Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a Labrador Retriever Dog (Head Detail). Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this popular dog breed!
Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:
- Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
- Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
- Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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To draw this dog step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.
Materials You'll NeedBefore starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. |
||
 (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches) |
 |
 |
Step 1: Draw the Head Guide
Begin by drawing a circle as a guide for the head. Sketch lightly at first so it is easy to erase if you make a mistake.
TO DRAW A CIRCLE: Make a few small marks to indicate the circle's height. Make a couple more small marks on the sides to indicate the width. Then connect the small marks using smooth, curved lines to finish the circle. If you have trouble drawing one, you can trace the outer edge of a cup or a bowl.
Step 2: Add Construction Guides
Inside the circle, add the internal structural lines that will help determine the layout of the facial features.
- Horizontal Line: Draw a long horizontal line across the circle, placing it slightly higher than the center. Curve it slightly so that it conforms to the round shape of the circle. The tilt of this line determines the tilt of the head.
- Vertical Line: Draw a curved vertical line at the top of the head for another construction guide. Place this line close to the left edge of the initial circle.
Step 3: Sketch the Muzzle Guide
Draw a big oval on the left side of the head as a guide for the dog's muzzle.
- Sizing and Placement: The oval should be quite large in relation to the head, with a big part of it extending past the left side of the main circle.
- Orientation: Tilt the oval slightly so that it follows the same angle as the horizontal construction guide inside the head. You can use the small marks method here as well to build the shape.
Step 4: Place the Jaw and Ear
Establish the structural boundaries for the bottom jaw and the prominent ear on the right side of the head.
- Lower Jaw Line: At the bottom of the muzzle, draw a short line that connects the oval back to the head circle to define the lower part of the jaw.
- Ear Framework: On the right side of the head, draw a big triangle as a guide for the ear. Start by drawing a vertical line close to the right edge of the big circle. Then, draw a large angled line—similar to a greater-than sign (>)—to complete the triangular shape. Ensure this ear guide is very big in relation to the head.
Step 5: Add the Neck
Under the head structure, draw a couple of curved lines as guides for the neck. Make sure the shape of the neck is framed pretty wide. Place the right-hand neck line directly next to the base of the ear guide. This completes the construction guidelines, and you are ready to begin the final drawing details.
Step 6: Place the Eyes
Inside the head structure, lightly sketch two small circles for the eyes. Place them directly on top of the horizontal construction guide, with one eye sitting on either side of the vertical guide line. The eyes should sit very close to the top boundary of the muzzle shape. Due to the three-quarter perspective of the turned head, make the eye on the left side slightly smaller and thinner than the eye on the right.
Step 7: Detail the Right Eye
Once you are happy with the eye shapes, darken the lines to lock in the final features.
- Outer Corner: As you darken the eye on the right, draw an angled line on its right edge that looks similar to a greater-than sign (>). Close off the shape on the left side by darkening the initial circle to create a sharp, triangular look.
- Inner Corner & Creases: Draw a couple of short lines on the bottom left side for the inner corner of the eye, pointing down and to the left toward the muzzle. Add a couple of curved lines around the eye for skin creases, making the line at the top slightly higher and more curved to define the brow.
Step 8: Detail the Left Eye
Move to the eye on the left side. Because of the way the head is turned, much of this eye is hidden. Darken the narrow shape and add a couple of structural lines to give it definition while keeping it thin. On its left side, draw another curved line to represent the profile boundary of the face, following the natural curvature of the eye.
Step 9: Add Pupils and Highlights
Bring life to the eyes by adding highlights and pupils inside the circles.
- Right Eye: Draw a tiny circle off to the side to create a small catchlight or highlight. In the middle of the eye, draw a slightly bigger circle for the pupil. Shade in the pupil darkly, being careful not to overlap or paint over the tiny highlight circle.
- Left Eye: Follow the same process for the turned eye on the left. Because of the perspective, keep it simple by drawing a small shape and shading it in to represent the pupil without overcomplicating the details.
