Getha Patricia - The Art of Drawing Animals: Discover all the techniques you need to know to draw amazingly lifelike animals

2008 Debra Kauffman Yaun. All rights reserved. Walter Foster is a registered trademark.

Digital edition: 978-1-61059-820-0
Softcover edition: 978-1-60058-130-4

This book has been produced to aid the aspiring artist. Reproduction of the work for study or finished art is permissible. Any art produced or photomechanically reproduced from this publication for commercial purposes is forbidden without written consent from the publisher, Walter Foster Publishing, Inc.

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With Patricia Getha, Cindy Smith, Nolon Stacey,
Linda Weil, and Debra Kauffman Yaun
Designed by Shelley Baugh
Project Editors: Meghan ODell and
Elizabeth T. Gilbert
Copyeditor: Rebecca J. Razo
Index by Christy Stroud and Meghan ODell

D rawing is not only fun, but it also is an important art form in itself. Even when you write or print your name, you are actually drawing! If you organize the lines, you can make shapes; and when you carry that a bit further and add dark and light shading, your drawings begin to take on a three-dimensional form and look more realistic. One of the great things about drawing is that you can do it anywhere, and the materials are very inexpensive. You do get what you pay for, though, so purchase the best you can afford at the time, and upgrade your supplies whenever possible. Although anything that will make a mark can be used for some type of drawing, youll want to make certain your magnificent efforts will last and not fade over time. Here are some materials that will get you off to a good start.

Sketch Pads You can buy spiral-bound, stitched, or gum-bound sketchbooks in a variety of sizes. The paper in most sketchbooks is not designed for finished workssketching is a form of visual note taking, and you should not worry about producing masterpieces with them. You may want to carry a small notebook-sized sketchbook with you so you can sketch whenever the mood strikes. Its a good idea to carry a larger sketchbook when drawing on location.

Paper Drawing paper is available in a range of surface textures: smooth grain (plate finish and hot pressed), medium grain (cold pressed), and rough to very rough. Rough paper is ideal when using charcoal, whereas smooth paper is best for watercolor washes. The heavier the weight of the paper, the thicker it is. Thicker papers are better for graphite drawings because they can withstand erasing far better than thinner papers can. Be sure to purchase acid-free paper, as acid causes paper to turn yellow over time.

Sharpeners Clutch pencils (see ) require special sharpeners, which you can find at art and craft stores. A regular handheld sharpener can be used for wood-cased and woodless pencils, but be sure to have several sharpeners on hand as these pencils can become dull. You can also purchase an electric sharpener, but it affords less control over the shape of the pencil tip.

Work Station You dont need a professional drafting table to start drawingmany brilliant drawings have been created on a kitchen table! Youll need a hard surface to use as a drawing board (or purchase a drawing board from an art supply store), and something to prop up the board with, such as a brick or a stack of books. Good lighting is essentialits best to work in natural light, but you also can purchase a daylight bulb, which gives off a good white light and eliminates the yellow glare of standard bulbs. Make sure the lighting is direct and that there are no shadows falling across your work area. Also, youll want to have a comfortable chair that supports your back.

Erasers Mistakes are inevitable, so its good to have a few erasers on hand. Plastic art erasers are good for removing harder pencil marks and for erasing large areas. Be careful when using this type of eraser, as rubbing too hard will damage the surface of the paper. This eraser also leaves crumbs, so be sure to softly brush them away with a makeup or camera lens brush. Kneaded erasers are very pliable; you can mold them into different shapes. Instead of rubbing the kneaded eraser across the paper, gently dab at the area to remove or lighten tone. Another great tool is adhesive putty, made for tacking posters to a wall. Like a kneaded eraser, it can be molded and wont damage the paper.

Watercolor Paint Black watercolor paint can add dynamism to your artwork. Dilute the paint with water to apply a thin, light gray tone, called a wash. (See Watercolor Washes on for more information.)

Blending Tools Paper stumps (also called tortillons) are used to blend or smudge areas of graphite into a flat, even tone. Be careful when using blending tools, as they tend to push the graphite into the paper, making the area difficult to erase. Another good way to blend is to wrap a chamois cloth around your finger. Never use your finger alone for blendingyour skin contains oils that could damage the paper.