The Artist's Guide to Drawing Animals: How to Draw Cats, Dogs, and Other Favorite Pets

Create Classic Portraits of Favorite Pets

The Artist’s Guide to Drawing Animals continues the rich tradition of animals in art. In this step-by-step guide to rendering your favorite animals in pencil and pen-and-ink, J. C. Amberlyn combines her love of pets and other familiar domestic creatures with her beautiful, detailed drawing style. Covering a variety of animals from beloved pets like dogs and cats to barnyard critters like cows and sheep and many more, the book covers every species with easy-to-follow instructions for drawing them from every angle imaginable. Along with seven featured examinations of Amberlyn’s artistic process, each chapter showcases the tools and techniques needed to produce your own highly detailed, lifelike drawings of a variety of well-known animal companions. The worlds of artists and animal lovers come together in this richly illustrated, in-depth guide to producing charming portraits of some of the most popular pets and domesticated creatures.

Also available as an eBook

J. C. Amberlyn is an award-winning artist, animator, graphic novelist, photographer, and naturalist. She is the author of the bestselling Drawing Wildlife and Drawing Manga Animals, Chibis, and Other Adorable Creatures. Visit J. C.’s website at www.jcamberlyn.com.

Introduction  

Chapter

Dogs  

Head 

Body  

Puppies        

Breeds          

The Artist’s Process: Mutt (Teddy)           

 

Chapter 2

Cats   

Head 

Body  

Kittens           

Breeds          

The Artist’s Process: Tabby           

 

Chapter 3

Horses          

Head 

Body  

Foals 

Breeds

The Artist’s Process: Proportions 

 

Chapter 4

Other Hoofed Animals       

Head 

Body and Tail          

Baby Hoofed Animals        

Breed

The Artist’s Process: Alpaca Head          

 

Chapter 5

Rodents, Rabbits, and Ferrets      

Rodents        

Head 

Body and Tail          

Rabbits         

Head 

Body and Tail          

Breeds          

Ferrets           

Head 

Body and Tail          

The Artist’s Process: Drawing Soft Fur in Pencil          

 

Chapter 6

Birds  

Head and Beak       

Body  

The Artist’s Process: Feathers and Legs

 

Chapter 7

Cold-Blooded Animals       

Reptiles        

Head 

Body and Tail          

Amphibians 

Head, Nose, Mouth, and Ears      

Body and Tail          

Fish   

Fins, Body, and Tail           

The Artist’s Process: Drawing Scales, Reptile Skin, and Avoiding an Unnatural Look    

Afterword      

Index