How to Draw a Skunk
Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Skunk" video 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 skunk's body. The circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. The edges of the circles should touch. The circle on the right should be a bit bigger and should be placed a bit higher. Leave enough room on either side for the head and long tail.
Step 2: Draw another circle that's about one-fourth the size of the first one on the left side as a guide for the skunk's head.
Step 3: Draw a small arc on the left side of the head as a guide for the skunk's muzzle.
Step 4: Draw an even smaller arc inside the head, near the top, as a guide for the skunk's ear.
Step 5: Draw a series of lines that connect the major shapes to form the rest of the body and tail. Add a couple of curved lines at the front for the neck and a couple in the middle to complete the body. Draw a long curved line on the top right side as a guide for the skunk's tail.
Step 6: Draw four small lines under the body as guides for the skunk's short legs. Bend the lines a little to indicate where the joints 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 7: Draw the skunk's eye as a circle inside the head, close to the left edge. Add a couple of lines around the eye for extra detail. Shade the eye except for a tiny circle that represents glare.
Step 8: Draw the skunk's nose on the tip of the arc. Use a dark line for the tip of the nose and use quick, short strokes on the right side for the fur. Add a couple of small lines within the shape for the nostril.
Step 9: Draw the rest of the skunk's muzzle by using the initial arc as a guide. Follow the basic path of the arc but make the muzzle narrower. Add a line under the nose for the mouth and a smaller line under the mouth for the chin.
Step 10: Use the arc inside the head as a guide to draw the skunk's ear. Darken the arc shape and add a few lines inside for the ear's structure and fur at the base.
Step 11: Draw the rest of the skunk's head using the initial circle as a guide. Follow the path of the guides as you use quick, short strokes to create the furry texture.
Step 12: Use the lines on the left side as guides to draw the skunk's front legs. Follow the basic path of the guide as you make the shape of the leg thicker. Use quick, short strokes for the fur. Add the toes and claws in front using a series of short, curved lines. Use the other line as a guide to draw the visible portion of the front leg on the other side of the body.
Step 13: Now use the lines on the right as guides to draw the skunk's hind legs. Sketch the leg lightly at first as you follow the path of the guide. Darken the lines only when you get the shape right. The hind legs should be slightly longer than the front legs. Add the hind leg on the other side of the body using the last line.
Step 14: Use the initial lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the body. Use quick, short strokes as you follow the guides to give the body a furry texture.
Step 15: Use the long curved line on the right as a guide to draw the skunk's big tail. Skunks have big furry tails, so make the shape wider as you follow the basic path of the guide. You can use even longer strokes to make the fur on the tail appear longer and shaggier.
Step 16 (optional): 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 that you may have accidentally erased.
Finals Step: Add some shading to your drawing to give the skunk its distinct striped look. Add the value by using strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Outline the shape of the stripes along the back using a series of quick, short strokes to represent fur.
Striped skunks usually have two stripes across the back. The second stripe is on the other side of the body and not visible from this angle. Skunks' coats are pretty dark, so push hard on your pencil as you add the value to the body. Be careful not to shade the stripe. Shading can be quite time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks as you add the dark value.
Continue shading until the entire body (except the stripe) is covered in a dark value. Sometimes striped skunks have lighter fur on their feet, so you can add a lighter value here by pushing softer on your pencil. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing.
Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the skunk so it doesn't appear to be floating. Don't forget to pause the "How to Draw a Skunk" video to follow at your own pace.
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