Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a Red Fox. 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 beautiful wild animal!

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To draw this fox 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.

Materials You'll Need Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Blick Art Materials. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pencils (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)	Kneaded Eraser	Drawing Paper

Step 1: Head and Body Guidelines

Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake.

Proportional Circles

• Draw the Head: Start by drawing a circle as a guide for the head. To easily draw a circle, first make a couple of small marks to indicate the height, then make a couple more marks on the sides to indicate the width. Connect the marks using curved lines. You can trace the outer edge of a circular object, like a coin or bottle cap, if you have trouble drawing a freehand circle.
• Draw the Front Body: Below the head, draw another circle as a guide for the front part of the body. Make this circle about one and a half times the size of the head circle.
• Draw the Rear Body: Farther left, draw another circle as a guide for the back portion of the body. Make this circle slightly smaller than the front part of the body. A big part of this circle will be blocked by the front part of the body.

Facial Feature Guides

• Add Facial Guides: Inside the head, draw a curved horizontal line for a construction guide close to the middle of the circle. Above that, draw a curved vertical line for another construction guide.
• Position the Muzzle: On the bottom half of the head, draw a small circle as a guide for the muzzle. Draw the muzzle below the vertical construction guide. This circle should be small in relation to the head.

Step 2: Finish the Initial Sketch

Determine the posture, limbs, ears, and tail placement.

Limbs and Structure

• Draw the Ears: On top of the head, draw two big triangular shapes as guides for the ears. Curve the sides of the ears, and do not draw them too far down on the head. The ears should be very big in relation to the head.
• Front Leg Guides: Under the body, draw a long vertical line as a guide for the front leg. Bend the bottom of the line to the right to indicate the foot. To the left, draw an angled line as a guide for the other front leg. The middle section of this line should slope down and to the right because the leg will be midstep.
• Hind Leg Guides: Under the back portion of the body, draw a long sloping line as a guide for the hind leg. Bend the bottom part of the leg to indicate the joint and the foot. To the right, draw another angled line as a guide for the other hind leg. Bend the middle of the line for a joint and the bottom for the foot.
• Neck and Tail: Connect the head to the body using short lines to create the guide for the neck. On the left side of the body, draw a long sloping line as a guide for the tail.

Step 3: Drawing the Facial Features

Begin the final drawing details starting with the facial features.

Eye Details

• Position the Eyes: Inside the head, lightly sketch two small circles for the eyes. Place the eyes on top of the horizontal construction guide and on either side of the vertical guide. Darken the shapes once the sizes and positions are right.
• Define the Eye Shape: Draw a curved line on top of the shape on the left for the top of the eye. Make this line longer than the circle to create the corners of the eye. Add a short line at the bottom for the inner corner. Draw the eye on the right the same way, making it a bit smaller because the head is turned.
• Pupils and Highlights: Inside the eyes, draw tiny circles for highlights. In the middle of each eye, draw a short vertical line for the slit pupils. Draw a couple of short strokes above the eyes for fur.

Head and Ear Fur

• Left Ear: Use the triangular shape on the top left side of the head as a guide to draw the ear. Darken the shape, but make the sides rounder. Draw a couple of short angled lines at the bottom to create fur, and add more short angled lines within the shape for the fur that's inside the ear.
• Right Ear: Draw the ear on the right the same way. Darken the guide, make the sides more curved, and add a series of short strokes and angled lines within the shape for the inner ear fur.
• Shape the Head: Use the big circle as a guide to draw the rest of the head. As you darken the head, use a series of short strokes and angled lines to create a furry texture. Make the left and right sides of the head slightly wider than the initial circle. Do not darken the bottom edge of the head. Add a few more short strokes inside the head for structure.

Muzzle Features

• Shape the Nose: Lightly sketch an oval inside the muzzle guide. When you get the correct size and position, darken the shape. Make the top of the oval flatter.
• Add Nostrils: Draw a couple of short curved lines on the sides of the nose for the nostrils. Make the inner tips of the lines thick and dark for the nostril openings. Draw a short line between the nostrils and darken the bottom edge of the oval.
• Draw the Mouth: Below the nose, draw a horizontal line for the mouth. Sketch lightly at first, and darken it when the shape is right. Draw the tips of the line slightly lower than the middle. Draw a couple of curved lines on the sides for the muzzle, following the basic path of the circle. Draw a curved line below the mouth for the chin, and a short line on the left side for the lower jaw.

Step 4: Finish the Legs and Body

Flesh out the front legs around the guidelines.

Front Limbs

• Raised Front Leg: Use the second line from the right under the body to draw the front leg. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg around the guideline. Curve the bottom part of the shape for the foot. The top of the leg should be inside the body. Darken the lines when the shape is right, using a series of short strokes and angled lines for fur texture. Bend the leg along the path of the guide to create the joints. This leg is raised, so draw it higher than the other legs.
• Standing Front Leg: Use the line to the right as a guide to draw the other front leg. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg around the guideline. Don't overlap the first front leg as you draw this leg. Darken the lines, add a curved shape at the bottom for the foot, and draw a couple of short lines inside the foot to separate the toes.
• Hind Limbs: Use the far-left angled line to sketch the first hind leg, tapering it towards the joint. Draw the final hind leg using the remaining guideline. Add fur texturing and separation lines for the toes.
• Body and Tail Structure: Darken the body guides with loose, textured strokes. Outline a wide, bushy tail using jagged, short strokes around the left-most sloping guideline.

Step 5: Finish Your Fox with Shading

Tidy up your sketch and apply shading until you're happy with your final drawing.

The Finishing Touches

• Erasing: Erase all guidelines carefully, and redraw any final lines you may have accidentally erased.
• Adding Value: Apply lighter shading initially, and increase the pressure on your pencil for deeper shadowed areas and darker areas of fur. Keep the lower face, eye rings, and front chest light for white fur patches. Shade the lower legs with darker values.
• Whiskers: Add whisker spots on the face and use quick, light strokes for the whiskers coming off the muzzle. 
• Cast Shadow: Finally, use a medium value for the cast shadow under the feet.

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