How to Draw a Dog: A Mini-Demonstration

This drawing lesson comes from Drawing for the Absolute Beginner by Mark and Mary Willenbrink. Preview Mark’s art workshops here at ArtistsNetworkTV.

Drawing Materials:

• Graphite pencil
• Drawing board
• Drawing paper
• Kneaded eraser

How to Draw a Dog

by Mark and Mary Willenbrink

Follow these simple illustrations and instructions on how to draw a dog.

1. Sketch the Basic Shapes

Sketch lines to form the basic body and head structure, including a baseline to establish where the feet will rest.

2. Add Circles for the Head and Body
Add circles for the head, chest and rear. This will help you shape the dog’s overall form.

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3. Add Lines for the Body, Neck and Legs
Connect the circles to form the shape of the body and neck. Sketch lines that will indicate the muzzle and the foreground legs.

4. Refine Lines and Add Structural Details
Refine the line work to further shape the dog’s body. Add the eye, tail, ears and legs. Place the background legs so they are staggered in comparison to the foreground legs.

How to draw a dog: the Dachshund

5. Add Fur, Details and Shading
Erase any obsolete lines. Shade the dog’s glossy coat with short, uniform pencil strokes that follow the fur’s direction. Add details to the eye, nose, mouth and paws.

[Preview the art workshop video, “Drawing for the Absolute Beginner” at ArtistsNetworkTV!]

Follow these steps to learn how to draw a dog with long fur, such as border collie.

Drawing Long Fur
Use long pencil strokes that follow the direction of the fur to shade in the coat for a longhaired dog. Make these pencil strokes less uniform than those used for a shorthaired dog. This will make the long fur look more textured.

Discover more basic art lessons with Mark and Mary Willenbrink’s popular book, Drawing for the Absolute Beginner.

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