Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Dog (Great Dane)" 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 two circles as guides for the Great Dane's body. First draw four small marks for the height and width of the circle, then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. But the circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides.

If you do want perfect circles, trace the outer rim of a coin, a bottle cap or any other object with a circular edge. The circle on the left should be smaller than the one on the right. Don't draw these two circles too far apart, otherwise the dog's torso will be too long.

 

Step 2: Draw another circle on the top, right side as a guide for the Great Dane's head. This circle should be about one-third the size of the first circle. Pay attention to the space between this circle and the first one. This will determine the length of the dog's neck.

 

Step 3: Draw a curved horizontal line across the head. This construction line will help you place the Great Dane's facial features later. Add a curved vertical line on the top right side of the head for another construction line.

 

Step 4: Draw a small circle on the lower right side of the head as a guide for the dog's muzzle. The top edge of this circle should touch the construction line. A big part of the circle should be outside the head. Pay attention to the size of this circle in relation to the Great Dane's head.

 

Step 5: Draw a couple of triangle-like shapes on top of the head as guides for the Great Dane's ears. The end result of the two guides should be similar to the letter M.

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Step 6: Draw a couple of long vertical lines under the first circle as guides for the front legs. Bend the line a bit near the bottom to indicate the joint and again at the tip for the foot. The guide for the Great Dane's other leg should be a bit shorter because it's on the other side of the body.

 

Step 7: Draw another two lines under the body circle on the left for the Great Dane's hind legs. This line should have more of a diagonal orientation and bend a couple of times along the way for the joints. Add the guide for the other hind leg to the left. It should look the same, only shorter.

 

Step 8: Draw two lines that connect the head to the body to form the guide for the dog's neck. Now draw two longer lines that connect the first two circles to complete the guide for the body. Draw a long curved line on the right side of the body as a guide for the Great Dane's tail.

 

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.

 

Step 9: Lightly sketch the eyes inside the head as two small circles. When you get the placement and size of the Great Dane's eyes right, darken the lines. Use the initial lines as guides. The eye on the right should be thinner and smaller because of the way the head is turned.

Inside each eye, near the middle, draw a tiny dot for the pupils. Shade in the rest of the eyes except for a tiny circle that represents glare. Add a series of short lines around the dog's eyes for the wrinkles and fur. Use quick, short strokes above the eyes to represent a furry texture.

 

Step 10: Draw the Great Dane's nose inside the muzzle by first lightly sketching a small oval. When you get the size and placement of the nose right, darken the lines. Use quick, short strokes at the top to represent fur and darken the sides. Add two small ovals in the middle and shade them in for the nostrils. Connect the nostrils to the sides. Add a small vertical line to split the nose at the bottom, and then draw a point underneath.

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Step 11: Draw the left side of the top lip as a long, curved line that starts under the nose. The Great Dane's lips droop down a lot, so extend them to the bottom edge of the initial circle. Start with a light sketch to get the shape right. Use wavy lines for an organic feel. Add a few quick, short strokes on the left side for the dog's wrinkles and fur.

 

Step 12: Follow the basic path of the initial circle as you draw the right side of the Great Dane's upper lip. Add a small, curved line under the lips for the visible portion of the chin.

 

Step 13: Use the triangle- like line on the left side of the head as a guide to draw the Great Dane's first ear. Shape the ear as you darken the lines and add a few strokes within for the fur and inner structure.

 

Step 14: Draw the dog's other ear the same way but make it thinner because of the perspective. Darken the basic triangle- like shape but make the ear wavier, and then add a few strokes inside for the fur.

 

Step 15: Use both initial circles as guides to draw the rest of the Great Dane's head. Follow the basic path of the circles but as you darken the head, make the shape blockier. Use a series of quick, short strokes that form arcs above the eyes for the brows. Add a few quick, short strokes on the lower left side of the head for the fur along the dog's jaw.

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Step 16: Use the second line from the right as a guide to draw the front leg that's on this side. Follow the path of the guide and lightly sketch the shape of the leg around it. The leg should be thickest at the top. Bulge the shape out a bit where the joints are. When you get the shape of the Great Dane's leg right, darken the lines. Draw a couple of short, curved lines at the bottom to separate the individual toes. At the tip of each toe, draw a tiny triangle-like shape for the dog's nails.

 

Step 17: Use the line on the far right side as a guide to draw the other front leg the same way. Follow the basic path of the guide as you draw the shape of the leg around it. Sketch lightly at first and only darken the lines when you get the leg's structure right. Draw the Great Dane's visible toes at the bottom by using a short, curved line.

 

Step 18: Use the line on the far left side as a guide to draw the Great Dane's first hind leg. The hind legs bend a lot more than the front legs, so follow the guides closely. The top of the leg should be wide, and it should gradually get thinner farther down. Don't forget to draw lightly as you follow the guide and only darken the lines when you get the shape right. Draw the dog's toes and the nails at the bottom using a few short lines.

 

Step 19: Use the last line under the body as a guide to draw the Great Dane's other hind leg the same way. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg around the guide, and then darken the lines when you get the structure right.

 

Step 20: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the Great Dane's body. Simply darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the overall body shape. As you darken the guides , make the lines more curved and less rigid for a more organic feel. If you made your initial guides too thin or wide, now is the time to correct them to give your dog the proper body shape. Add a few quick, short strokes within the shape of the body to emphasize the muscle structure. This part isn't too necessary. You can skip these strokes if you'd like.

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Step 21: Use the line on the left as a guide to draw the tail. The tip of the Great Dane's tail should come to a point.

 

Step 22: 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 Great Dane 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.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the dog so it doesn't appear to be floating.

You can add even more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. Great Danes have different types of coats (some have spots or stripes!), so you can shade yours however you'd like. If you have a pet Great Dane or a similar breed, try to duplicate its coat on your drawing. For a simple coat, simply use a medium value all over the body.

You can also make the shadows darker to emphasize the structure. Continue shading until the dog's entire body is covered in a medium value. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Remember to pause the video to draw at your own pace.

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