How to Draw a Reindeer (Caribou)
Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Reindeer (Caribou)" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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 reindeer's body. The circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. The circle on the left should be slightly smaller. Don't draw them too far apart, otherwise your reindeer will end up too long.
Step 2: Draw a smaller circle on the right side of the body as a guide for the caribou's head.
Step 3: Draw a small arc on the lower right side of the head as a guide for the reindeer's muzzle.
Step 4: Draw an even smaller arc on the top of the head as a guide for the reindeer's ears.
Step 5: Draw a curved line on top of the head as a guide for the reindeer's antlers. You can make this guide bigger for bigger antlers.
Step 6: Draw a series of lines that connect the major shapes to create a guide for the rest of the reindeer's body.
Step 7: Draw four lines under the body (two below each circle) as guides for the reindeer's legs. The caribou will be stepping forward, so draw one of the lines in front shorter and bent. Bend the lines on the right too to indicate where the joints in the legs will be.
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 8: Draw the reindeer's eye inside the head on the upper left side. The shape of the eye is similar to a little football. Shade the inside of the eye except for a tiny circle to represent glare. Add a few lines around the eye for the texture of the fur.
Step 9: Draw the reindeer's nostril as a wavy shape near the tip of the arc on the right. Shade the wavy shape and add a few lines around it for extra detail.
Step 10: Use the tip of the intial arc as a guide to draw the rest of the reindeer's muzzle. Follow the basic path of the arc to create the top and bottom of the muzzle. Add a line near the middle for the mouth.
Step 11: Follow the basic path of the small arc on the head to create the caribou's ear. Draw the base of the ear farther inside the head. Add a few lines within the shape for the fur inside.
Step 12: Use the initial curved line as a guide to draw the front part of the reindeer's antlers. Make the shape of the antler thicker as you follow the basic path of the guide. Add a few rounded ends on top for the antler's tips. You can make these pointy if you'd like. Draw a small bump at the bottom, to the right of the ear, for the base that connects to the head.
Step 13: Draw the rest of the reindeer's head using the remaining lines and shapes as guides. The bottom part of the head should be a little higher. Add a few lines inside for the furry texture.
Step 14: Use the curved line on the head as a guide to draw the rest of the reindeer's antler. Make the shape of the antler thicker as you follow the basic path of the guide. When you get to the top, spread the tips of the antlers into four spikes. You can add more of these branches or make them longer if you'd like.
Step 15: Draw the reindeer's antler on the other side the same way. Most of the other antler is being blocked by the antler on this side, so only draw the small section peeking through. Follow the path of the first antler to create the second one but don't let their lines overlap.
Step 16: Use the lines under the right side of the body as guides to draw the caribou's front legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg as you follow the guide. Darken the lines only when you get the leg's structure right. Add a couple of small lines at the bottom for the hoof. Draw the front leg on the other side the same way. Sketch the leg lightly at first as you follow the guide. Darken it only when you get the structure right. Add a few small lines at the bottom for the hoof.
Step 17 Use the lines under the left side of the body as guides to draw the reindeer's hind legs. Sketch the shape of the leg lightly as you follow the basic path of the guide. Darken the line when you get the shape right. Pay attention to how the leg bends backward a bit. Draw the hind leg on the other side using the final line as a guide. Don't forget to add the hooves at the bottom using short lines.
Step 18: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the reindeer's body. Add a few extra strokes on the left side of the body for the short tail. Use a few quick, short strokes for the section under the neck for the loose skin found there.
Step 19 (optional): Erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines for a cleaner look. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your reindeer drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Add the value lightly at first, then gradually build up to the level of darkness that you want. 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 reindeer so it doesn't appear to be floating. Use a darker value near the middle of the shadow and a lighter value along the edge for the shadow's diffusion.
You can add even more value throughout your reindeer drawing for extra detail. Add the value by using strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Don't worry about shading too smoothly. The rough value gives the coat a coarse texture. Shading can be very time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. You can add the value to different sections of the body at a time to break up the shading process. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Remember to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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