Step 19: Use the line on the far right side as a guide to draw the hind leg that's on this side of the body. Sketch lightly at first. When you get the structure right, darken the lines. The top of this leg should be so wide that it overlaps part of the guide of the other hind leg. Use quick, short strokes along the sketched path to create a fuzzy texture. At the bottom, draw the curved lines for the chow chow's toes and the tiny triangle-like lines for the nails.
Step 20: Use the last line under the body as a guide to draw the dog's other hind leg the same way. A big part of this leg is hidden behind the other hind leg, so only draw the visible portion.
Step 21: Use the curved line on top of the body as a guide to draw the chow chow's tail. Draw the shape of the tail around the guide using short strokes for the fur. The tail should be big and fluffy, and it should curl over the body and overlap it.
Step 22: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the chow chow's body. Use short strokes along the outer edges of the initial guides to create the body's furry texture. The longer you make these strokes, the shaggier the fur will appear. Add a few more strokes inside the body to emphasize the dog's fur.
Step 23: 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 you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step: Add some shading to your chow chow drawing for extra detail. Use a dark value for the nose and a medium value for the tongue and muzzle. Add some dots to the muzzle. Use a medium value on the head too. The strokes on the head should radiate outward from the middle. Separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more fur-like texture. As you shade the dog's body, use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur.
Use a darker value for the fur along the midsection for the body. Continue adding the value as short strokes until the dog's entire body is covered. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Use a darker value along the bottom to create shadows, and give the figure more volume and dimension. The chow chow's tail is pretty light, so just add a few strokes along the bottom to represent shadows.
Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the chow chow so it doesn't appear to be floating. If you have a pet chow chow or a similar dog breed, try to duplicate its coat on your drawing. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace.
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