Step 10: Draw the Nose Pad
Inside the muzzle area, lightly sketch a large oval for the nose, placing it right on the top-left edge of the muzzle guide. Once the size and position look right, darken the shape. Curve the lines inward slightly as you darken the sides of the oval. Add a short line near the top to separate the top plane from the front plane of the nose. Inside, draw two small circular shapes and shade them in for the nostrils, making the left one slightly thinner. Finish the nose by drawing a vertical crease line between the nostrils and darkening the bottom edge so it is slightly pointier than the initial oval.
Step 11: Sketch the Mouth Split
Directly below the nose, draw a line that curves out to the right to define the first part of the mouth split. This line should extend slightly farther out than the original muzzle oval, ending roughly beneath the vertical alignment of the right eye. Sketch another curved line just under the nose to establish the front part of the muzzle and opposite side of the lips, followed by a light line further down to mark out the lower jaw.
Step 12: Refine the Drooping Lips
Labrador Retrievers have loose, slightly drooping skin around their mouth. Draw a couple of curved lines on the right side of the mouth to capture this drooping lip detail. When the shapes look accurate, darken the lines. Include a small, curved shape on the right side to indicate the visible gum line where the lip sags down. Darken the short line on the left side for the visible portion of the chin, and add another small curved line near the middle to show the loose skin on the far side of the jaw.
Step 13: Define the Bridge of the Nose
Draw a long line extending upward from the top of the nose pad back to the inner corner of the left eye to outline the upper bridge of the muzzle. Add a short, intentional notch line next to the eye to clearly separate the nasal bridge from the forehead structure.
Step 14: Contour the Ear
Use the large triangular guide on the right side to shape the floppy ear. Follow the general path of your guide lines, but break up the rigid lines into natural, organic curves. Add a few quick, angled strokes at the top to create a furry texture along the base. Incorporate a few long, curved creases down the ear flap to suggest folds, and fill the interior of the ear with extra short strokes to give the folds a realistic, fuzzy texture.
Step 15: Outline the Skull and Neck Folds
Use the remaining structural guidelines to finalize the outer boundaries of the head and neck.
- Skull & Far Ear: Darken the top portion of the main head circle, adding subtle waves to define the bone structure of the skull. At the very top, add a couple of small angled strokes to represent the tips of fur from the ear on the far side of the head.
- Neck Skin: Follow the lower neck guidelines with loose, overlapping curved lines to emphasize the heavy, sagging skin common around a retriever's throat. Add a few minor angled marks inside the head perimeter to build up underlying muscle definition.
Step 16: Erase the Guidelines
Take a thin eraser—such as a click-pen eraser—and carefully clean up your drawing by removing the horizontal, vertical, and overlapping structural guidelines. It is fine if some faint remnants are left behind, but removing the guides from the spaces between your final lines ensures a professional finish. Once erased, take your pencil and re-darken any final details that may have been accidentally lightened.
Step 17: Lay Down Base Shading
Begin adding tone to your portrait to establish depth, volume, and three-dimensional form. Apply a light, even layer of medium-value shading across the head. Start softly, gradually increasing your pencil pressure or swapping to softer graphite grades like 4B or 6B to create deeper core shadows. Keep a scrap piece of paper tucked under your hand while you work to prevent smudging your clean lines.
Step 18: Shade the Features and Whiskers
Add contrast by deepening the tones around the main facial features. Shade the eyes with a soft, light value, making sure to leave the tiny highlight circles bright white. Lightly draw tidy rows of small dots below the nose to create the whisker pads. Next, apply a very rich, dark value to the gums and across the entire nose pad, leaving a clean, unshaded strip running along the top ridge of the nose to simulate a soft light reflection.
Step 19: Render the Coat Texture
Build up a realistic coat appearance by slowly applying darker values across the head. Use short, rhythmic pencil strokes that flow in the exact direction of natural fur growth. To create convincing highlights on the coat, leave the topmost surfaces of the head and muzzle completely blank. Pay close attention to how light and shadow alter the shapes of the fur folds. If you have a pet dog at home, feel free to use them as a live reference for how the coat lays!
Step 20: Do Your Final Pass and Add Contrast
To finalize your drawing, go over your primary outlines one last time using a rich, dark value to create a sharp, graphic pop. Scatter a few more fine, short hatch lines across the face to enhance the fur texture. If you like, you can lightly shade a soft, low-contrast tone around the outer edges of the dog to create a simple background vignette that makes your drawing stand out. Shading takes patience, so take your time and keep rendering until you are fully happy with your finished Labrador Retriever!
