Drawing caribou can be a challenging and rewarding experience for any artist. Whether you’re an experienced illustrator or merely a beginner, a caribou’s beauty deserves to be captured. All it takes is a few basic techniques, plus plenty of practice and patience!
Start by sketching the outline of the caribou’s body. Don’t focus too much on the details yet- that’ll come later. When sketching, think of the environment. A caribou will always looks more majestic in its natural habitat.
Now it’s time to tackle the details. Take your time and be mindful of the caribou’s thick fur, various sizes of points on its antlers, delicate hooves, and all other elements of its physical appearance. In earthy colors of brown and gray, you can easily capture its stunning features.
When shading, choose a few but essential curves or highlights on the caribou’s body and work with them. Not every wrinkle or detail needs to be highlighted. Instead, focus on emphasizing the most important aspects. As a result, you’ll achieve a natural, realistic look.
Have your caribou take on a believable pose. Have it be grazing peacefully or wandering through the spruce trees in search of food. Every action should look utterly believable. Incorporate subtle body language such as furrowing brows and relaxing ears to add a sense of realism.
Next, focus on the background. What atmosphere and mood do you want to create? Use a mix of subtle, gentle tones to evoke the feeling of being up close with these magnificent creatures.
Take your time to perfect the edges and details of the caribou’s face. Don’t forget its wondrous eyes, the highlight of its graceful beauty, and the small tufts of fur around its chin. For the finishing touch, add a few sparse, skinny, sharp lines for its fur.
Finally, take a step back and admire your work. An exemplary caribou painting takes time and effort. Don’t expect that you’ll get it right immediately but rather, work hard and never give up. After all, practice makes perfect!
