Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Pug (Head Detail)" 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 big circle in the middle of the paper as a guide for the pug's head. To draw the circle, first make four small marks to indicate the height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. The farther apart the marks are, the bigger the circle will be. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make mistake. If you're having a hard time drawing the circle, trace the outer rim of a bowl, a lid or any other object with a circular edge.

 

Step 2: Estimate the middle of the circle, then make a small mark slightly above the middle. Use that mark as a guide to draw a long, curved construction line to help you place the pug's facial features later. At the top, draw a shorter vertical line as another construction guide.

 

Step 3: Draw a smaller circle on the lower half of the head as a guide for the pug's muzzle. Use the same technique as before. Use four marks for the height and width, and curved lines to connect the marks. The marks for the circle's length should be slightly above the horizontal construction line and the lower edge of the big circle. Pay attention to this circle's size in relation to the dog's head. Don't draw it too small.

 

Step 4: On top of the pug's head, on either side, draw the guides for the ears as angled lines. These guides should be similar to triangles minus the bottom edge. The bottom tips of these guides should extend as far down as the horizontal construction line.

 

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 5: Lightly sketch the pug's eyes inside the head as two small circles. Use the initial construction lines as guides for size and placement of the eyes. Pay attention to how far the eyes are from the edge of the big circle and from the dog's muzzle too.

When you get the size and placement right, darken the shapes of the pug's eyes. As you darken the shapes, make the sides a bit pointier for the corners of the eyes. Add a few curved lines around the eyes for the eyelids and skin. Use short strokes for the lines above the eyes to create a fur-like texture.

 

Step 6: Inside the eyes, draw a couple of curved lines for the irises. The lines on the inner sides should be longer to make the pug's eyes bulge out. In the middle of each eye, draw a tiny circle and shade it in for the pupils. On the side of each pupil, draw another small circle for glare. Don't shade this one in.

 

Step 7: Lightly sketch a small oval in the middle of the head, where all the guides come together for the nose. The top edge of the oval should be a bit higher than the guide for the pug's muzzle. When you get the size and shape right, darken the top edge. As you darken the sides, curl the lines inward to create the nostrils. Add an extra curved line under each nostril to make them bigger. Add a short vertical line at the bottom that splits the nose in half and darken the lower edge too.

 

Step 8: Start drawing the muzzle by first darkening the top half of the initial smaller circle. Make these lines thicker too as you darken them. Draw a curved line parallel to the edge of the initial circle for the pug's folded skin above the nose. This line should be made up of short strokes to give the fold a fur-like texture. It's OK if this line overlaps the eyes a little bit because the folded skin is in front of the eyes.

 

Step 9: Under the pug's nose, draw a vertical line that almost reaches the halfway point of the initial circle. At the bottom, split the line in two and curve them out to create the mouth. The edges of the mouth should reach the sides of the initial circle guide. On either side of the dog's mouth, draw a curved line for the loose skin. Use a few short strokes as you draw these lines for the furry texture.

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Step 10: Add the pug's tongue by first drawing a tiny V-shaped line under the mouth. Now draw a longer U-shaped line below for the front edge of the tongue. Sketch lightly at first to get the shape right. Add a few lines inside the tongue. Add a series of dots and dashes on the muzzle for extra detail.

 

Step 11: Add the lower lip under the pug's tongue using a series of curved lines. The front part of the lip is hidden behind the tongue, so just draw the visible part on the sides.

 

Step 12: Use the initial circle as a guide to draw the pug's chin below the tongue. Draw a series of broken lines along the path of the guide to create the shape of the chin. Use quick, short strokes as you draw the chin for a furry texture.

 

Step 13: Use the angled lines on the head as guides to draw the pug's ears. Darken the path of the guide using curved lines and short strokes. Make the overall shape of the ear more round and less angled. Use the angled line on the right as a guide to draw the other ear the same way. The dog's two ears don't have to look exactly the same , but they should be somewhat symmetrical.

 

Step 14: Use the main circle as a guide to draw the rest of the pug's head. Follow the basic path of the circle as you create the shape of the head. Use a series of quick, short strokes as you draw the head for a fur-like texture. The lines at the bottom should be more broken up to indicate where the head connects to the body.

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Step 15: Add more lines and short strokes throughout the face for wrinkles. Most of the wrinkles are located above and around the eyes, so focus on that area. Simply draw curved lines that are made up of short strokes above and between the eyes. Some pugs have more wrinkles than others, so draw as many or as few as you want. Add some wrinkles under the eyes and on the side of the face as well.

 

Step 16: 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 pug drawing for extra detail. Use a dark value for the nose and muzzle. Don't shade in the tongue yet. Push down on your pencil to get a dark value. But don't push down too hard because the graphite gets shiny and you might tear the paper. Use a lighter value for a couple thin sections on the dog's lips to represent shine.

Shade the pug's eyes using a dark value too. Use a slightly lighter value at the bottom of the eyes for a gradient effect. The fur around the eyes should be dark as well. You can also just shade the eyes and nose for a white pug. Use a series of quick, short strokes to shade the wrinkle above the nose. The white of the paper comes through the individual strokes, making the value lighter. This process is very time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks.

Use a dark value to shade the dog's ears too. Use a slightly lighter value for the edges of the ears to represent a bit of shine. Now use quick, short strokes to shade in the rest of the head. The strokes should radiate outward. They should be vertical at the top and bottom, and horizontal on the sides. Let the white of the paper come through the space between the strokes.

If you have a pet pug, try to replicate its coat pattern and wrinkles on your drawing. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace. Use a light value to shade the tongue.

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