Buy My Step-by-Step Art Books on Amazon!
If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.
Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!
This is an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.
And to learn how to draw cartoons, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.
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Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a cute chibi frog sitting on a lily pad. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this adorable amphibian character!
Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:
- Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
- Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
- Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All the free art lessons on How2DrawAnimals.com are easy to follow; they teach you the basics while showing you how to render animals step by step. Each tutorial has a video tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow. After you're done here, try another tutorial!
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To draw this chibi frog step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.
Materials You'll NeedBefore starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. |
||
(an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches) |
|
|
 (or Fine-Line Marker) |
 (or Markers) |
 (or Colored Pencils) |
x
Step 1: Lay the Foundation with Construction Guides
Establish the scale and proportions of the frog using simple guidelines. Sketch these steps very lightly so they are easy to erase later.
Proportional Circles
- The Body Guide: Start by lightly sketching a circle to serve as the main guide for the body. An easy way to do this is to make two small pencil marks to indicate the desired height, two marks on the sides for the width, and then connect them with curved lines.
- Tracing Tip: You do not have to draw a perfect circle. But if you are having trouble drawing a circle, simply trace the outer edge of a cup, a lid, or anything else with a circular edge.
Defining the Layout
- The Horizontal Guide: Draw a curved horizontal line directly across the entire circle. Place this line close to the center. Don't draw it too low or too high. This line will help you place the facial features accurately later on.
- The Vertical Guide: On top of that, draw a short vertical line for another construction guide. Place this line close to the left edge of the circle. This off-center placement establishes the slight turn of the body.
Step 2: Drawing the Head & Facial Features
Now focus on the details of the face to capture the adorable look characteristic of the chibi style!
The Eyes and Brow
- The Eyes: Inside the shape, lightly sketch two large circles for the eyes. Place the eyes on top of the horizontal construction guide and on either side of the vertical guide. Do not place them too close together; frogs have eyes that are far apart. Make them nice and big, then darken the outlines once you get the sizes and positions right.
- Eye Details: Inside each eye, off to the side, draw a tiny circle for a highlight. On the bottom of each eye, draw a tiny curved line.
- The Heavy Brow: Draw a couple of curved lines above the eyes for the heavy brow ridge, keeping them right along the edge of your initial circle guide. They should be roughly the same size as the tops of the eyes.
The Mouth
- The Smile: Below the eyes, draw a curved horizontal line for the mouth, placing it below the horizontal construction guide. The outer tips of this line should be very close to the inner edges of the eyes. Notice how the middle point of the line also curves up slightly to create a cute expression.
Step 3: Sketching the Front Legs and Head Shape
With the face established, you can begin building the physical structure of the frog's front legs and head connection.
Front Legs and Head Alignment
- Front Legs: Along the bottom, draw a couple of short vertical lines for the first leg directly below the right eye, closing off the shape with a horizontal line. Draw a similar shape on the left side, placing it directly below the left eye. The legs should be wider at the top and thinner at the bottom, with the left leg slightly smaller due to the turned perspective of the body.
- Connect the Brows: Connect the brow structures using a horizontal line to firmly establish the top part of the head.
Step 4: Shaping the Round Torso and Back Limbs
Chibi animals like this frog have highly stylized, compact limbs and a plump, round posture.
Body Outline and Back Leg Elements
- The Plump Torso: Draw the rest of the body along the basic path of the original circle guide, but make the lower body a bit wider than the initial circle so that the frog looks extra round and chubby.
- The Folded Leg: On the right side at the top, draw a long curved line for the folded hind leg. This shape is sort of similar to the number 2. Then, finish the back portion of the body as a long, curved vertical line on the right side.
- The Visible Foot Guides: Most of the back legs will be hidden behind the round body. Draw a small, angled line on the lower left side and another on the right side for the visible sections of the hind feet. These lines look similar to "less than" (<) signs.
Step 5: Drawing the Lily Pad Base
Give your character a natural setting by adding a simple supporting leaf surface.
