In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Pika 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.

 

The Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

 

To draw a Pika 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 circle near the middle of the paper as a guide for the pika's body. First make four small marks to indicate its 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, trace the outer rim of a coin, a bottle cap or any other object with a circular edge. 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: On the lower, right side of the circle, add the guide for the pika's muzzle by first making a small mark. Connect the mark to the circle using curved lines to form an arc.

 

 

Step 3: Draw a sloping line across the head. This is a construction line that will help you place the pika's facial features later.

 

Step 4: Draw two small arcs on the head as guides for the pika's ears. The ear on the right will be smaller than the one on the right, so make that arc smaller.

 

 

Step 5: Draw a big circle to the left of the head as a guide for the pika's body. Draw this circle the same way as the head. Mae four small marks, then connect the marks using curved lines. This circle should be almost twice as big as the first circle. The edges of the circles should touch.

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Step 6: Draw two lines that connect the circles together to create the guide for the rest of the pika's body. The line at the bottom should be longer and curvier.

 

Step 7: Draw two short, angled lines under the body as guides for the pika's feet.

 

 

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

 

Step 8: Lightly sketch the eye inside the head as a small circle. Use the construction line as a guide to help you place the eye. When you get the size and position of the eye right, darken the lines. Make the sides a bit pointier. Add a couple of curved lines around the pika's eye for the bare skin.

 

 

Step 9: Inside the eye, draw a tiny circle to represent glare. Shade in the eye using a dark value. Don't overlap the tiny glare circle as you shade the eye. Don't push down too hard with your pencil, otherwise the graphite can get shiny and you may tear the paper.

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Step 10: Lightly sketch a small V-shaped line for the nose near the tip of the muzzle. Use the initial line as a guide for placement. Darken the pika's nose when you get the placement right. Add a couple of short lines above for the bridge of the nose.

 

Step 11: Under the nose, draw a line that curves to the left for the first half of the mouth. To the right, draw another line that curves up toward the nose to finish the shape of the mouth. Below the pika's mouth, draw a series of short strokes along the path of the initial arc to create the fuzzy chin. Draw a few more lines around the nose to emphasize the shape of the muzzle. Use short strokes to represent fur.

 

 

Step 12: Darken the small arc on the top, left side of the head to create the first ear. Inside the arc, draw a series of short strokes for the fur found in the pika's ear.

 

Step 13: Darken the outer edges of the initial guides at the top to create the shape of the head. As you darken the line at the top, make the shape bulge out a bit to indicate the pika's eye on the other side. Use a series of short strokes along the bottom to represent fur.

 

 

Step 14: Darken the small arc at the top to create the pika's other ear.

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Step 15: Use the angled line on the right as a guide to draw the first front foot. Follow the path of the guide and lightly sketch the shape of the pika's foot around it. When you get the shape right, darken the lines. Use short strokes at the top for the fur. Draw a couple of curved lines at the tip to separate the pika's individual toes.

 

Step 16: Use the angled line on the left to draw the hind foot the same way. Lightly sketch the foot around the guide and only darken the lines when you get the shape right. This foot should be bigger than the front foot. Draw the pika's toes at the front using a curved line.

 

 

Step 17: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the pika's body. Darken the outer edges of the guides to create the shape of the body. Use a series of strokes along the path of the guides to create the furry body. The longer you make these strokes, the shaggier the pika's fur will appear.

 

Step 18: Use the first front foot as a template to draw the pika's other front foot. Most of this foot will be hidden behind the body, so only draw the toes.

 

 

Step 19: 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 pika drawing for extra detail. Use a dark value for the inside of the ear and a medium value for the rest of the head. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Shade using tiny strokes to emphasize the fur's texture. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

The strokes should go in the general direction of the pika's fur. Add some dots on the muzzle for the base of the whiskers. Use a slightly darker value along the left side to create shadows. Use the same technique to shade the rest of the body. Separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more fur-like texture.

Shading your pika drawing can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Use a light value for the fur at the bottom. Draw a series of long strokes on the muzzle for the whiskers.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the pika so it doesn't appear to be floating. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace.

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To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

 

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