Perro a lapiz is a beautiful and meaningful addition to any art collection. Whether done in pencil, pen and ink or watercolour, drawing dogs can be a rewarding experience for any artist. With regular practice, canines of all shapes and sizes are easily captured on paper.
As you begin drawing, it is important to focus on proportions. Every breed has its own unique proportions, so getting these right from the beginning will help ensure your finished portrait looks believable. It’s also a good idea to study reference photos before you start, so you’re familiar with the anatomy of different canine breeds.
After sketching the outline, you can begin adding finer details. Vary the line quality to suggest fur textures and use shading to bring your drawing to life. Lightly shade over white areas of the head and body to add highlights. Darken the details in the eyes and nose. Use a blending stump to smooth the shading and unify the tone.
Mastering Detail: Drawing Your Dog in Pencil
Use a darker pencil, such as a 6B, to define the darkest details in the face and neck. Darken the ears as well, adding shadows along their edges and defining the inner part of the ear with a curved line. Darken the back of the body, using a curved line to connect the head circle to the chest circle and a straight line for the hindquarters.
Sketch out the final lines for the dog’s head, legs, and tail, connecting these with curved and straight lines. Add more detail to the mouth and feet, such as the nails and claws. To add more realism to the fur, try using a kneaded eraser. Mold the eraser into a thin point with flat edges and gently stroke over the shaded areas to pick up graphite from smaller sections. This will give your dog’s coat a more natural appearance.