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Animals from life

Four steps: the same gesture and structure, under fur.

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  1. 1

    Shape and attitude

    Start with two shapes — ribcage and hips — and the line of the spine between them. Everything an animal expresses is in that line.

    Sketch of a dog — Unknown artist Sketch of a dog Unknown artist A Stag Lying Down (on a base): The Head of a Crocodile — Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo A Stag Lying Down (on a base): The Head of a… Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo Young Bull — Albrecht Dürer Young Bull Albrecht Dürer Animal Folly, from Disparates — Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes Animal Folly, from Disparates Francisco José de Goya y… Two Goats with Large Horns, from Various Animals — Nicolaes Berchem Two Goats with Large Horns, from Various… Nicolaes Berchem Goats, from Various Animals — Nicolaes Berchem Goats, from Various Animals Nicolaes Berchem
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  2. 2

    The horse

    A horse is the classic test. Get the barrel of the chest and the angle of the hind leg right and the rest follows; get them wrong and no detail will save it.

    Trotting horse — Giambologna Trotting horse Giambologna Horse — Ottomar Anschütz Horse Ottomar Anschütz Horse — Francesco Allegrini Horse Francesco Allegrini Horse — Francesco Allegrini Horse Francesco Allegrini Study for the Equestrian Monument to Francesco Sforza — Antonio Pollaiuolo Study for the Equestrian Monument to… Antonio Pollaiuolo Horse Trotting, the Feet Not Touching the Ground — Edgar Degas Horse Trotting, the Feet Not Touching the… Edgar Degas
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  3. 3

    Big cats: mass and power

    Watch how few marks Rembrandt and Barye need. Draw with the fewest strokes that still carry the weight of the animal.

    Rembrandt - Circle of - Sleeping Lion, NMH 20091863 — Rembrandt Rembrandt - Circle of - Sleeping Lion, NMH… Rembrandt Rembrandt, A Lion, BI-F-1921-317-42 — Rijksmuseum Rembrandt, A Lion, BI-F-1921-317-42 Rijksmuseum Rembrandt lion asleep, w9590 — Rembrandt Rembrandt lion asleep, w9590 Rembrandt Rembrandt - Lion couché, 13-611257 — Rembrandt Rembrandt - Lion couché, 13-611257 Rembrandt Tiger in Repose — Antoine-Louis Barye Tiger in Repose Antoine-Louis Barye Lion About to Strike a Serpent (Lion la patte levée sur un serpent) or (Esquisse du lion des Tuileries) — Antoine-Louis Barye Lion About to Strike a Serpent (Lion la… Antoine-Louis Barye
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  4. 4

    Fur and volume

    Fur is not hair, it is a surface. Let the direction of your strokes follow the form turning underneath and the animal becomes solid.

    The Horse Fair — Rosa Bonheur The Horse Fair Rosa Bonheur Stubbs Anatomy of the Horse 2 — Warburg1866 Stubbs Anatomy of the Horse 2 Warburg1866 Stubbs Anatomy of the Horse (14) — Warburg1866 Stubbs Anatomy of the Horse (14) Warburg1866 Albrecht Dürer - Hare, 1502 - Google Art Project — Albrecht Dürer Albrecht Dürer - Hare, 1502 - Google Art… Albrecht Dürer A Bear Walking — Leonardo da Vinci A Bear Walking Leonardo da Vinci
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