capture and share our vision.
Execute your drawing plan
Animal drawings are no more challenging than any other subject or object you’re getting ready to draw. By having a clear plan of the image you’re getting ready to execute, pick the size and get started. As your drawing plan comes together you can see how each section work together to support your vision. Adding textures and detail will show the depth of your knowledge of the animal or animals in your drawing. If you are passionate about your subject and the process it shows in the artwork.
Finished drawing
