5 Tips for Drawing Realistic Animals: Beginner's Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 6 min read

Drawing animals can be a delightful adventure. Whether it's a playful puppy or an elegant eagle, capturing the essence of these creatures on paper can be a fulfilling and fun challenge. If you're a budding artist hoping to refine your animal drawings, this beginner's guide is for you. With these five handy tips, you'll be on your way to creating stunning, lifelike animal drawings.

1. Get Your Materials Ready

The first step in your animal drawing journey is getting your materials ready. The right tools can make a huge difference in your work. Here's what you need:

Choose the Right Sketchbook

Not all sketchbooks are created equal. For animal drawings, you might prefer thick, textured paper that holds up to erasing and shading. Remember, the size of your sketchbook matters as well — a larger sketchbook gives you more room for detail, while a smaller one is more portable for those spontaneous sketching sessions at the zoo.

Pick the Best Drawing Pencils

Good animal drawings start with good pencils. You'll need a range of hard (H) and soft (B) pencils for different effects. Hard pencils are great for light outlines and soft pencils are perfect for dark shadows and bold lines. A good starting set might include 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencils.

Secure an Effective Eraser

Even the best artists make mistakes, that's where erasers come in. Choose an eraser that can handle both broad and detailed erasing. A kneaded eraser is a versatile choice as it can be shaped to erase small areas without disturbing the rest of your drawing.

With your materials in hand, you're all set to begin your journey in animal drawings. Remember, the tools don't make the artist, but they can certainly help!

2. Study Animal Anatomy

Now that you've got your drawing tools sorted, let's dive into the technical part of creating realistic animal drawings. This might seem a bit daunting, but don't worry. Understanding animal anatomy isn't about memorizing every bone and muscle. Instead, it's about recognizing the basic structures that make each animal unique.

Learn Basic Animal Structures

Every animal is built around a basic structure, just like buildings have blueprints. Whether it's a majestic lion or a tiny hummingbird, all animals have a skeleton and muscles that define their shape and movement. To draw animals realistically, you need to understand these basic structures. Start by studying simple skeletal structures and then gradually add muscles. This will give your animal drawings a solid foundation and make them look more lifelike.

Explore Different Species

Once you've got a handle on basic animal structures, it's time to explore the wonderful diversity of the animal kingdom. Each species has unique features that set it apart - think of the long neck of a giraffe or the intricate wing pattern of a butterfly. By studying different species, you can learn how to capture these unique features in your animal drawings.

Observe Animal Movement

Animals aren't static; they're constantly on the move. Observing how animals move can give you valuable insight into their anatomy and help you create dynamic, realistic animal drawings. Whether it's the graceful leap of a deer or the slow, deliberate crawl of a tortoise, try to capture the essence of their movement in your sketches.

So there you have it, your beginner's guide to understanding animal anatomy. Remember, practice makes perfect - the more you draw, the better you'll become at capturing the unique beauty of each animal.

3. Practice Sketching

Now that we've explored the complexities of animal anatomy, it's time to bring it all together with sketching. Don't rush this stage; the beauty of art is that it's not a race. It's about expressing yourself and capturing the world around you. So, grab your sketchbook, loosen up those fingers, and let's get sketching.

Start with Simple Shapes

When starting with animal drawings, it's best to break down complex figures into simple shapes. For instance, a bird's body can be drawn as an oval, and its head as a circle. This technique makes it easier to capture the animal's proportions and helps to guide the details you'll add later. With practice, you'll find that even the most complex animals can be broken down into simple shapes.

Develop Your Shading Skills

Shading is a key tool in your drawing arsenal. It adds depth and dimension to your animal drawings, making them pop off the page. Start by practising with different pencil grades to understand their shading effect. Remember, it's all about observing how light falls on the animal's body and replicating that effect on paper. It might take some time to master, but the result is absolutely worth it.

Experiment with Textures

Texture brings a sense of realism to your animal drawings. It's the difference between a flat, two-dimensional sketch and a lifelike representation. Try to capture the roughness of an elephant's skin, the sleekness of a dolphin, or the fluffiness of a bunny. Experiment with different pencil strokes to mimic these textures. The key is to practice and experiment until you find what works best for you.

That's it for the sketching part! Remember, the most important thing is to have fun while you're drawing. Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect. After all, every artist has their own unique style. The more you practice, the more your style will shine through in your animal drawings.

4. Refine Your Details

With the sketching phase behind us, it's time to refine our details. Details make your animal drawings more realistic and engaging. So, let's dive in and learn about the specific areas you should focus on to bring your drawings to life!

Focus on the Eyes

The eyes are the window to the soul — and this applies to animal drawings too! Capturing the eyes correctly can bring your animal to life and convey its emotion. Pay attention to the shape, size, and position of the eyes. Don't forget to capture the sparkle in the eye, which can make your drawing seem more realistic. Practice drawing eyes of different animals until you feel confident about getting them right.

Capture the Fur Patterns

Fur patterns can significantly define an animal's appearance. For example, a tiger's stripes or a leopard's spots. These patterns can be tricky to draw, but don't let that deter you. Start by observing the pattern closely, then lightly sketch the pattern on your animal drawing. Remember, it doesn't need to be perfect! As you practice, you'll naturally get better at capturing these intricate details.

Accentuate the Animal Features

Every animal has unique features that separate it from other species. For instance, a rabbit's long ears, a giraffe's towering neck, or a lion's majestic mane. Accentuating these features can make your drawing instantly recognizable. Keep practicing and experimenting until you can capture these unique features accurately.

Remember, details can make or break your animal drawings. However, don't get so caught up in the details that you lose sight of the bigger picture. It's about capturing the essence of the animal, not just the small details. Happy drawing!

5. Seek Feedback and Improve

Remember, the journey of mastering animal drawings is not a sprint, but a marathon. One of the best ways to improve is to seek feedback and continue to practice. Let's look at some strategies to accomplish this.

Don't be shy! Sharing your work with others can be incredibly beneficial. It might be a friend, a family member, or a social media group dedicated to budding artists. Sharing allows you to showcase your work, gain appreciation, and most importantly, receive suggestions for improvement. Remember, every artist was once a beginner, so don't hesitate to share your journey with others.

Accept Constructive Criticism

Constructive criticism is a great tool for growth. When sharing your work, be open to feedback. This can be tough sometimes, but remember, it's not a personal attack but a chance to enhance your skills. It can provide you with a fresh perspective on your animal drawings and point out areas you might have overlooked.

Keep Learning and Practicing

There's a saying in the art world: "Every artist has thousands of bad drawings in them, and the only way to get rid of them is to draw them out." So, don't get disheartened by mistakes. Instead, see them as stepping stones on your journey to success. Keep learning, keep practicing, and most importantly, keep drawing. You are on your way to mastering the art of animal drawings!

With these tips in mind, you are well-equipped to embark on your animal drawing journey. Remember, art is a form of expression. So, let your creativity flow, keep your pencils moving, and let the world see your unique perspective through your animal drawings. Happy drawing!

If you're interested in improving your skills in drawing realistic animals, don't miss out on the workshop titled 'Basic Animal Anatomy for Artists' by Viktoria. This workshop will provide you with essential knowledge on animal anatomy, helping you create accurate and lifelike drawings of animals. Enhance your artistic abilities and take your animal drawings to the next level.