In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Kangaroo (Jumping) step-by-step. The bounding gait of a Red Kangaroo allows them to cover 25 feet in a single leap and to jump 6 feet high!

 

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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 Kangaroo Jumping 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 left side of the paper as a guide for the front part of the kangaroo's body. First make four small marks to indicate the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. 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 right side, draw a bigger circle the same way as a guide for the back section of the kangaroo's body. If you're struggling to draw the circle, trace the outer rim of a coin, a lid or any other object with a circular edge. This circle should be more than twice the size of the first circle. Don't space the circles too far apart.

 

 

Step 3: On the left side, draw a smaller circle as a guide for the kangaroo's head. This circle should be smaller than the first circle. The three circles should be pretty close together.

 

Step 4: On the lower, left side of the kangaroo's head, draw a small arc as a guide for the muzzle.

 

 

Step 5: On top of the head, draw a smaller, thinner arc as a guide for the kangaroo's ears.

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Step 6: Draw a short line under the body circle on the left as a guide for the kangaroo's arm. Bend the tip of the line a bit.

 

Step 7: Under the circle on the right, draw a long line as a guide for the kangaroo's hind leg. The line should angle close to the bottom and bend toward the left.

 

 

Step 8: Connect the circles using a series of curved lines to create the guide for the rest of the body. Draw two short, curved lines that connect the two circles on the left create the guide for the kangaroo's neck. Add two longer, curved lines that connect the main circles to create the guide for the torso.

 

Step 9: On the right side, draw a long, curved line as a guide for the tail. Kangaroos have strong powerful tails, so draw this guide line almost as long as the length of the entire body.

 

 

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

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Step 10: Inside the head, near the left, lightly sketch a small oval for the kangaroo's eye. When you get the size and position of the eye right, darken the lines but make the sides pointier. Shade the inside of the eye except for a tiny circle off to the side to represent glare. Above the eye , draw a short, curved line for the eyelid. Higher above the eye, draw a longer, curved line for the thick brow. Add a line below the eye too for a wrinkle.

 

Step 11: Inside the muzzle, close to the tip, lightly sketch a small triangle for the kangaroo's nose. When you get the size and position right, darken the shape. Make the top edge a bit wavier. Make the top corner longer and curve the right side inward to create the nostril.

 

 

Step 12: On top of the nose, draw a line that's almost parallel to the edge of the initial arc for the bridge of the nose. Under the nose, draw a line that curves toward the head for the mouth. To the right of the mouth, draw a series of short strokes for the bit of fur found there. Under the mouth and fur, draw a couple of lines for the kangaroo's chin and lower jaw. Use the arc as a guide.

 

Step 13: Use the arc on top of the head as a guide to draw the kangaroo's first ear. Follow the path of the arc but make the sides wavier and the top pointier as you darken the lines. Make the bottom part narrow and then add a curved line to the right for the exterior of the ear. Make the bottom line longer so that the base of the ear is inside the head.

 

 

Step 14: To the left, draw a wavy line for the small section of the kangaroo's other ear.

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Step 15: Darken the left edge of the main circle but make the line wavier to create the shape of the head. At the bottom, make the line for the jaw longer and add a few short strokes inside the head for the kangaroo's fur.

 

Step 16: Use the short line under the body as a guide to draw the kangaroo's arm. Follow the path of the guide and lightly sketch the shape of the arm around it. When you get the shape of the arm right, darken the lines. The top part of the arm should be wide. After the bend, the arm should be thinner. Curve the bottom part to the right and make the bottom thin for the wrist. Add a small arc at the bottom, on the left side, for the digit curving back. Add more curved lines for the kangaroo's other visible digits. Make the tips pointy for the claws.

 

 

Step 17: Now use the long, angled line on the right as a guide to draw the kangaroo's hind leg. Follow the path of the guide and draw the shape of the leg around it. Make the top wider and the bottom narrower. The top part of the leg should be close to the top of the body. Curve the shape near the middle to create the top of the big foot at the bottom.

When you get the shape of the big leg right, darken the lines. Draw a curved line at the tip of the kangaroo's foot for the big toe. At the tip of the toe, draw a pointy shape for the claw. Near the middle of the foot, at the bottom, draw a smaller curved line with a pointy tip for the smaller toe. Darken the right edge of the leg too. Notice how big this leg is in relation to the rest of the body. Add a few short strokes inside the kangaroo's leg for the fur and the outline of the tendons.

 

Step 18: To the left of the arm, add a line for the kangaroo's other arm. Add some more curved lines at the bottom for this other arm's digits. Add the visible section of the leg on the other side the same way. Because the kangaroo is sideways, only a very small portion of the appendages on the other side will be visible.

 

 

Step 19: Use the shapes in the middle as guides to draw the rest of the kangaroo's body. Simply darken the outer edges of the guide to create the shape of the body. Extend the lines on the right farther to the right. At the bottom, use series of short strokes for the fur.

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Step 20: Use the long, curved line on the right as a guide to draw the kangaroo's tail. Follow the path of the guide and draw the shape of the tail around it. The base of the tail should be thick, and the shape should gradually get thinner toward the tip. Red kangaroos use their tails to support their entire weight, so make the shape long and thick.

 

 

Step 21: 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 drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

Add a cast shadow underneath to show that the kangaroo is jumping. The lower the shadow, the higher off the ground the kangaroo will be.

You can add even more value to your drawing for extra detail. Kangaroos don't really have a pattern on their coats, so just use a medium value throughout the body. As you add the value to the body, use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Darken up the shadows as you shade the kangaroo's body. The toes and fingers should be darker too. Don't worry about shading too smoothly. The coat should have a coarse texture. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's always a good idea to use reference as you draw. Remember to pause the video to draw at your own pace.

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