How to draw the uglies (video)

Learn how to draw wildebeest, hyena, and vultures. Studying these oddly shaped animals gives you insight into the structure and form that will help any animal drawing. Plus a bonus tips on how to draw large herds and the stripes of the zebra.

How to draw a Giraffe Head (video)

Here are a few simple tricks to block in the shape of the giraffe’s head from the side and 3/4 view.

Megafauna: How to draw Elephants and Giraffe (video)

Learn how to draw really big critters. Here we focus on the giraffe and elephant, showing anatomical structure and side, front and 3/4 views. In the video, we draw over skeletal studies by the great biologist and conservationist Jonathan Kingdon. You can download your own worksheet here so you can follow along. Note: I shot

Sketching Skulls & Bones with Mark Simmons (video)

At once creepy and fascinating, the wonderful world of skulls and skeletons lies just below the surface of the living world. With the Halloween spirit still haunting us, and the dark winter nights setting in, now’s the time to face our fears and seek out new insights from the realm of bony relics! In this

Thar She Blows! How to Draw Whales in the Wild

When you encounter whales in nature, you will not see the entire body exposed at one time, except in a rare dramatic breach. The rest of the time you will see some portion of the back or tail exposed above the water’s surface. Draw what you see, Capture the dark form of the whale against

Whale Illustration Basics

Understanding the “basic” whale will help you identify and sketch whales in the field. To help you do this, study the whale form below the water. Some portion of this form is exposed when the whale surfaces. To help you understand the whale structure, we will draw four baleen whales found of the California coast.

How to Draw Waves and Whales (video workshop)

Learn to sketch marine mammals as you see them in the field. Whether you draw from shore or head out whale watching, this class will help you capture the moments on paper. Learn relevant anatomy for artists and field sketchers to help you draw whales, seals, sea lions, and otters. Understand the series of shapes

How to Draw Mammal Noses

Want to draw mammal noses? Learn to see the similarities of structure across species and then the nuance of the details of the particular species you are drawing. Practice drawing noses from the front, side and three-quarter view. Start with a light ghost drawing to block in the basic shape. Notice that the nostrils make

How to Draw Mammal Ears

Want to draw mammal ears? Here is a step-by-step approach to creating ears that look furry and suggest the texture of hairs in and around the ears. The trick is to focus on creating three areas of value: dark, middle and light. Then to suggest the texture of the hair with strokes from the dark

Drawing Mammal Heads: Predator vs. Prey

Drawing an animal’s face is tricky. I can not count the times I have finished a sketch and just felt “there is something wrong with that head. I just don’t know what it is”. Many of these problems can be solved if you have a framework in your head that helps you remember the placement