How to Draw a Puppy

How to Draw a Puppy:

You think that because you can draw a dog, that there shouldn't be so much difference to drawing a puppy, would you.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you need to go back to square one when thinking of drawing any baby animal.

OK, let's think of some of the characteristics that a puppy has, and of course.... what you want to convey in your drawing.

Now this drawing might go on to a painting......

A puppy is:

• cute

• playful

• mischievous

• inquisitive

At any one time, you might want to incorporate any two of these subjects in how to draw a puppy.

Were getting ahead of ourselves here, so let's take a step back for one moment......

Have you ever thought what makes baby animals so sweet looking. When a baby animal is born, their head is quite large to the rest of their body. As we know, their body grows into the correct proportion to the rest of their body as they develop and grow.

A puppies head is large, their legs are stubby and short, add those big eyes full of wonder and playful intent, you have the subject of your puppy to work with.

Keeping with these major characteristics, you are ready to choose how how to draw a puppy.

What I have brought to light here, might be clearer now that we have broached the subject about proportion in how to draw a puppy.

All factors about proportion are put to the test here. When we now know that the puppy is naturally out of proportion at this young stage of their lives.

Sure, for a puppy their proportions are right, but by natures proportion of any animal. They are out of proportion, their big heads, long tails, short chubby legs. Oh.... and did I mention the big paws as well........

Photo Courtesy: Stefilini
 

I'm not going to give you all the circles and straight lines approach on how to draw a puppy, you can get that anywhere.

And as with previous instructions I have given you in the past lessons (you can always go back to other pages on my site to refresh yourself).

You should have a fair grasp at how to get your diagram sketch right when drawing your subject.

I want to get you thinking here.....

Get you on the right track with what you need to do, before you put your pencil to paper. I want you to be aware of what areas of how to draw a puppy, you need to know, before you decide to start your drawing.

Think of the world through the eyes of a puppy. Every day is a learning experience in their life, and so much energy used, can only mean on thing........ Sleep.........

Drawing a puppy sleeping can be one of the most inspiring of projects. A dog does not have the ease and ability of so many positions as a cat does when curling up to go the sleep. So their body wont seem as though it just merges in together as a cat would. You will need to keep a sort of rigidity about the puppy (dog included).

Granted.... the dog/puppy are more rigid in the way they would place themselves to sleep, so keep this in mind at all times.

When thinking of drawing a puppy asleep, those big paws are going to jut out, and their ears are going to get in the way. Use these to your advantage on how to draw a puppy in these characters of the dog, as with the stealth of the cat. All have their place when creating art.

Indeed, there are so many different breeds of dog out there today, (unlike the cat) you have different breeds, resulting in different shapes and sizes. Though the cats shape doesn't change that much. Now with the dog, you have long bodies, short tails, pointy faces, and ears that almost drag on the ground.

Puppy Portrait

What if you want to get into doing drawings or paintings portraits for other people.

My suggestions are, get your prospective client who has commissioned you, to get as many photo angles of their puppy that they can.

And also if they have a favourite photo that they want you to reproduce for them. Make sure that  you get a clear photo.

Even go and get a copy the photo in larger size, if the original is fairly small.

"The portrait is one of the most curious art forms. It demands special qualities in the artist, and an almost total kinship with the model." ~Henri Matisse

After all..... you are going to be looking at this photo for many hours at a time. So best to make your life easier with a bigger photo so you can set it aside from you at a distance, and can refer to it easily.

With a small photo, you will find yourself having to pick it up all the time. This will result in not having both of your hands free for what you need to do.

If you are thinking of drawing portraits and am not quite sure that you are up to it. You could call it "Stage Jitters".  have confidence within yourself, and keep communication open with your client.

Also offering the odd suggestion here and there, can also help your client get an even better portrait of their puppy than they would otherwise have thought of.

I find that you get two types of clients:

•  the type that knows exactly what they want.

• and the client who has an idea what they want, though looks to you for ideas.

You don't know what your going to get.

Though bear in mind, that feeling confident within yourself will take away some of that uncertainty when with your client also, and don't be afraid to ask them questions,  push forward ideas that fit with their expectations

How to draw a puppy...... well... just think of puppy and see what comes into your head.

 Then go and find those ideas, pictures of puppies that you have in you head. I don't recommend drawing it without thought.

What I would recommend is if you have access to a puppy and try and do some sketches of the puppy, they don't have to be masterpieces.

Not at all, even if you just have a picture, I want you to just loosely sketch from it.

Do this many times, and you will get the feel for the puppies proportions. Then, when you get the idea of how to draw a puppy, then  do your final drawing of your puppy.

This exercise will lead you to a sketch that you will be proud of.

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