How to Draw a Camel (Bactrian)
Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Camel (Bactrian)" 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 first part of the Bactrian camel'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 a perfect circle, trace the outer rim of a coin, a bottle cap or any other object with a circular edge. The circles should be around the same size, and their edges should touch.
Step 2: Draw another circle on the top, left side as a guide for the Bactrian camel's head. This circle should be about one- fourth the size of the first one. Don't place it too far way from the body.
Step 3: Inside the head, draw two intersecting lines, one vertical and one horizontal. These are construction lines that will help you place the camel's facial features later on.
Step 4: Inside the camel's head, on the upper, right side, draw a small arc as a guide for the ear.
Step 5: On the left side of the head, draw a bigger arc as a guide for the Bactrian camel's muzzle. The arc should have a horizontal orientation. Pay attention to the size of it in relation to the head.
Step 6: Draw two curved lines on the left side that connect the camel's head to the body and form the guide for the neck. The first line should be short, and the second line should be long and curved.
Step 7: Draw the rest of the guides for the Bactrian camel's body by first drawing a curved horizontal line at the bottom that connects the two circles. On top of the circles, draw the guides for the humps by first drawing an arc on the left. This arc shouldn't be directly above the center of the circle. Draw it slightly off to the right. The second arc should be a little bit smaller than the first one. The resulting shape of the guide line for the humps should be similar to the letter m. On the right side of the body, draw a short curved line as a guide for the tail.
Step 8: Under the first body circle, draw a long vertical line as a guide for the Bactrian camel's first front leg. Pay attention to the length of this line in relation to the body. Bend the tip a bit as a guide for the foot. Draw a similar line to the left as a guide for the second front leg.
Step 9: Draw a short vertical line on the right side of the circle on the right as a guide for the first hind leg. Continue drawing that line but angle it to the right, then angle it back down again. Bend it at the tip for the foot. Draw another line to the left as a guide for the camel's second hind leg. This line should bend slightly in the middle and at the bottom as a guide for the foot.
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 10: Lightly sketch an oval inside the head for the Bactrian camel's eye. Use the initial lines as guides for placement. When you get the shape and placement right, darken the lines. Add a thin shape at the top for the eyelashes. Shade the inside of the eye except for a tiny circle that represents glare. Shade the middle a bit darker for the pupil. Shade the eyelashes too. Draw a short curved line at the top for the eyelid. Draw a short curved line under the eye for more wrinkles. Draw a series of quick, short strokes around the camel's eye for fur.
Step 11: Inside the muzzle, on the left side, draw a thick curved horizontal line for the nostril. Add a line under it and a couple of curved lines above it to complete the shape of the camel's nose.
Step 12: Use the initial arc as a guide to draw the rest of the camel's muzzle. Draw two lines under the nose for the split upper lip. Then curve the second line to the right to create the mouth. Follow the basic path of the initial arc as you draw a curved line under the mouth to create the chin.
Step 13: Use a series of strokes in and around the initial small arc on the head to create the camel's furry ear.
Step 14: Darken the top part of the arc to finish the shape of the Bactrian camel's muzzle. Follow the top edge of the initial circle as you draw quick, short strokes to create the top of the furry head. Add some quick, short strokes along the lower edge of the initial circle for the bottom part of the head. Add a few more quick, short strokes within the head and under the muzzle.
Step 15: Use the initial curved lines as guides to draw the neck. Follow the basic path of the guides as you draw a series of quick, short strokes to give the neck a furry look. Use slightly longer lines at the bottom of the neck for a shaggier look. Add a few more quick, short strokes inside the neck to emphasize the camel's fur.
Step 16: Use the second line from the left under the body as a guide to draw the front leg that's on this side. The base of the camel's leg is covered in thick fur, so make the top part wide. The top part should overlap the guide on the left a little. Use quick, short strokes for a furry texture. Make the bottom half of the leg thinner as you follow the basic path of the guide. Make the foot wide at the bottom. Add a small line at the tip of the foot to split the toes.
Step 17: Use the line on the far left side as a guide to draw the other front leg the same way. Make the top part thick and use quick, short strokes to convey a furry texture. A big portion of this leg will be hidden by the camel's first leg. Make the bottom half thin and the foot wide.
Step 18: Use the line on the far right side as a guide to draw the Bactrian camel's first hind leg. The top part of the leg starts deep inside the body. Follow the basic path of the guide to create the shape of the leg. The top part of the leg should be thick and gradually get thinner toward the bottom. Add the joints where the guide bends. The shape of the foot should be wide. Add a small line at the tip of it to split the camel's toes.
Step 19: Use the last line as a guide to draw the camel's other hind leg. Follow the basic path of the guide as you draw the leg around it. Bend the leg at the middle. The top part of the leg is hidden by the body. Make the foot wide and add a line at the tip for the toes.
Step 20: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the Bactrian camel's body. Use quick, short strokes as you follow the m-shaped guide line to create the furry double hump. A Bactrian camel has two humps, like the letter B in its name. A Dromedary has one hump, like the letter D in its name. This is a good way to remember which is which. Keep following the outer edges of the guides as you draw the shape of the body. Use the small, curved line on the right side as a guide to draw the short 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 Bactrian camel 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. Continue adding the value until the entire body is covered in the appropriate shadows.
Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the camel so it doesn't appear to be floating.
You can add even more value throughout your camel drawing for extra detail. Camels don't have any kind of pattern on their coats, so just use a medium value throughout the body. Don't worry about shading too smoothly. The rough value gives the coat a furry texture. The tops of the humps should be dark. Darken the shadows a bit more too as you go along. Continue shading until the entire body is covered in a medium value. It's always a good idea to look at reference as you draw. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace.
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