Yasmina Mattson - You Can Draw Cute Animals: A Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing and Coloring Adorable Creatures

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
to Drawing and Coloring Adorable Creatures

YASMINA MATTSON
of Yasmina Creates

Hello, my name is Yasmina. Im a self-taught artist who works in watercolor and other mediums. Though Ive always loved art and wanted to be an artist, I didnt start seriously practicing until my late teens. I remember looking at other peoples art and thinking, How do they do that? I cant do that! Ill never be good enough, so why bother trying? Sound familiar?

Once I started drawing and painting regularly, I realized how easy art can be, and how fun! Now that Ive learned a couple of simple concepts and techniques, I can illustrate anything I want to. If I can do it, so can you!

Theres nothing like sitting down at a blank sheet of paper, playing with supplies, and watching your art come alive. I looove to create! The feeling is the closest Ive come to magic. Everyone can and should make art, and I made this book to show you that truth!

We are going to illustrate one of my favorite things: cutie animals! Cute animals are SO fun to make, and once you know the rules, EASY! Even if you have little experience in drawing, Im here to show you how approachable it is to make ANY animal cute!

Thats right, I dont want to just teach you how to draw a specific animal; I want to teach you how to draw ANY animal! This book will give you a strong foundation in drawing from references in your own style. This skill can then be used to draw anything your heart desires.

I hope this book will demystify making cuties and ignite your passion to create. Lets get started!

There are so many options for supplies nowadays that it can feel overwhelming. You really dont need anything fancy to make cuties. You can draw your cuties with ANYTHING you have on hand! Even just a ballpoint pen or pencil is enough!

That said, Ive tried many different supplies and techniques, and over the years I have found the supplies I love to use. In this chapter I will share some of my favorite supplies and how to mix and match them for different looks. There are so many magical supplies to choose from! You are bound to find what feels right to you.

Always experiment and play to find your favorite way of making cuties. Your goal should be to have fun and discover what you enjoy using the most!

You will always need a pencil and eraser for sketching. I like to use a soft blue lead, like the Pilot Color Eno mechanical pencil. This pencil is available in many different colors. I find that the colored leads are less noticeable if I fail to erase them completely. If you want to use graphite pencils, choose ones with lighter, harder lead, such as 4H or 6H.

Also make sure to invest in a high-quality eraser that does not ruin your paper! My favorite kind is a kneaded eraser, which doesnt produce eraser crumbs and is gentle on paper.

Inking

For the outlines of the cuties, ink is my favorite medium to use! Depending on what you choose, you can achieve very different lines.

There are two main types of ink pens:

• The fineliner tip: My favorite is the Sakura Pigma Micron Pen. It comes in many sizes and is available singly or in sets. Depending on the nib size, lines can be super thin or moderately thick, but because the nibs are stiff, they dont have any line variation. This is a great one if you like the uniform look or want complete control. You can also get these in different colors!
• The brush tip: My favorite is the Zebra Zensations Brush Pen. It has natural line variation with a flexible felt tip. The tip is like a brush without any bristles, making it easier to control. It comes in various sizes. This is usually my go-to for cuties! I prefer brush tips for the natural line variation they create, but you can always fake it with fineliners by going over the lines multiple times or drawing in variation.

Colored Pencils

Colored pencils are also so fun to play with! Depending on what paper you use, you can get lots of texture or a smooth finish. The only downside is they can be more time-consuming to use, since they require layering to make smooth transitions, but it can be so therapeutic to color longer! I also love using these for adding texture, details, or outlines when mixing with other mediums. My favorite brand is Prismacolor Premier. They are creamy, easy to blend, and bright! If you are using the pencils just for adding texture or detail, you dont need to splurge. Any cheap pencils will be just fine.

Alcohol Markers

Markers are super versatile. You can use them for outlines, details, or just overall coloring. They are great for filling in an area with uniform color quickly. I love to use them for doodles or quick sketches when I dont want to get the watercolors out. Or you can essentially paint with them by using similar colors to shade your art. The transitions are so gradual and smooth that they give off a dreamy look!

The reason I suggest alcohol markers is because they are waterproof and very easy to blend. Normal markers are water based, so they dont blend well on their own and are super streaky. The brand I tend to use the most is called Ohuhu. They are on the cheaper side and, in my opinion, work just as well as the more popular brands, which can be ridiculously more expensive.

Watercolors

Watercolor is by far my favorite medium to play with! To use watercolor, you will need a couple of things, but do keep in mind you dont need to get the most expensive supplies. You can always start small with the cheapest paints and brushes you can find and then upgrade if you like it.