5 Easy Steps to Draw a Horse Head for Beginners
Contents
1. Gather Your Drawing Tools
2. Sketch a Basic Outline
3. Start Detailing
4. Add Shading
5. Finalize Your Drawing
Mastering the art of drawing can be a delightful journey. Today, we'll simplify that journey by guiding you through an easy horse head drawing. Even if you're a beginner, these five steps will make the process a breeze. So, let's get started on creating a work of art that you'll be proud to show off!
1. Gather Your Drawing Tools
Before we dive into sketching, it's important to gather all the necessary tools. Having the right tools at hand can make your easy horse head drawing process smoother and more enjoyable. Let's take a look at what you'll need:
Choosing Your Pencil
A pencil is the most basic tool you'll need. But it's not just about any pencil—it's about the right pencil. For an easy horse head drawing, a range of pencils from 2H to 6B would be ideal. The 2H pencil is harder and gives you light lines, perfect for initial sketching. As you progress, you'll switch to softer pencils like 2B, 4B, and 6B for darker lines and shading. Remember, the 'H' stands for hard, and 'B' for black or bold.
Paper Selection
Next, let's talk about the canvas for your masterpiece—paper. A standard drawing paper or sketchbook is excellent for beginners. It's thick enough to hold the pencil strokes and eraser marks. For the best results, opt for paper with a slight texture; it holds the graphite better, giving your horse head drawing more depth and detail.
Additional Tools
Lastly, don't forget the supporting cast: an eraser and a sharpener. A kneaded eraser is a good investment as it can lift off pencil marks without damaging the paper. A regular sharpener keeps your pencils sharp for precise lines. You might also want to get a blending stump—it's great for smoothing out the shading.
Now that we have our tools ready, we're all set to start our easy horse head drawing journey. Stay tuned for step two, where we'll sketch a basic outline of a horse's head.
2. Sketch a Basic Outline
With our tools ready, it's time to take the first big step: sketching a basic outline. This is the foundation of our easy horse head drawing. Don't worry about details at this stage—think of it as drawing a map before adding the landmarks. Ready? Here we go:
Drawing the Head
Start by drawing a large circle for the horse's cranium and a smaller one for the snout. Connect these two circles with straight lines to form a rough head shape. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect—it's just a guide for the final drawing.
Adding the Ears and Mane
Next, add two triangles at the top of the larger circle for ears. For the mane, sketch a few curved lines starting from the top of the head to the neck part. Again, keep it simple. We're still in the mapping phase of our easy horse head drawing.
Adjusting Proportions
Now, take a step back and look at your sketch. Does it look like a horse head? If not, don't worry. This is the time to adjust. Make the snout longer, the ears bigger, or change the mane's flow—whatever it takes to get a basic horse head shape. Remember, it's okay to use your eraser. That's what it's there for!
And there you have it—the basic outline of a horse's head! But we're not done yet. In the next step, we'll breathe life into this sketch by adding details. Let's continue our easy horse head drawing adventure!
3. Start Detailing
Now that we have our basic outline, let's make this horse head come to life. We'll start by adding details to the face. Remember, the devil is in the details. This is where your horse head drawing will start to look real. So, let's get started.
Drawing the Eyes
First, let's give our horse some sight. Draw two oval shapes—these will be the eyes. Place them on the upper side of the small circle we drew for the snout. Keep in mind that horse eyes are quite expressive, so try to capture that in your easy horse head drawing.
Shaping the Nose
Next up, the nose. Draw two smaller ovals at the end of the snout for the nostrils. Then, draw a thin line in the middle of the snout to indicate the mouth. It's starting to look like a horse now, isn't it?
Defining the Mouth
Last but not least, let's give our horse a smile. Draw a curved line under the nostrils to represent the mouth. You can add a few lines around the mouth and nose to give it a more realistic look.
And voila! You've added details to your horse's face. But we're not stopping here. In the next section, we'll explore how to add depth and dimension to our easy horse head drawing with shading. Let's keep going!
4. Add Shading
Now that we have a detailed sketch of a horse head, it's time to bring it to life. Shading will add depth and dimension to your drawing, making it more realistic. So, ready to learn how to shade your easy horse head drawing? Let's dive in.
Shading the Head
Begin with the larger areas of the horse's head. Use your pencil to add a light layer of shading across the forehead, cheeks, and neck. The key here is to start light—you can always add more shading later to deepen the effect.
Enhancing Depth
Now, let's add some depth. Pay attention to the areas around the eyes, the nose, and the inside of the ears. These areas are usually darker, so apply a heavier layer of shading here. Remember, the contrast between light and dark is what gives your drawing depth.
Highlighting Areas
Finally, let's highlight some areas. The spots that usually catch the light are the top of the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and the forehead. Use an eraser to gently lift some of the pencil from these areas—this will create a 'highlight' effect.
And there you have it! You've added shading to your easy horse head drawing. But we're not done yet. Next up, we'll be smoothing out the edges and adding the final touches. Stay tuned!
5. Finalize Your Drawing
We're on the final stretch of our easy horse head drawing! It's time to smooth out those edges, add some final touches and review your work. Let's get started!
Smoothing Edges
First, let's smooth out those edges. Using your eraser, gently rub along the lines of your drawing to soften them. This will give your horse head a softer and more natural look. You don't want the lines to be too harsh—they should hint at the shape of the horse, not define it.
Adding Final Touches
Next up, the final touches. This is where you can add in the details that will make your drawing unique. Perhaps there's a specific marking on the horse's forehead, or a particular wave in its mane. These small details can make a big difference, so take your time with them.
Reviewing Your Work
The last step in our easy horse head drawing guide is reviewing your work. Take a step back and look at your drawing. Does anything look out of place? Do you need to add more shading in some areas, or soften some lines? This is your chance to make any final adjustments.
And there you have it! You've just finished your own easy horse head drawing. So, what do you think? Not too hard, right? With practice, you'll be able to draw horse heads like a pro in no time.
If you enjoyed learning about drawing a horse head and want to expand your skills in drawing animals, check out the workshop 'Basic Animal Anatomy for Artists' by Viktoria. This workshop will provide you with essential techniques and knowledge to improve your animal drawing skills and help you create more realistic and captivating artworks.