How to Draw a Wildebeest
Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Wildebeest" 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 a small circle on the left side as a guide for the top part of the wildebeest's head. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. Leave enough room on the right side for the rest of the body.
Step 2: Draw a U-shaped arc under the circle as a guide for the lower part of the wildebeest's head.
Step 3: Draw two intersecting lines inside the head to help you place the wildebeest's facial features later on.
Step 4: Draw two smaller U-shaped arcs on either side of the wildebeest's head, close to the top, as guides for the ears.
Step 5: Draw two wavy lines on top of the wildebeest's head, between the ears, as guides for the horns.
Step 6: Draw two big circles to the right side of the head as guides for the wildebeest's body. The first circle should be placed with the left portion lightly behind the head, so make sure the lines don't overlap. The second circle should be smaller. Don't place the circles too far apart, otherwise the body will be too long.
Step 7: Draw four lines under the wildebeest's body (two under each circle) as guides for the legs. Bend the lines to indicate where the joints will be. The lines on the right side should bend more.
Step 8: Draw two lines that connect the circles to form the rest of the body. Add a long line on the right side as a guide for the wildebeest'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: Draw the eyes inside the wildebeest's head using the lines as guides for placement. First lightly sketch two circles. Then darken the lines into a shape similar to a little football. Shade the inside of the eyes using a dark value. Add a few lines around the eyes for extra detail.
Step 10: Use the small arcs on the head as guides to draw the wildebeest's ears. Follow the basic path of the arcs as you darken the lines and create the outer shape of the ears. Add a few lines within the shape for the ear's structure and quick, short strokes for the fur.
Step 11: Use the wavy lines on top of the head as guides to draw the wildebeest's horns. Follow the basic path of the guide as you darken the lines and make the shape thicker. The base of the horn should be thick and gradually get smaller and closer tot he top and end at the pointy tip. Draw the horn on the right the same way. A tiny portion on the bottom of the horns should rest behind the ears.
Step 12: Draw the muzzle near the bottom part of the initial U-shaped arc. Darken the bottom part and add a series of curved lines on the sides for the wildebeest's big nostril. Under the muzzle, use a series of quick, short strokes to create the shape of the hair on the chin and neck.
Step 13: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the head. Follow the basic path of the guides but make the sides of the head thinner as you darken the lines. Add a few more lines within the shape of the head for extra detail. Use quick, short strokes to create a furry texture.
Step 14: Use the two lines on the left side as guides to draw the front legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg on this side of the body as you follow the path of the guide line. When you get the structure right, darken the lines. Draw the hoof as a line at the bottom. Use the other line as a guide to draw the wildebeest's front foot on the other side the same way. Bend the feet forward a bit at the joints and draw an indentation at the bottom to create the shape of the hoof.
Step 15: Use the two lines on the right side as guides to draw the hind legs. Follow the basic path of the guide line as you lightly sketch the shape of the wildebeest's leg. Darken the lines only when you have the structure right. Bend the shape of the leg at the joints. Draw the hind leg on the other side the same way. The base of the hind legs should be thicker than the front legs. Don't forget the hooves at the bottom!
Step 16: Use the initial shapes and lines as guides to draw the rest of the body. Simply darken the initial lines to create the main outer shape of the torso.
Step 17: Use the line on the right as a guide to draw the wildebeest's tail. Make the shape thicker as you follow the guide and add the bushy tip using quick, short strokes. Add some longer strokes within the shape of the body for the long mane across the back.
Step 18 (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 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. Add the value lightly at first, then gradually build up to the level of darkness that you want. Continue adding the value so that all of the body has the appropriate shadows.
Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the wildebeest so it doesn't appear to be floating.
You can add even more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. The head, beard and mane are the darkest parts of the wildebeest. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Use a lighter value when shading the rest of the wildebeest's body. Continue adding the value until the entire body is shaded. Wildebeests have stripes along the neck, so add a darker value here to create the pattern. Remember to pause the "How to Draw a Wildebeest" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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