The Lily Pad Environment
- Leaf Tips: On the bottom left and right sides, draw short curved lines for the tips of the lily pad leaves.
- Completing the Leaf Shape: Connect those curved lines to the frog's body using horizontal lines. Add a couple more curved lines on the sides for extra leaf detail, and close off the entire shape at the bottom using a long, curved horizontal line.
Step 6: Inking and Clean Line Work
Solidify your final outlines and clear away all the construction guides.
Inking and Cleanup
- Trace Your Outlines: Go over your final structural lines one more time so that they stand out. Using permanent ink, a fine-liner, or a marker, slowly and carefully trace over your final shapes to avoid any accidents. Do not trace any of the initial construction guides that you won't want to keep.
- Erase Guidelines: Let the ink dry completely so it won't smudge. Once dry, take a soft eraser and clear away all the original circular construction guides and pencil marks from the paper.
Step 7: Applying Colors
Begin the coloring phase after gathering the colored pencils or markers you want to use.
Details First, Then the Base Color
- Cheeks, Spots, and Belly: Dark green spots on the back, green in the eyes, pink for cheeks, and a yellow belly make up the different color details throughout your chibi frog.
- The Frog's Skin: Then start blocking in green for the main parts of the frog's body. Be sure to leave the tiny circles inside the eyes stark white so the highlights maintain their sparkle.
Step 8: Finish Coloring the Environment
The final step completes your cute chibi artwork!
Final Coloring Details
- Color the Lily Pad: Use a different, contrasting shade of green for the lily pad leaves beneath the frog's feet to create a distinct separation between your character and the leaf it's sitting on.
Buy My Step-by-Step Art Books on Amazon!
If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.
This is an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!
Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.
And to learn how to draw cartoons, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.
RELATED TUTORIALS
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Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a leopard resting on a tree branch. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this majestic big cat!
Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:
- Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
- Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
- Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All the free art lessons on How2DrawAnimals.com are easy to follow; they teach you the basics while showing you how to render animals step by step. Each tutorial has a video tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow. After you're done here, try another tutorial!
RELATED TUTORIALS
 |
 |
 |
To draw this leopard step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.
Materials You'll NeedBefore starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. |
||
(an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches) |
|
|
(or Fine-Line Marker) |
(or Markers) |
(or Colored Pencils) |
x
Step 1: Establishing the Guidelines
Before diving into the fine details, establish a solid foundation by sketching light construction guides. This ensures your proportions are accurate before committing to final lines.
Proportional Circles
- The Head: Near the top left of your page, lightly sketch a circle. Mark the desired height and width with small dashes first, then connect them with curved lines, or trace a small circular object like a coin.
- The Front Torso: Below the head circle, draw a second circle roughly twice the size of the head circle. Make sure they do not overlap.
- The Rear Torso: To the right, sketch a third circle slightly lower than the front torso guide, keeping them roughly the same size. Do not place them too close together.
The Tree and Limbs
- The Tree Branch: Draw a long, sloping line cutting downward from left to right, overlapping the lower sections of both body circles. Draw a second parallel line beneath it to give the branch thickness.
- Torso Outline: Connect the two large body circles using short, sloping lines at the top and bottom to finalize the structural guide for the torso.
- Limbs and Tail: Draw an angled line under the front circle for the front leg, bending it to mark the joints. Add an angled line under the rear circle for the hind leg, bending it near the middle. Extend a long, curved line from the rear circle for the tail.
- Facial Guides: Draw a curved horizontal line across the center of the head and a curved vertical line down the middle. Sketch a small circle on the bottom half for the muzzle, and add two small arcs on top of the head for the ears.
Step 2: Drawing the Face Details
With the framework in place, begin drawing the leopard's facial features. Sketch lightly at first, only darkening your lines once you are satisfied with the shapes.
The Face
- Eyes: Place two small circles on top of the horizontal facial guide on either side of the vertical line. Flatten the top edges, taper the outer corners to make them pointy, and add tiny dots in the center for the pupils. Use short strokes around the eyes to mimic fur.
- Nose and Mouth: Sketch a large triangle inside the muzzle close to the left edge. Darken the top with a wavy line, curve the edges for the nostrils, and taper the bottom into a sharp point. Draw a line that splits into two beneath the nose to form the mouth.
