In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Wolf 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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The Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

 

To draw this Gray Wolf head 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 wolf's head. First make four small marks to indicate 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. The bigger this circle is, the bigger the wolf's head will be. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a circular object like a bowl or a lid. 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 long, curved, horizontal line across the circle as a guide to help you place the wolf's facial features later. Draw this line slightly higher than the middle. Add a curved, vertical line on top for another guide.

Step 3: Directly on top of the horizontal line, draw two small circles as guides for the wolf's eyes. Pay attention to the distance from each eye to the vertical guide line. The wolf's eyes should be very small in relation to the size of the big circle.

 

Step 4: Draw another circle below the horizontal line as a guide for the muzzle. Use the four-marks method again to draw the circle. Pay attention to the size of this circle in relation to the wolf's head. The edge of this circle shouldn't touch the horizontal construction line or the bottom of the head.

 

 

Step 5: Inside the muzzle, draw a small oval as a guide for the wolf's nose. Don't make the oval too small. Place it on the lower, left side of the muzzle.

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Step 6: On the top, left side of the head, draw a big, triangular shape as a guide for the first ear. Curve the lines so that the sides of the shape bulge out a bit. Draw a similar shape on the top, left side as a guide for the wolf's other ear.

 

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

Step 7: Darken the small circle on the left side for the wolf's first eye. At the top, draw a sloping line over the eye for the eyelid. Extend the line outside of the eye toward the bottom. On the top, left side, draw a series of short, strokes for the outer corner of the wolf's eye. Draw a curved line below the small circle for the outer edge of the eye. Use the circle on the right as a guide to draw the other eye the same way. Darken the circle and make the sides of the shape pointier for the corners of the eye. Add some short strokes on the top, right side and a curved line under the circle.

 

Step 8: Inside each eye, at the top, draw a tiny circle for the pupils. Shade in the tiny circles using a dark value to finish the wolf's pupils. Next to each pupil, draw two more tiny circles to represent glare and highlight. Above each eye, draw a series of short strokes for a bit of fur.

 

 

Step 9: Use the oval inside the muzzle as a guide to draw the wolf's nose. Darken the top edge but make it wavier. Add a second wavy line inside to give the nose structure. Darken the right edge but curve the line inward for the start of the first nostril. At the end of the curved line, draw a tiny half-circle for the actual nostril. Draw the wolf's other nostril the same way. Curve the left edge inward and draw a tiny half-circle at the end for the actual nostril. Darken the bottom edge of the oval. At the bottom, add a pointy shape with a vertical line inside.

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Step 10: Below the nose, draw a long line for the wolf's mouth. Curve the right side of the line up toward the edge of the initial circle for the first half of the mouth. On the left side, curve the line up higher along the edge of the initial circle to create the side of the muzzle. Use a series of short strokes along the wolf's mouth for fur.

 

Step 11: Below the wolf's mouth, draw a curved line that's made up of short strokes for the furry chin. Add a few more lines on the sides of the mouth to complete the muzzle. Use the initial circle as a guide.

Step 12: Darken the triangular shape on the top, right for the wolf's first ear. Make the bottom tips longer. Inside the shape, draw a long line on the left side to give the ear more structure. Add a series of short strokes within the shape for the fur found inside the ear.

 

Step 13: Use the triangular shape on the top, left side as a guide to draw the wolf's other ear the same way. Darken the shape and make the bottom part longer. Add a line inside, on the right, for structure. Draw a series of short strokes across the inside of the wolf's ear for fur.

 

 

Step 14: Draw a series of short strokes along the basic path of the initial circle to create the shape of the wolf's head. The top of the head should be curved, like two small hills. As you draw the sides of the head, follow the path of the initial circle but make the shape wider at the bottom. Add the strokes along the circle's edge lightly at first. When you get the shape of the wolf's head right, darken the lines. The top part of the head should be narrow. It should be wider near the middle and narrower again at the bottom.

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Step 15: Draw a series of strokes inside the head to emphasize the fur. Add some strokes on the wolf's forehead and above the eyes for the brow. Draw a few strokes below the eyes to give the muzzle more structure. The strokes on the sides help mold the shape of the wolf's head under all the fur.

Step 16: For a cleaner look on your wolf portrait drawing, 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 wolf portrait drawing for extra detail. Shade using a series of short strokes all over the head to simulate fur. Use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. The strokes should radiate outward from the middle. Leave a big area around each eye blank for the white fur found there. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

Add the value very lightly at first, and then gradually build up to a darker value. Separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more fur-like texture on your wolf portrait drawing. Use a medium value on the top half of the head and bridge of the nose. The lower half and muzzle should be lighter.

Use a dark value around the wolf's eyes and on the nose. Leave a small area on the nose blank as a highlight. Continue to add darker strokes to build up the thick fur and the pattern on the fur. Shading your wolf portrait drawing can be very time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Use a dark value on the wolf's forehead and on a thin section below each eye. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.

Use lighter strokes on the bottom half of the wolf's head to emphasize the white fur. Use lighter strokes on the bottom half of the head to emphasize the white fur. Use a light value under the nose and muzzle for some shadows. It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for a more accurate depiction of a wolf. On either side of the nose, draw a few quick, short strokes for whiskers. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace.

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