In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw the head detail of a Koala step-by-step.

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All of the tutorials on How2DrawAnimals.com are good drawing tutorials for beginners and experienced artists alike. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow.

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To draw this Koala portrait step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

The Written step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: Draw a big circle as a guide for the koala's head. First make four marks to determine the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a circular object like a bowl or a cup. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle.

Step 2: Draw a curved, horizontal line across the circle as a guide to help you place the koala's facial features later. A little to the left of center, draw a long, curved, vertical line for another construction guide.

Step 3: Draw a small circle on top of the horizontal line and to the left of the vertical line as a guide for the first eye. Use the construction lines as guides to help you determine the size and positions of the koala's eyes. Far off to the right, draw another small circle as a guide for the other eye.

Step 4: Draw a big oval below where the construction lines intersect as a guide for the koala's nose. Use the four-marks method to draw this oval too. Place the top and bottom marks farther away than side marks. The nose should be closer to the eye on the left. Pay attention to how big the nose is in relation to the koala's head.

Step 5: On either side of the head, draw a big circle as guides for the ears. You can use the four-marks method to draw these circles too. Don't overlap the edge of the head. The circle on the right should be bigger than the one on the left. Don't draw the koala's ear circles too high up.

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That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing of a koala.

Step 6: Darken the small circles inside the head to create the koala's eyes. Draw an extra-small angled line on the insides of the shapes for the corners of the eyes. Make sure that the eyes are in the correct position in the head before you darken the shapes.

Step 7: Inside each eye, draw a small, dark slit for the pupils. Koalas have thin pupils like cats, so don't draw them too round unless you want a dilated look. Draw the slits near the middle of the eyes, but they don't have to be perfectly centered. On either side of each pupil, draw a tiny circle for highlights. Draw a couple of curved lines above and under the koala's eyes for extra detail. Use a series of short strokes above the eyes to represent fur.

Step 8: Inside the big oval, at the bottom, draw two small, curved lines for the nostrils. The nostrils should be similar to ovals, and they should be tilted a bit. Darken the edge of the initial oval to create the shape of the koala's nose. Make the bottom flatter. Make the right side narrower than the oval. Use short strokes along the top to represent fur. On the lower, right side of the nose, draw a series of short strokes that curve to the right for the mouth.

Step 9: Below the nose, draw a curved line that's made up of short strokes for the furry chin. The koala's chin should be U-shaped. Add more short strokes underneath for extra detail.

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Step 10: Use the big circular line on the top, right side of the head as a guide to draw the first ear. Draw a series of strokes along the edge of the guide to create the shape of the koala's furry ear. Add longer strokes inside for the furry ear opening. The longer you draw the strokes, the shaggier the fur will be.

Step 11: Use the circular line on the left as a guide to draw the koala's other ear the same way. Draw a series of strokes along the edge of the guide and then add more strokes inside for more fur.

Step 12: Use the main circle as a guide to draw the rest of the head. Draw a series of short strokes along the basic path of the circle to create the head's furry shape. Make the lower, left side wider than the circle. Add some lines under the ear on the right for a bit of the neck. Space out the short strokes along the lower, right edge of the circle for more of the koala's head. Connect the ears using a line that's above the circle and that's made up of short strokes for the top of the head.

Step 13: 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 koala drawing for extra detail. Shade using a series of strokes all over the head for a furry texture. The strokes should radiate outward from the nose. Use a dark value for the nose but leave a lighter strip at the top for a highlight. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Shade lightly at first, and then gradually build up to darker values. Use a medium value for the koala's eyes and a dark value around the edges. Don't overlap the highlight circles. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

Continue to slowly add more strokes and value all over the head. Use a light value around the nose. As you shade, separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through. Use a dark value for the koala's nose but a lighter value for the insides of the nostrils. Use a dark value for the insides of the ears and the sides of the chin. Use strokes that go in the direction of the fur. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks.

Add more strokes all over the koala's head, gradually using darker values with every pass. Use a light value on the chin directly below the nose for a shadow on the white fur. It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for a more accurate depiction of a koala. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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