Step 8: Draw a series of short strokes along the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the gerbil's furry head. Make the top and right sides of the head slightly bigger than the initial guide lines. Darken the arc on top of the head to create the other ear.

Step 9: Use the sloping line on the left side of the body as a guide to draw the gerbil's front leg. Draw the shape of the leg around the guide line. Use short strokes at the top for a furry texture. Draw a series of short angled lines that are similar to the letter V along the front of the foot for the toes. Draw the hind leg around the guide line at the bottom the same way. The hind leg and toes should be longer than the front leg and toes. Make the toes pointy for the nails.

Step 10: Darken the outer edges of the big guides in the middle to create the shape of the gerbil's body. Use a series of short strokes as you darken the lines for a furry texture. Don't overlap the legs as you draw the body.

Step 11: Draw the gerbil's legs that are on the other side of the body the same way as the first legs. Draw the shape of the legs around the guide lines and add pointy toes on the tips. Draw the tail around the long guide line on the right. Keep the edges of the tail close to the guide line so that the shape is thin. Use short strokes on the right side of the shape for the furry tip of the tail.

Step 12: 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: Shade your gerbil drawing for extra detail. Use a medium value all over the body but leave the underside blank for the white fur. Shade lightly at first and gradually build up to darker values. For light values, push down very lightly on your pencil and push down harder for darker values. As you shade the body, use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. As you shade, separate each stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more furry texture. Add a darker value throughout the body to create shadows. Pick a light source as you shade so that the shadows are consistent. Here the light source is coming from the top, so most of the shadows are on the underside of the shapes. Add a shadow at the bottom using a medium value. It's a good idea to use reference as you shade for a more accurate depiction of a gerbil. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

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