Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Coyote" 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 coyote's body. The circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. The circles should be around the same size. Don't draw them too far apart, otherwise your coyote will end up too long. Leave enough room on the sides too for the head and tail.

Step 2: Draw another circle on the top left side as a guide for the coyote's head. This circle should be about half the size of the first one and their edges should almost touch.

 

Step 3: Draw two curved, intersecting lines inside the head to help you draw the coyote's facial features later on.

Step 4: Draw a small arc on the outside of the circle on the lower left side as a guide for the coyote's muzzle.

 

Step 5: Draw two small triangle-shaped arcs on top of the head as guides for the coyote's ears.

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Step 6: Draw four lines under the coyote's body (two below each circle) as guides for the legs. The coyote will be moving forward with mid-stride, so pay attention to the shape of the guide lines. Bend the lines to indicate where the joints and feet will be.

Step 7: Draw a series of lines that connect the major shapes to form the rest of the coyote's body. Two lines in the front form the neck and two more in the middle form the torso. Add another line on the right side as a guide for the tail.

 

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.

Step 8: Lightly sketch the coyote's eyes inside the head using the lines as guides for placement. Darken the outline for the eyes once you get the placement and shape right. Make the outlines of the eyes thicker to give the eyes a darker edge. Add a small dot inside each eye for the pupils. Shade the inside of the eye using a value that's lighter than the pupils. Don't shade a tiny circle inside each eye to represent glare.

 

Step 9: Draw the nose on the tip of the arc on the left side. First lightly sketch a circle at the tip of the coyote's muzzle. Then darken the edges by following the path of the circle and adding the nostrils as you go along. Make the bottom of the nose pointier and add a small line too. Use a few quick, short strokes at the top to represent fur.

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Step 10: Draw the rest of the coyote's muzzle by using the arc as a guide. Draw a line that connects the coyote's eye to the nose for the top part of the muzzle. Add another long line under the nose for the mouth. Draw yet another long line under the mouth for the lower jaw. Use quick, short strokes for a furry texture.

Step 11: Use the arcs on the head as guides to draw the ears. Darken the edges of the arcs but make them a bit rounder. Add a few quick, short strokes inside for the coyote's fur. Draw the ear on the other side the same way.

 

Step 12: Use the original circle as a guide to draw the rest of the coyote's head. Follow the basic path of the circle but use quick, short strokes as you darken the lines for a furry texture. Add a few lines within the head too for extra detail. Draw a portion of the neck and the lower right side of the head.

Step 13: Use the lines on the left side as guides to draw the coyote's front legs. Lightly sketch the shape as you follow the basic path of the line. When you get the structure of the leg right, darken the lines. Bend the shape to indicate the joints. Add a few curved lines at the tip of the feet for the nails. Use the other line to draw the front leg on the other side the same way. The coyote is stepping forward, so draw the foot pointing down as you sketch the structure.

 

Step 14: Now use the lines on the right as guides to draw the coyote's hind legs using the same technique. Sketch the leg lightly at first. This time it's the leg on this side that will have the foot pointing down. Darken the lines only when you have the structure of the leg right. The base or top part of the leg should be a lot thicker than the front leg. Now draw the hind leg on the other side using the line as a guide. The top part of the leg is hidden behind the leg on this side, so mainly draw the coyote's foot.

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Step 15: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the coyote's body.

 

 

Step 16: Use the line on the left as a guide to draw the coyote's tail. Make the tail bigger and fluffier. Use quick, short strokes to represent a furry texture.

Step 17 (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.

 

Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your coyote 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. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.

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

You can add more value throughout your coyote drawing for more detail. Coyotes' coats are gray-brown without much of a pattern, so use a single value for the entire body. Don't worry about shading 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 quite time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Remember to pause the "How to Draw a Coyote" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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