In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Gerbil step-by-step.

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All of the tutorials on How2DrawAnimals.com are good drawing tutorials for beginners and experienced artists alike. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow.

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To draw this Gerbil step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

Below you can watch a Narrated step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake.

Step 1: Draw a circle as a guide for the gerbil's head. To draw the circle, first make four marks to determine the circle's length and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a circular object like a coin or a bottle cap. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle.

Step 2: On the bottom, left side of the circle draw a curved line as a guide for the gerbil's muzzle. Pay attention to the size of the muzzle in relation to the head circle. Draw a sloping line across the entire head. This is a construction guide that will help you place the facial features later on. On top of the head, draw a two small arcs as guides for the ears. Make the ear on the left thinner.

Step 3: To the right of the head, draw a bigger circle as a guide for the top part of the gerbil's body. This circle should be about twice the size of the head circle. Don't overlap the head as you draw the body.

Step 4: On the bottom, right side of the big circle, draw a long, curved line as a guide for the bottom half of the gerbil's body. This line should be similar to an upside-down arc.

Step 5: Under the head, draw two sloping lines as guides for the gerbil's front legs. Under the body, draw two slightly longer lines as guides for the hind legs. On the bottom, right side of the body, draw a long, horizontal line as a guide for the tail. Pay attention to the lengths and placement of these lines.

That's it for the guidelines! From this point on, press down harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.

Step 6: Inside the head, draw a small circle for the gerbil's eye. Place the eye near the middle of the head circle. Use the sloping line as a guide to help you position the eye. Inside the eye draw two small circles for the pupil and for a highlight. Shade in the pupil. Draw a few lines around the eye for extra detail. Higher above the eye, add a few short strokes for fur.

Step 7: On the tip of the muzzle, draw a small triangular shape for the gerbil's nose. Add a small curved line on the right side for the nostril. Darken the front part of the initial arc using short strokes to create the furry muzzle. Darken the small arc on the top right side of the head for the first ear. Extend the bottom part of the ear so that it's closer to the eye. Draw a series of curved lines and short strokes inside the ear for more detail and fur.

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Step 8: Draw a series of short strokes along the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the gerbil's furry head. Make the top and right sides of the head slightly bigger than the initial guide lines. Darken the arc on top of the head to create the other ear.

Step 9: Use the sloping line on the left side of the body as a guide to draw the gerbil's front leg. Draw the shape of the leg around the guide line. Use short strokes at the top for a furry texture. Draw a series of short angled lines that are similar to the letter V along the front of the foot for the toes. Draw the hind leg around the guide line at the bottom the same way. The hind leg and toes should be longer than the front leg and toes. Make the toes pointy for the nails.

Step 10: Darken the outer edges of the big guides in the middle to create the shape of the gerbil's body. Use a series of short strokes as you darken the lines for a furry texture. Don't overlap the legs as you draw the body.

Step 11: Draw the gerbil's legs that are on the other side of the body the same way as the first legs. Draw the shape of the legs around the guide lines and add pointy toes on the tips. Draw the tail around the long guide line on the right. Keep the edges of the tail close to the guide line so that the shape is thin. Use short strokes on the right side of the shape for the furry tip of the tail.

Step 12: 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 you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step: Shade your gerbil drawing for extra detail. Use a medium value all over the body but leave the underside blank for the white fur. Shade lightly at first and gradually build up to darker values. For light values, push down very lightly on your pencil and push down harder for darker values. As you shade the body, use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. As you shade, separate each stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more furry texture. Add a darker value throughout the body to create shadows. Pick a light source as you shade so that the shadows are consistent. Here the light source is coming from the top, so most of the shadows are on the underside of the shapes. Add a shadow at the bottom using a medium value. It's a good idea to use reference as you shade for a more accurate depiction of a gerbil. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

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