An Introduction to Drawing Animals

There has always been this constant interest in the portrayal of animals, an interest which continues today. This is a practical approach to the subject explores the vast range of techniques and media that are available, and tips on how to achieve the best results with them. The opening chapters explain the importance of having a firm grasp of anatomy and an understanding of how the skeleton of an animal works, along with the functions of joints, muscles and fur. The author stresses the need to study the actual line of the animal, and how this is affected by movement, age and character. In addition to this, several fundamental problems are dealt with, for example how to draw the texture of the fur, how to show foreshortening, how to capture the effects of light and shade and how to convey the character of the animal. There are several step-by-step demonstrations to accompany the test, where the different media are explained in more detail, giving examples of what to use to create certain effects. Among those features are pencil, pen, charcoal, pen and ink, watercolour, pastels and monotypes. With a wealth of illustrative material, from rapid sketches at the zoo to the fine detail of a bulldog's nose, this is an appropriately vital and energetic approach to this popular and rewarding subject.