- Head and Ears: Outline the muzzle up toward the inner corners of the eyes. Define a slightly flattened chin curve beneath the mouth. Darken the ear arcs to be more angular, adding short interior strokes for fur. Trace the main head circle, adding a slight wave to the left side and a curved lower jaw.
Step 3: Building the Body and Limbs
Flesh out the rest of the leopard's muscular frame and the tree branch it's resting on.
The Body and Limbs
- Foreground Legs: Sketch the leg contours around your guidelines, making them wide at the top and tapered toward the bottom. Finish the paws with small, U-shaped lines to separate the toes.
- Resting Paw: Below the head and on the left side of the body, sketch a pentagon-like shape overlapping the tree branch to represent the front paw resting flat.
- Torso and Tail: Outline the main body by connecting your initial circles with structured curves, keeping the belly slightly lower than the top edge of the branch. Draw a parallel curved line next to your tail guide to make it look thick and long.
- Background Foot and Branch: Underneath the branch, draw a small curved shape with a couple of short lines for the visible toes of the far hind foot. Darken the tree branch lines completely, ensuring you do not overlap the big cat's limbs.
Step 4: Inking and Cleaning the Line Art
With all elements firmly constructed in pencil, lock down your final details and remove the guiding lines.
Fine Line Execution
- Permanent Outlines: Carefully trace over your final detail lines with a black ink pen or permanent fine-tip marker. Avoid inking any structural guidelines or sketch marks.
- Erasing Construction Lines: Allow the ink to dry completely to prevent smudging. Use a soft eraser to gently wipe away all remaining pencil lines, leaving a clean sheet of crisp line art ready for the coloring process.
Step 5: Base Colors, Volume Shadows, and Fine Patterns
Establish your base colors and take your time adding the spot pattern.
Adding Color Tones and Head Details
- Base Tones: Fill in the leopard's coat with yellow, yellow-orange, and a light touch of brown. Keep the chest area and lower half of the muzzle uncolored due to the white fur there.
- Shadow Dimensions: Render shadows consistent with the light source with brown, and use light gray when shading the white areas.
- Facial Spot Allocation: Draw small black dots on the head, making them larger near the outer edges. Form straight rows of tiny spots on the snout for the whisker base. Don't include any spots on the chin or bridge of the muzzle.
- Leg and Paw Patterns: Make solid black spots down the front and rear legs. Spots should be large and rounded near the upper joints, then gradually get smaller toward the paws.
Step 6: Executing Torso Rosettes and Branch Textures
Complete your illustration by carefully styling the leopard's distinct rosettes and finalizing the bark texture on the branch.
Final Torso and Environmental Details
- Rosette Construction: Group small black spots closely together along the torso to construct broken-up rings called rosettes. Follow the natural anatomical curves of the leopard's body. Make sure the center of each rosette is open. Remember that leopard rosettes do not have a central spot like jaguars do.
- Tail Tapering: Rosettes become large individual spots again at the tail, and they become complete black bands or stripes at the tip.
- Bark Rendition: Finish coloring and shading the branch with brown, and include some cast shadows created by the big cat.
- Outlining Accent: Re-ink your primary structural lines one final time over the colors to make your drawing look complete!
Buy My Step-by-Step Art Books on Amazon!
If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.
This is an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!
Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.
And to learn how to draw cartoons, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.
RELATED TUTORIALS
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Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw Distortus Rex from the Jurassic World movie. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this fictional dinosaur!
Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:
- Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
- Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
- Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All the free art lessons on How2DrawAnimals.com are easy to follow; they teach you the basics while showing you how to render animals step by step. Each tutorial has a video tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow. After you're done here, try another tutorial!
RELATED TUTORIALS
 |
 |
 |
To draw this dinosaur step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.
Materials You'll NeedBefore starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. |
||
(an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches) |
|
|
(or Fine-Line Marker) |
(or Markers) |
(or Colored Pencils) |
Step 1: Lay the Foundation with Construction Guides
Before diving into the details, establish the scale and proportions of the dinosaur using a series of simple guidelines. Sketch these steps very lightly so they are easy to erase later.
