How to Draw a Hippo Easy
Are you looking for the perfect way to bring the majestic hippopotamus to life with your drawing skills? From the intricate eyelashes to the big ol’ feet, learning how to draw a hippo is an easy task when you know the steps.
Start off with the large body, drawing an oval and adding the legs. Try to draw the legs a bit on the small side to give your hippo the waddle that they’re known for. To elongate the legs, draw rectangles instead of short lines. Then, sketch the head, giving your hippo two huge ears and two large eyes. For the small details, add two curved lines next to the head and draw the smile between the nose and mouth.
Now, it’s time to add the details. The hippo’s eyes come alive when you trace around the circle and add eyelashes. To frame the mouth, draw curved wavy lines and highlight the teeth. Then, give your hippo some spikey hairs at the top of the head and draw triangular nostrils. For the feet and tail, draw an ‘X’ for the toes and loop around for the tail, bringing it back to the hip.
To finish off the drawing, get creative with the colors. Hippos are gray, so keep them one solid color or add hues of gray for depth. Earthy tones can also be used for shading to give the drawing more dimension. Put in the details and strokes like wrinkles, outlines and shadows to refine the look.
Drawing a hippo is a breeze when you know what each part is. Next time you want to show off your draw-fu capabilities, practice with a hippopotamus as they capture the detail of a real-life animal with ease. With a little patience and a lot of fun, you’ll be on your way to having a hippo standing tall on your page.
The Basics of Drawing the Hippo
Now that the body has been mapped out, it’s time to move on to the finer details that give your hippo an even more lifelike appearance. Start by forming the face and adding the eyes, eyebrows and mouth. Now that your hippo actually looks like a hippo, it’s time to add the wrinkles around the neck and on the legs. This helps your hippo’s body shape come to life.
Next, try adding the nostrils and additional lines on the forehead. Don’t forget to add on the tail and toenails too. Hippos generally have four dock-like toes and the tail is long and curved. Create the tail by drawing curved lines that meet at one another and contour to the shape of the body. Don’t forget the ears too! To make your hippo look more realistic, give the ears a scalloped edge.
At this point, you can really get creative. Hippos come in all shapes and sizes, so feel free to draw different sizes and shapes for the head, body and legs. And although it is difficult to find a pink hippo, there’s nothing stopping you from making one!
For the more complicated bits, have no fear. To draw the mouth, add two curved lines that meet in the middle and are slightly tilted upwards. To draw the toes, draw two ‘X’ shapes and color the rest in. You can also add creases on the arms and legs to help them stand out.
Incorporating Colors and Finishing Touches
Now that you have the hippo complete, it’s time to give him a bit of personality with colors. Hippos usually range in shades of gray, with some variations of yellow or silver. To make your hippo pop, you can add different colors to the eyes, nose and mouth. Give him a wink with a white sclera and a winking eye, or make him a friendly smiling hippo.
For the more advanced, you can also use different colors around the body, tracing lines and outlining each shape. Use colors to bring in more contrast and detail to the hippo. To finish, incorporate shading into your drawing to bring in more depth and gradients. If you’re feeling extra creative, try adding backgrounds and scenery to really bring your hippo to life.
Put Your Hippo to the Test!
Hippos are notoriously tough to draw, but it’s not impossible. With a few easy steps and a lot of creativity, you can make your drawing come to life. Next time you’re feeling crafty, let your imagination run wild and sketch out your own hippo. Your picture will be ready to show the world in no time.
If you’re feeling daring, you can always try out different types of hippo drawings. Lookup other creative hippo drawings, like manga-style hippo, line-only hippos or even 3D renders for inspiration. No matter what type of hippo you draw, it’s sure to be a masterpiece!
What Learning to Draw a Hippo Has to Offer
Drawing a hippo is a great way to express your creativity and bring newfound energy to your artistic process. Hippos are unique creatures that never fail to bring a smile, making them the perfect subject for your drawing. Prepare for your masterpiece by gathering books about hippos, watching youtube tutorials and grabbing a few supplies in order to make the process even smoother.
You can also look up and sketch hippos at the zoo or local wildlife conservatories, observing their features up close. Take note of how the light falls on their fur and the wrinkles on their face. Focus on the way that their skin is bunched around their snout and on their legs. Every little detail will help you craft the hippo drawing of your dreams.
By putting in the time and effort, drawing a hippo can be an enjoyable process. Whether you’re making a quick sketch or a detailed portrait, the satisfaction of seeing the final creation is a great reward in itself. Get ready to create the hippo drawing of your dreams!
