Step 20: Use the last line under the shiba inu's body as a guide to draw the other hind leg. A big part of the top of this leg will be behind the first hind leg, so you don't have to draw it. Don't forget to add the toes and nails at the bottom!
Step 21: Draw a series of short strokes along the outside of the curved line on top of the body to create the shiba inu's tail. The tail curls and rests on the body. Follow the path of the guide but make the shape of the tail wider. The strokes should meet the end of the guide in the middle, then curl back out a bit for the tip of the dog's tail.
Step 22: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the shiba inu's body. Darken the outer edges of the initial guides and don't overlap the tail or the legs that are on this side. Use longer strokes on the bottom and on the right side of the body for longer 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 drawing for the distinctive shiba inu coat pattern. Use a dark value for the inside of the ears and nose. Leave a blank strip at the top of the nose for shine. Use a medium value for the top of the head but leave the area around the dog's eyes blank. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.
Add some dots to the dog's muzzle for the base of the whiskers. Leave the bottom half of the head blank. Add a medium value to the body except for the chest, tail, underside and inner legs. Shiba inus have a soft, sleek coats, so use smooth strokes as you shade and avoid a rough texture.
Make the dog's coat slightly darker at the top and gradually transition to a medium value along the middle and bottom. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for a more accurate shiba inu dog.
Add some shadows to your shiba inu 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. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.
Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps to ground the dog so it doesn't appear to be floating. Continue to add more value throughout the shiba inu's body until you're happy with the result. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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