Proportional Circles
- The Head: Draw a small circle near the top left of your page. Draw a horizontal line directly through the middle of this circle to serve as a guide for the facial features.
- The Front Body: To the bottom right of the head circle, sketch a second circle. This should be roughly 1.5 times the size of the head circle.
- The Rear Body: Further down and to the right, draw a third circle. Position it diagonally in relation to the middle circle, keeping it roughly the same size as the head.
Defining the Limbs, Neck, and Tail
- The Arms: Underneath the middle circle, sketch a long, angled line that bends near the midpoint to form an elbow joint, ending with a sharp turn to the right for the fingers. Mirror this on the left side with a second angled line.
- The Legs: Under the right-most circle, draw a long line that bends a few times to indicate the powerful joints of the leg, curving left at the bottom for the toes. Sketch a shorter, partial version to the left for the background leg.
- The Torso and Tail: Connect the head to the front body with wide, short lines to form a thick neck. Connect the top of the body circles with a sloping backline. Finally, extend two long, curved lines from the rear body to create a sweeping tail that is wide at the base and tapers to a sharp point.
Step 2: Drawing the Head & Facial Features
Now focus on the details of the face to capture the menacing air of the Jurassic World apex predator!
The Eye and Brow
- The Eye: Lightly sketch a small circle just above your horizontal construction line, close to the center of the head circle. Once you're satisfied with the placement, sharpen the corners to make them pointy and place a dark dot in the center for the pupil.
- The Creases: Add subtle, curved lines around the eye socket to imply leathery skin.
- The Brow: Draw a long, dramatic curved line extending to the left above the eye to create a prominent brow ridge. Use a series of wavy lines on top to give it a rugged, bony texture.
The Jaws and Razor-Sharp Teeth
- The Snout: Follow the horizontal guide forward to sketch the top of the mouth, ending it further right than the eye. Curve the front downward into a strong, vertical muzzle line. Add a short, thick slash near the front for the nostril.
- The Lower Jaw: Follow the bottom path of your original head circle, flattening out the baseline slightly to give the jaw a heavy, muscular look. Connect the back of the jaw to the upper mouth with a short vertical line.
- The Teeth: Along the jaw, draw a series of interlocking, irregular triangular shapes. Keep the roots rounded and the tips pointed, varying their sizes to mimic a natural, terrifying smile.
- Inside the Mouth: Add a couple of curved lines inside the open jaw to define the tongue, and use small structural lines at the back to give the throat depth.
Step 3: Shaping the Muscular Limbs & Body
The Distortus Rex has four powerful legs and two distinctively small forearms.
Forearms and Claws
Flesh out the shapes around the arm guidelines. Keep the upper arms wide near the shoulder and taper them down toward the wrists. Use curved strokes to outline distinct muscle groups. At the tips, draw long, thin, curved shapes ending in sharp, pointed claws.
Hind Legs and Feet
The hind legs require a heavy, powerful appearance.
- Outline the massive thigh and calf muscles around your leg guides.
- At the base of the foot, extend three thick toes pointing forward.
- Cap each digit with a sharp, triangular claw.
- Repeat this process for the visible portions of the leg in the background.
Finishing the Torso Outline
Connect your structural elements by darkening the outer bounds of the neck, back, belly, and tail. Use undulating, organic lines rather than perfectly straight ones to suggest real muscle definition and sagging skin along the underbelly. Do not cross your lines over the limbs closest to the viewer.
Step 4: Inking, Texturing & Cleanup
Once the graphite pencil drawing is complete, it's time to ink your drawing!
- Ink the Outlines: Using a permanent fine-liner or ink pen, carefully trace over your final pencil marks. Do not ink any of the initial circular construction lines.
- Erase Guidelines: Allow the ink to dry completely to prevent smudging, then use a soft eraser to clear away all background pencil sketches.
- Line Weight Variation: Go back over your inked lines, making the outer contours and shadow-facing edges thicker. This adds weight and visual dimension to the illustration.
- Skin Texture: Add short, wavy, broken lines across the snout, neck, and flanks to simulate the rough, reptilian scales characteristic of a dinosaur.
Step 5: Applying Dynamic Color & Highlights
The final step brings your Distortus Rex to life using a layered approach to color and shading. Don't apply a flat color; instead build up different tones to give your dinosaur a more realistic feel.
