Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Donkey" 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 donkey's body. The circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. The circle on the right should be a bit smaller and should be placed a bit higher. Don't place them too far apart, otherwise you'll end up with a long donkey. Leave enough room on the left side to draw the head.
Step 2: Draw a smaller circle (about one-third the size of the first circle) on the left side as a guide for the donkey's head. Don't place this circle too far away either, or your donkey's neck will be too long.
Step 3: Draw a U-shaped arc on the lower, left side of the head as a guide for the donkey's muzzle.
Step 4: Draw a smaller, thinner arc on top of the donkey's head as a guide for the ears.
Step 5: Draw a series of lines that connect the major shapes to form the body. Make the bottom line curvier for the donkey's belly.
Step 6: Draw two lines under the circle on the middle as a guide for the donkey's front legs. Bend the lines to indicate where the joints will be.
Step 7: Draw two more angled lines under the circle on the right as a guides for the donkey's hind legs.
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 donkey's eye on the left side of the circle. The shape of eye is similar to a football. Draw the eyeball inside using a couple of curved lines. Shade the eyeball except for a tiny circle to represent glare in the donkey's eye. Add some lines around the eye for extra detail. Use quick, short strokes as you draw the lines for a furry texture.
Step 9: Draw a small oval near the tip of the donkey's muzzle and shade it in for the nostril. Draw a curved line next to it for structure.
Step 10: Draw the rest of the muzzle using the arc as a guide. Follow the basic path of the arc as you darken the line. Draw a couple of curved lines under the nostril for the donkey's mouth and chin.
Step 11: Use the arc on the donkey's head to draw the ears. Draw the outer structure of the ear, then add a few quick, short strokes for the fur inside. Draw the visible portion of the other ear on the other side.
Step 12: Draw the rest of the donkey's head using the circle as a guide. Darken the lines of the initial guides. Make the jaw curve more.
Step 13: Using the lines on the left side as guides, draw the donkey's front legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the first leg as you follow the path of the line. When you get the structure right, darken the lines. Add a few curved lines for the joints and a square-like shape for the donkey's hoof. Use the other line to draw the front leg on the other side. Start with a light sketch as you follow the guide and darken the lines when you get the structure right.
Step 14: Now use the lines on the right as guides to draw the donkey's hind legs. Remember to sketch lightly at first as you follow the guide and only darken the lines when you have the structure right. The hind legs are thicker at the top than the front legs. Add the curved lines for the joints and the hoof at the bottom. The donkey is stepping forward, so the hind legs should have a wide stride.
Step 15: Draw the rest of the donkey's body by using the remaining lines as guides. Follow the path of the guides as you darken the lines. Add a few bumps along the way for the muscle structure.
Step 16: Draw the donkey's mane and tail using a series of quick, short strokes. Don't draw each individual hair. Instead, draw the basic shape or outline of the donkey's mane and tail.
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. Also re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step: Add some shading to your donkey 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. Also draw a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the donkey so it doesn't appear to be floating.
You can add more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. There are different breeds of donkeys that have a variety of coat patterns, so shade yours however you'd like. For a classic-looking donkey, add a very light value to the muzzle and a dark value to the mane. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Add the value by using strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Use a medium value throughout the entire body for a solid coat pattern. The value on the donkey's belly is a bit lighter. Some donkeys have coarse fur, so don't worry about adding the value too smoothly. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Don't forget to pause the "How to Draw a Donkey" video to draw at your own pace.
Thanks for watching! Subscribe to the
How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for a new tutorial every Tuesday.
To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit
EasyDrawingTutorials.com.
