Drawing Animals

Overview

In this lesson, you will identify and draw the different shapes, colors, and textures of animals.

Grade Level

1-12

Media

Drawing

Big Idea/Theme

Artists can break down complex things into simple shapes to draw them.

Essential Question

How do artists draw animals?

Slide Deck
Teaching Tools

Materials and Tools

Paper
Drawing tool

Activities

It is amazing how many kinds of living things there are!

In our lives, we are surrounded by birds, lizards, mice, insects, raccoons, cats, dogs, snails, turtles, fish, and so many more.

Most of the time, we don’t even notice all the animals living around us.

Sometimes, artists are inspired to make art about animals.

Today, we’re going to explore drawing animals.

What animals are you interested in?
How will you draw them?

How can we draw an animal?

If you were describing this barn owl, what would you say?

We could describe its size – is it large or small?
If you touched it, what textures would you feel?
Do you see patterns in its feathers?
What colors do you see? Are they dark, light, or both?
What shapes make up its face, body, legs, wings, and feet?

What do you see?

Can you find a face shaped like a heart?
Can you find two round, dark eyes with light pinkish-brown feathers around them?
Can you find a beak shaped like an upside-down triangle?
Can you find a head and neck shaped like an upside-down U, like a stretched-out semi-circle?
Can you find a body shaped almost like an oval or an egg?
Can you find a white belly and a back with dark and light brown feathers on it?
Can you find tiny spots over the body?
Can you find strong wings, with long feathers that have stripes on them?
Can you find feet ending in sharp talons that curve and grab?

How would you describe the shapes you see in these animals?

Are you ready to begin? What animal will you choose to draw?

What does it look like?

Tall
Short
Has horns, antlers, or tusks
Has feathers
Has a tail
Big ears
Has many legs
Has a pouch
Has big teeth

What can it do?

Can breathe underwater
Has a strong sense of smell
Sees in the dark
A good climber
Dig tunnels or holes
Change color
Fly
A great jumper
Sing

Where does it live?

Forest
Prairie
City
Ocean
Underground
Mountain
Trees
Desert

How does it feel?

Hard
Smooth
Fuzzy
Prickly
Furry
Soft
Scaly
Round

This is a baby armadillo!

It has the ability to roll up into a ball to protect itself.

Look at the amazing pattern of its skin – how would you describe it?

Sketching your animal

First, we need to decide which animal to begin drawing. For example, here is a chameleon with lots of interesting shapes. Chameleons can change colors to blend in with their surroundings, or to stand out!

Start by sketching the shapes of the animal very lightly with a pencil. After you finish, go over the drawing with a marker, crayon, or colored pencil, and erase extra pencil marks.