Establishing the Base and Skin Patterns
Begin by coloring the main upper portion of the body with a greenish yellow. Always apply these lighter tones first to maintain brightness. Once the base layer is down, use an earthy brown to draw distinct, wavy stripe patterns along the spine, neck, and the top part of the tail. For the underbelly and the undersides of the limbs, add a soft, pale yellow-green.
Building Depth with Shadows
To give the creature volume and mass, gradually introduce darker shades to create deep shadows. Add the darker greens and browns along the underside of the neck, beneath the belly, and where the muscular limbs meet the torso. Inside the mouth, use various deep shades of brown to create depth, while applying a muted pink for the tongue and the flexible tissues connecting the jaws.
Add a Cast Shadow
To prevent your dinosaur from looking like it is floating on the page, add a cast shadow beneath its feet and tail. Blend a mixture of blue and gray onto the ground surface, keeping the shadow darkest right where the claws make contact with the ground.
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If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.
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Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.
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Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a pair of chickadees on a tree branch. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of these beautiful wild birds!
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All the free art lessons on How2DrawAnimals.com are easy to follow; they teach you the basics while showing you how to render animals step by step. Each tutorial has a video tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow. After you're done here, try another tutorial!
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To draw these birds step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.
Materials You'll NeedBefore starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Dick Blick. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. |
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(an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches) |
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(or Fine-Line Marker) |
(or Markers) |
(or Colored Pencils) |
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Step 1: Draw the Head and Body Guides for the Left Chickadee
Start by sketching the structural framework for the chickadee on the left side of your page.
Proportional Circles
- Head Guide: Draw a circle to establish the size of the head. Make quick, light marks for the circle's height and width first, then connect them with smooth, curved lines. Trace the edge of a small coin or bottle cap if you need assistance with the circular layout.
- Body Guide: Position a larger circle on the bottom left side of the head framework. Apply the same four-point marking technique, making this shape roughly one and a half times the size of the head circle.
Step 2: Add Facial Guidelines, Mirror Bird, and Tree Branch Guide
Build out the surrounding anatomy features and establish the second bird's position alongside the environmental base.
Left Bird Layout Details
- Construction Lines: Sketch a horizontal line directly across the middle of the head circle. Place a small triangle on the right side of the head to represent the beak guide.
- Neck and Tail: Connect the head to the body circle with broad, sloping lines to form a wide neck. Extend a long, straight sloping line from the bottom left side of the body for the tail guide, making it roughly the combined length of the head and body. Add a curved lower belly guide and short foot ticks underneath.
Right Bird Construction & Branch Support
- Inverted Mapping: Sketch a mirrored head circle on the right side of the page, placing it slightly lower than the first bird's head. Build a larger body circle on the bottom right side. Since this bird faces left, mirror the construction line, beak triangle, neck lines, tail guide, lower body shape, and foot ticks.
- Branch Foundation: Draw a long, continuous sloping line running underneath both birds. Bend the angle of the line slightly to intersect directly with where the feet guidelines sit.
Step 3: Render Facial Details for the First Chickadee
Move into the final pencil layout stage by focusing heavily on the facial details of the left chickadee.
Eyes and Beak Definition
- Eye Components: Lightly place a small circle on top of the horizontal guideline, keeping it near the right edge of the head. Darken the path once satisfied, leaving a tiny inner circle blank for a catchlight and shading a larger inner circle for the pupil. Define structure with small creases surrounding the outer eye.
- Beak and Crown Texturing: Solidify the upper edge of the beak triangle, run a clear horizontal line down the middle for the mouth opening, and trace the lower mandible. Use tiny, rapid pencil strokes to shape the base of the beak, the throat patch, and the distinct plumage color separations across the crown.
Step 4: Render Facial Details for the Second Chickadee
Mirror the exact same detailing process for the chickadee on the right side of the branch.
Facial Mirroring
- Left-Facing Face Elements: Form the small eye circle resting on the construction line near the left side of the head. Map out the tiny white highlight circle and a dark central pupil, then draw surrounding structural creases.
