tutorial:

Elephant Drawing

how to draw an elephant

We will take a look at all of the basic elements of how to draw an elephant, create textural detail, and finish it with a realistic color coat that includes highlights and shadows.

creating aN ELEPHANT drawing

STEP 1: CONSTRUCTING THE MAIN BODY

Using a soft and easily erasable pencil, draw a large circle within the left quarter of your canvas.

step 2: creating the head

Place another circle on the right side of your canvas, in line with the top of the main body circle.

STEP 3: shaping the trunk

Draw a small upwards curving line from the right upper side of the head circle. Take this line down close to the side of the head circle, before curving it forwards and then backward.

step 4: OUTLINING THE TUSKS

From the base of this tusk shape, draw a sharply curving forward tusk that ends on the edge of the trunk shape.

STEP 5: creatING THE EARS

Begin by drawing one massive ear beginning with a line from the top of the head, where the trunk begins. For the other ear, draw a small curve below the bottom of the first.

step 6: JOINING THE HEAD AND BODY

Begin with the top of the elephant’s torso, taking a short line from the back of the ear to the top of the main body circle.

STEP 7: DRAWING THE TAIL

Draw the top line of the tail first, beginning on the top right side of the main body circle. Follow the curve of this circle, and then curve in the other way, ending at a sharp point.

step 8: MAPPING THE FRONT LEGS

The first front leg should be angled slightly forwards in a motion of walking. Begin by drawing a line that extends down from just within the neck area below the ears.

STEP 9: SHAPING THE BACK LEGS

You are now going to repeat the process from the last step to create the back legs of your elephant drawing.

step 10: create the final outline

The construction steps have come to an end, and it is now time to use all of these lines and shapes to form the final outline of your elephant sketch.

STEP 11: adding skin texture

In this step, you are going to create the texture of the elephant’s body, creating the impression of wrinkly and folded skin patterns.

step 12: painting the base coat

Find a darkish gray shade, and use a regular brush to fill the entire body of your elephant sketch.

STEP 13: adding some shading

Find a soft blending brush, and use a touch of black paint to contour the structure of the elephant. This first layer of shading can be quite light and not too specific.

step 14: increase the shading

Now, you can use a medium-sized brush and a little more black paint to create smaller areas of darker shading within the previous layer.

STEP 15: adding highlights

Use a small blending brush and some white paint to highlight the edges of your elephant sketch.

step 16: finish the drawing

In this step, you are going to put the finishing touches to your elephant sketch, to create a seamless and realistic final product.

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