Drawing: Animals in Colored Pencil

Learn to Draw Step by Step

Debra Kauffman Yaun

• Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9781600581373
• eBook ISBN: 9781616737108
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Art General

In this comprehensive, 32-page book, accomplished artist Debra Kauffman Yaun shares her artistic insights and techniques for creating strikingly realistic animal drawings in colored pencil. The book opens with essential information on choosing tools and materials, understanding color theory, and creating basic pencil strokes. It then covers special colored pencil techniques, such as hatching, burnishing, layering, and blending. Finally, the author demonstrates how to accurately depict an assortment of adorable animals––including favorite family pets, wildlife, and birds––in a series of clear, step-by-step lessons. In-depth, easy-to-follow instructions allow aspiring artists to develop their drawing skills, guiding them from simple sketches to the final flourishes.

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

You don’t need many supplies to get started in colored pencil, so you won’t need to invest a lot of money. All you need to start out are a few basic colors, an eraser, a sharpener, and some paper. (See page 3 for the colors used in this book.) Below are a few recommended tools that are good for beginners. You’ll also find information on using colored pencils—remember that the way you sharpen your pencil, the way you hold the pencil, and the amount of pressure you apply all affect the strokes you create. You can create everything from soft blends to brilliant highlights to realistic animal textures with colored pencil. Once you become familiar with the basics, you’ll be able to decide which tools and techniques will capture your subject’s unique qualities.

PENCILS

The price of a pencil indicates its quality; better pencils have truer color. Many brands offer sets of pencils that provide a basic array of colors. Some art stores also sell colored pencils individually—this way you can choose which hues you like best among several different brands. Once you’ve chosen your palette, make sure to store your pencils safely in a container—and try not to drop them. The lead in a colored pencil is very brittle, and it’s likely to break in the shaft if the pencil is dropped. This may not be immediately apparent, but it will eventually render the pencil useless.

Choosing Pencils There are many different types of colored pencils available—harder, thinner leads are ideal for rendering fine lines and detail, whereas softer, thicker leads are great for filling in large areas. Experiment to find which you prefer.

ERASERS

Ordinary erasers can’t be used to remove colored pencil; the friction between a rubber or vinyl eraser and the paper will actually melt the wax pigment and flatten the tooth (or grain) of the paper. Instead, many artists use a small battery-powered eraser to remove the pigment without crushing the paper underneath. A kneaded eraser is also useful for removing small amounts of color; twist or pinch it into any shape you like and then press it lightly on the paper to pick up the pigment. When it gets “dirty” and is not as effective, you can knead it (like dough) thoroughly to reveal a clean surface. To remove unwanted pigment,...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Tools & Techniques
• Rooster
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Gray Squirrel
• Horse
• Lory
• Leopard
• Maine Coon
• Alpaca
• Box Turtle
• Red Fox
• Bush Baby
• Cow
• About the Artist
• Copyright Page