How to Draw Endangered Animals

Drawing exotic or endangered animals is just like drawing any other animal. The only difference is that it is a little difficult to get pictures of endangered animals. Various pictures of an animal are essential when it comes down to the nitty gritty of learning how to draw that animal. If there are limited poses available, then there are limited poses the artist can draw with complete confidence.

Instructions

  1. Practice the Basics

    • 1
      Art stores have pencils of varying degrees, great for sketching.

      Use a picture and sketch out the basic shape of the endangered animal. If new to drawing, try sketching out the animal's shape in circles and triangles, creating a blocky form that reflects the dimensions of the creature if not the actual appearance.

    • 2
      You don't have to stick to black and white.

      Smooth out the lines of the blocky sketch. Add the curves in and soften the block shapes into something closer to the actual outline of the animal.

    • 3
      Shading can be dramatic as well as subtle.

      Shade the image. Focus on where the light hits the body and where the shadows are and try to recreate that. Don't worry if it isn't perfect; the more practice drawing an animal, the better your pictures of that animal will be in the future.

    • 4
      There are many angles to an animal.

      Repeat this process with a different picture of the animal. The idea is to practice drawing the animal in various poses to get used to the nuances and details of the animal's build, structure and way of moving.

    Improving the Images

    • 5
      There are more videos of some endangered animals than others.

      Find video of the endangered animal in question. Photographs are good when starting out, but they won't deliver all of the poses you need for practice. Nature videos can be found on the Internet, at the local library or on animal-based channels on TV.

    • 6
      Catching that perfect moment with the pause button can be difficult.

      Watch the whole video. Then go back and pause at a particular moment where the animal is clearly defined and centered on the screen in an unusual or interesting pose. Draw the animal.

    • 7
      The full body of the animal does not have to be exposed.

      Find more poses or movements in the video and draw them. The drawings do not have to be accurate, detailed or even good. The more drawings produced, the better they will become and the better the animal will be represented on the paper.

    Seeing It Live

    • 8
      Some zoos feature endangered animals.

      Find a local zoo that has a habitat for the endangered animal in question.

    • 9
      Get a good vantage point from which to observe the animal.

      Go to the zoo and stake out a spot where the creature is clearly visible.

    • 10
      Try to capture the movement on paper.

      Bring drawing supplies and practice sketching the creature. It may be difficult as the creature moves around, so try to draw quickly; practice quick sketches without much detail. The idea is to get practice drawing many pictures so that the shape of the animal becomes second nature and easy to reproduce by memory.