Please PAUSE the "How to Draw an Orangutan" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

Step 1: Draw a circle as a guide for the orangutan's head. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. Leave enough room on the bottom for the body.

 

Step 2: Inside the small circle, draw two intersecting lines. These lines will help you place the orangutan's facial features later. Curve the lines a bit to contour to the shape of the circle.

 

Step 3: Draw a small circle on the lower part of the head as a guide for the orangutan's mouth.

 

Step 4: Draw a bigger circle under the head as a guide for the body. The circle should be almost twice as big as the first. Don't draw the top part because it should be behind the head.

 

Step 5: On either side of the body, draw a long line with a circle on the end as guides for the orangutan's arms. The length of the guides should extend below the body. The circles at the end should be a bit bigger than the circle for the mouth.

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Step 6: Draw two more lines with circles on the ends under the body as guides for the orangutan's legs. The lines should be smaller, and they should angle a bit to indicate where the knee 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 eyes inside the orangutan's head using the lines as guides for placement. The shape of the eyes is similar to tiny footballs. Draw a circle inside each eye for the eye's irises. Inside each iris, add a small dot for the pupils. Shade in the irises using a value that's lighter than the pupil. Shade in the rest of the eyes too using a slightly darker value. Add a few lines around the eyes for the wrinkly skin.

 

Step 8: Draw the thick brow above the eyes using a series of lines. A curved line directly above each eye makes the eye sink deeper into the face. Add a few lines higher above the orangutan's eyes for the top part of the brow ridge.

 

Step 9: Draw the orangutan's nose under the eyes and inside the small initial circle. The nose basically consists of two small slits for the nostrils placed to the left of the construction line. Draw a few curved lines around the nostrils for the nose's structure.

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Step 10: Draw the mouth under the nose and inside the small initial circle. Draw the left side of the mouth by following the curvature of the small circle. Then add the orangutan's mouth and the lower lip close to the bottom edge.

 

Step 11: Draw the beard-like hair around the lips using quick, short strokes. Don't draw every individual hair strand. Instead draw the basic shape of the beard as a large clump around the mouth. The orangutan's beard should be long and extend below the bottom edge of the main circle.

 

Step 12: Use a main circle as a guide to draw the hair line and face. The hairline should be above the eyes and should curve down to the right. Use quick, short strokes to draw it. Use curved lines as you follow the path of the circle to create the cheek flaps that male orangutans have. You can make these cheek flaps as wide or as narrow as you'd like.

 

Step 13: Use the rest of the initial circle as a guide to draw the outside portion of the head. Follow the basic path of the initial circle as you use quick, short strokes to create the outside of the orangutan's head.

 

Step 14: Use the line on the right side as a guide to draw the orangutan's right arm. Lightly stretch the shape of the thick arm as you follow the basic path of the line. When you get the structure of the arm right, darken the lines using quick short strokes.

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Step 15: Use the circle as the bottom as a guide to draw the hand. Use a few curved lines to create the thumb and curved index finger on the left side of the hand. Add the orangutan's other fingers using curved lines too. The shape of the hand should fit inside the small circle.

 

Step 16: Use the lines under the orangutan's body as guides to draw the legs. Sketch the shape of the leg lightly at first as you follow the guide line. When you have the structure right, darken the lines using quick, short strokes for the long, shaggy fur. Draw the leg on the right side the same way. The orangutan will be sitting, so curve the shape of the legs a bit.

 

Step 17: Use the small circles as guides to draw the orangutan's feet. Use a series of curved lines to represent the folded digits. The feet and the folded digits should fit within the shape of the initial circle. The feet are basically hairless, so don't use quick, short strokes to draw them.

 

Step 18: Use the big circle under the orangutan's head as a guide to draw the body. Follow the path of the circle as you darken the lines using quick, short strokes for the fur. Use longer strokes for the bottom of the body and add some fur to the chest too.

 

Step 19: Use the line and circle on the left side as a guide to draw the orangutan's remaining arm. Follow the shape of the guide as you widen the arm and darken the lines. Use a series of curved lines within the shape of the circle to draw the bent fingers and thumb.

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Step 20 (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 orangutan 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 shading and vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.

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

You can add more value throughout your orangutan drawing for more detail. Orangutans have orange-red fur, so you can color your drawing instead if you'd like. The fur doesn't have a pattern, so use a single value for the entire body. Use smooth strokes for the face but don't shade the fur too smoothly. The rough value creates a furry texture. Add the value by using strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Continue adding strokes until the entire body is covered. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Don't forget to pause the "How to Draw an Orangutan" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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