How to Draw a Jerboa (Long-Eared)
Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Jerboa (Long-Eared)" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:
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 page as a guide for the jerboa'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 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 top, right side, draw another circle the same way as a guide for the jerboa's head. Make four small marks to indicate the circle's height and width, and then connect the marks using curved lines. Pay attention to the size and position of this circle in relation to the first one. It should be just a little bigger.
Step 3: Inside the head, near the bottom, draw a curved line as a guide to help you place the jerboa's facial features later. Add a curved, vertical line on the top, right side of the head for another construction line.
Step 4: On the bottom, right side of the head, draw a V-shaped line as a guide for the jerboa's muzzle.
Step 5: Draw the guide for the jerboa's ear by first making a small mark high above the head, on the left side. Now connect that mark to the head using long, curved lines to form an arc. You can make this guide shorter if you're drawing a species of jerboa with smaller ears. Draw a smaller arc on the right side the same way as a guide for the other ear.
Step 6: Draw a couple of lines that connect the two circles to complete the guide for the jerboa's body.
Step 7: Draw two long lines under the body as guides for the legs. Jerboas have very long legs. Pay attention to their length in relation to the rest of the body. Bend the lines at the top a bit to indicate where the joints will be.
Step 8: Under the head, draw a short, angled line as a guide for the front limb. Starting on the lower, left side of the body, draw a long, curved line as a guide for the tail. Jerboas use their tail as a prop when standing, so make this guide long.
That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.
Step 9: Lightly sketch the jerboa's eye inside the head as a small circle. Use the initial lines as guides for placement. When you get the size and position right, darken the shape of the eye. Inside the eye, draw a tiny circle to represent glare. Shade in the eye but leave the tiny glare circle blank.
Make the middle part of the jerboa's eye extra dark for the pupil. You can also leave a thin section near the edges of the eye blank for more glare. Start shading the eye lightly, and then gradually darken it to the level that you're happy with. Add a curved line at the top and bottom of the eye for the eyelids. Draw a series of short strokes around the eye for fur-like texture.
Step 10: Lightly sketch a small oval inside of the jerboa's muzzle for the nose. When you get the size and position of the nose right, darken the bottom part using short, curved lines for the nostrils. Darken the top part of the nose using short strokes for a furry texture.
Step 11: Darken the initial V-shaped line but make it rounder to create the jerboa's muzzle. Draw a series of short strokes around the nose to give the muzzle a fur-like texture.
Step 12: Use the arc on the left side as a guide to draw the first ear. Darken the basic path of the arc but make the shape a bit wavier on the sides. The bottom part of the jerboa's ear should stretch farther in toward the head than the initial guide. Add a few curved lines near the bottom of the shape for the ear's opening. Add a long, curved line near the left edge for the curved part of the ear.
Step 13: Use the arc on the right as a guide to draw the jerboa's other ear the same way. Darken the path of the arc but make it wavier to create the shape of the ear. Add a long, curved line near the middle to indicate the curving shape of the ear.
Step 14: Use the initial circle as a guide to draw the rest of the jerboa's head. Darken the edge of the circle using short strokes to give the head a fur-like texture. Use a broken line to darken the lower, left side to indicate the connection to the body.
Step 15: Use the line under the head as a guide to draw the front limb. Follow the guide and draw the thick shape of the limb around it. Use short strokes for the fur at the bottom. On the right side, draw a series of short, thin, curved arcs for the jerboa's small digits.
Step 16: Draw a few more short, curved arcs for the digits on the other front limb. Most of this front limb will be hidden behind the jerboa's body, so only draw the visible digits.
Step 17: Use the long, angled line on the left as a guide to draw the jerboa's first leg. Follow the guide and lightly sketch the shape of the leg around it. At the top, draw a curved line made up of short strokes for the furry base of the leg. Curve the shape at the top to create the joint. When you get the leg right, darken the lines.
Make the jerboa's leg very thin. On the left side, draw a small, curved line for the first toe. At the bottom, draw a series of curved lines to separate the individual toes. Jerboas walk on their tippy toes, so curve the lines for the toes upward. The toes at the bottom should be wide and thick to support the jerboa's weight.
Step 18: Use the line on the right side as a guide to draw the other leg the same way. Start by lightly sketching the shape of the leg around the guide line. Jerboas have skinny legs, so keep the shape of the leg close to the guide. When you get the shape of the leg right, darken the lines. Use short, curved lines at the bottom to separate the individual toes. Don't forget to add the furry base at the top and bend the leg at the joint.
Step 19: Use the shapes between the head and legs as guides to draw the rest of the body. Use short strokes along the outer edges of the guides to create the shape of the body. Don't draw these strokes too long, otherwise your jerboa's fur will be too long.
Step 20: Use the wavy line on the left side as a guide to draw the jerboa's tail. Follow the path of the guide as you draw the tail around it. Keep the lines for the tail close to the guide so that you get a thin tail shape. Use a series of short strokes around the end of the guide for the bushy tip of the tail.
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 jerboa drawing for extra detail. Use a smooth, medium value for the main part of the ears. Use a darker value along the edges. Shade the rest of the body using a medium value. As you shade the body, use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and emphasizes the fur-like texture.
Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Use a darker value along the bottom of the jerboa's body for shadows. Use smooth shading for the tail and legs. The tip of the tail should have a darker value. Shading can be time- consuming, so be patient and take breaks.
Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the jerboa so it doesn't appear to be floating. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.
For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.
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