How to Draw - The Animal Form

The Animal Form

I've always found that it's easier to draw animals than it is humanoid figures. But I've been drawing mostly dinosaurs all of my life, so I'm sure experience counts for something. When a lot of people start out drawing, people are their favorite reference. When they start out with animals, especially fictional animals they can't see in real life, they can get off to the wrong start by using a humanoid body form. Here's how to make the right start...

Above is a quick sketch that shows the human form from the front, and the basic animal form from the side and front. The animal subject is an Iguanadon.

The easiest way to picture the animal form is to start with a human one, split it in half down the spine, and fold it together. A lot of evolutionary changes resulted in an upright humanoid posture.

For example, our chests flattened out, and our shoulders are positioned out in a line to the sides of our bodies. In animals, especially quadrupedal ones, the shoulders are located almost underneath the chest, allowing the limbs to support body weight efficiently.

The same goes for the hind limbs. In humans, the hip sockets have evolved so that our legs point in the direction of the tip of our spines. In animals, the leg joints are held out to the sides of the body, and face outward so that the limbs can be perpendicular to the spinal column.

The best way to draw animals is to study them in real life. As different as animals may be, the body plan is generally the same. For example, every mammal has a similar hand structure to that of a human. Often, you can get a great idea for a pose by just looking at yourself in the mirror, trying the pose out. Pay close attention to bone and muscle positions, which will bump up your accuracy.

One important thing to note when you start planning your drawing, is feet! We are one of just a handful of species that walk on our heels, or the palms of our hands when on all fours. Most animals walk on the joint between the arch of the foot and the first of three toe bones. Hoofed animals essentially walk on their toenails, which allows them great speed in their stride. Pay close attention to the foot structure of the animal that you're sketching! All residents of the Territory walk on the padded joint of the toe bones, as described above.

Once you've studied and practiced drawing animals enough, and followed along with more of the details of creating your character, try to draw up a reference sheet that shows your character from several sides in the same pose, like the picture above. Remember to use the same scale!