Getting Started
Before you start sketching, gear yourself up by doing some research. Gather up some references—images and real-life objects that look like a rat—and have them handy when you’re sketching. This will help you envision your final result and make your rat look as realistic as possible.
When you’re ready to begin, start with basic shapes like circles and rectangles to map out the shape and size of your rat. Make sure to pay attention to the placement of certain body parts like the nose, eyes, and paws. These are the key components because they give your rat its character and personality.
Including Details
After you’ve mapped out the shape and size of your rat, the next step is to add some details. Draw the head, tail, fur texture, and texture of the rat’s feet. As you’re doing this, it’s important to add shadows and highlights to make sure your rat looks three-dimensional.
Adding details like whiskers and a textured tail will help your rat come alive. Make sure to draw the whiskers in varying lengths and directions to really give your rat that realistic feel.
Personifying Your Rat
When you’re done with the anatomy, you can start making your rat come to life. You can do this by personifying it by giving it an expression. The eyes, nose, and mouth are the key features.
Be creative and think outside the box. Add some whimsical and funny expressions to your rat. Here are a few ideas: draw a sleepy rat, a surprised rat, or a rat that looks like it’s about to pounce.
Adding Colors
Once you’re done drawing the rat, you can start adding color. You can use whatever color palette you want, but make sure it looks realistic. You want to create a balance between the light and dark colors so your rat looks natural.
Use a darker color for the shadows and a lighter color for the highlights. You can also use other colors like blue, green, and yellow to really make your rat pop.
Putting It All Together
As you’re putting it all together, make sure to pay attention to the overall composition. Check the proportions and anatomy of your rat to make sure it looks realistic and believable.
Add some texture and patterns to your rat to make it look unique and original. You can also add some patterned accessories like hats and bows to really personify your rat.
Once you’ve brought everything together, you’re done! You’ve sketched, added details, personified, and colored your rat and all that’s left is to show off your artwork and bask in your own creative genius.
