How To Draw An Easy Animal
It seems like an impossible task – drawing an easy animal. But with practice and judgement, there are a few tips anyone can use to make the whole process easier. From the basics of sketching to the intricacies of color and shading, with a bit of effort it actually becomes less daunting.
Sketch Out The General Shapes
The best place to start when drawing an animal is to sketch out the basic shapes. This makes it easier to see how the various parts add together to form the whole. Think of it like starting a jigsaw puzzle – you need to create the border first before you can fill in the details. The same goes for drawing. Get it wrong here, and you’ll have a hard time getting everything else to fit correctly.
Ideally, there should be a few lines like a well-constructed puzzle, conveying the outline of the animal’s body. Doing it this way not only helps to map out the overall body properly but also allows for making changes and adjustments in the early stage of the drawing. So don’t be scared of making mistakes and just start drawing, erasing and re-drawing to get the shapes right. It’s all part of the process.
Adding secondary shapes and contours
Now the basic shapes have been sketched out it’s time to add more detail. Do this by focusing on secondary shapes within the bigger image. Basically, this is where more of the details are added. Start by focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth of the animal as these usually define the overall expression.
Be sure to also pay attention to the contrast between the light and dark parts of the animal. Look for breaks in the outlines of the main shapes and follow that up with the addition of contours. Contours help to define the animal in more subtle ways and can add a sense of life and movement. Don’t forget to pay attention to the direction of the curves – it’ll help to give your drawing more character.
Filling In With Darks and Lights
Now that the basics are established, it’s time to add some depth to the drawing. Dark and light areas are used to create the illusion of form, emphasize certain parts and draw attention to those details you want people to focus on. Essential details like eyes, teeth, claws, or fur should be made darker in tone, while certain highlights or glints should be much lighter in color. This will add depth and contrast to the drawing and help to break it up in more interesting ways.
Shadows also play a key role here. Get shadows right and it’ll bring even a flat drawing to life. Let the shapes guide you – shadows should follow the same lines of the body and add another element of contour and shape to the overall image.
Putting It All Together
Next comes the process of putting the pieces together and refining them. Take your time and be sure to draw perfect lines to allow for smooth blending of shades and colors. Also, don’t be afraid to add more details as you continue to work on the drawing – little things like whiskers, wrinkles or scratches can really give your image personality.
Lastly, invest in some good quality shading tools like pencils, charcoal, or felt tips. These can go a long way in adding the last touches such as textures and tones to your drawing. And don’t forget the details – once everything else is in place, it’s time to add the small details like fur, feathers, and leaves. Make sure it’s all proportional and balanced to give you the best outcome.