- Beak and Feather Separations: Sharp-sketch the beak triangle on the left, noting the clean horizontal line for the opening mouth. Finish the face by using small, broken pencil strokes to shape the outer edge of the head, the throat line, and the internal feather color divisions.
Step 5: Form the Body, Wings, and Legs of the Left Chickadee
Bring organic structure to the left bird's midsection and lower extremities.
Anatomy Details
- Wing Layering: Sketch a long, sloping line diagonally across the torso guide to delineate the primary folded wing. Add a parallel upper contour line using soft, broken strokes. Trace a visible sliver of the opposite far wing on top of the back, and draw short internal curves to segment individual feathers.
- Belly, Tail, and Legs: Follow the outer layout guidelines with feather-like strokes along the chest. Box out a clean, rectangular tail following the bottom-left guide line. Form parallel pairs of lines over the foot guides to add thickness, mapping out the backward-facing claws gripping the perch.
Step 6: Form the Body, Wings, Legs, and Branch Boundaries
Finalize the pencil detailing for the right chickadee and finalize the surrounding tree environment.
Environmental Anatomy
- Right Torso and Tail Details: Delineate the main folded wing crossing the body horizontally. Add texture lines to reveal individual feather layers. Outline the main body with short, soft strokes, widen the right tail segment, and curve a connecting line to the lower back.
- Leg Contours & Branch Mass: Expand the leg guidelines into realistic limbs, building out long, thin forward-facing toes that hook sharply over the wood with pointy talon tips. Double the original single branch line into a thick, solid piece of wood. Shoot out smaller, tapering offshoots, and lightly trace pillowy, curved shapes on top of the bark to outline snow banks.
Step 7: Trace with Permanent Ink
Carefully lock in the finalized design outlines with ink.
Inking Clean-Up
- Line Control: Work slowly to trace over your definitive detail lines with a permanent black ink pen. Avoid applying ink to the original geometric circle guidelines. Take this time to add extra fine lines inside the wings for crisp feathering texture.
- Guideline Removal: Allow the ink to dry completely so it does not smudge. Take an eraser and wipe away every remaining pencil guideline from the page.
Step 8: Apply Base Color Layers
Begin the coloring phase by laying down basic, flat color tones across both birds simultaneously.
Base Tone Laydown
- Plumage Bases: Fill in the caps and distinctive throat patches with solid black ink or dark markers on both birds to ensure an identical tonal match.
- Soft Under-layers: Lay down light brown or tan sweeps across the upper mantle back regions, and touch the underbellies with a hint of warm yellow. Always stroke your colors in the natural growth direction of real bird feathers.
Step 9: Deepen Feather Tones and Shading
Build rich depth and separation inside the wings, tail feathers, and eyes.
Midtone Gradients
- Wing Shading: Color the wing bodies and long tail shapes with a neutral gray. Leave the very outer borders of the individual feather rows completely blank or white to create natural highlights.
- Eye and Limb Coloring: Carefully shade the iris structures brown, keeping the small circular white catchlights crisp. Blend a flat coat of gray over both sets of legs.
Step 10: Color the Tree Branch and Render Environmental Shadows
Shift focus to coloring the branch and building up shadows for proper form volume.
Environment Rendering
- Wood Texturing: Layer multiple shades of brown across the tree limbs. Use darker browns on the lower sections to suggest heavy shadows, and draw fine, winding lines along the lengths to mimic rough wood bark texture.
- Snow Contrast: Brush light blue shading into the lower curves of the pillowy snow drifts resting on top of the branches to simulate realistic shadows on ice.
Step 11: Polish Highlights and Add Falling Snow Background
Bring your entire wildlife piece together with subtle depth accents and a cold weather background.
Final Highlights
- Dimensional Lighting: Wash a soft layer of cool gray onto the white cheek areas of the birds to create realistic dimensional volume. Go over key outer contours with ink a second time to ensure the bird silhouettes look distinct.
- Atmospheric Finish: If desired, blend a gradient of blue and gray behind the scene to represent a winter sky. Dot the image with white ink splatters to finalize the beautiful image of falling snow.
Buy My Step-by-Step Art Books on Amazon!
If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.
This is an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!
Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.
And to learn how to draw cartoons, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.
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