Draw Opossum 15

Step 15: Use the lines on the left as a guide to draw the opossum's hind legs. Sketch the shape of the leg lightly at first as you follow the guide and then darken the lines when you get the structure right. Add the toes at the end using a series of curved lines. Use the other line as a guide to draw the hind leg on the other side. The top part of this leg will be hidden behind the body, so mainly draw the leg.


Draw Opossum 16

Step 16: Use the remaining shapes and lines as guides to draw the rest of the opossum's body. Use quick, short strokes as you follow the basic path of the guides to form the outline of the body. Use longer strokes on the bottom of the body for longer, shaggier fur.


Draw Opossum 17

Step 17: Use the line on the left side as a guide to draw the tail. Opossums' tails are rat-like and hairless, so don't use quick, short strokes here.


Draw Opossum 18

Step 18 (optional): For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.


Draw Opossum Last

Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Don't worry too much about the shading if you're going to add more value to your drawing on step 21.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the opossum so it doesn't appear to be floating. Use a darker value near the middle of the shadow and a lighter value along the edge for the shadow's diffusion.

You can add more value throughout your drawing for more detail. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Shading can be quite time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Add the value by using strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Don't worry about shading to smoothly. The rough value creates a furry texture. Opossums' legs are usually darker, so push harder with your pencil when you shade them. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

Thanks for watching! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for a new tutorial every Tuesday.

To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

Joomla templates by a4joomla