How to Draw Animals

As a wildlife artist and someone who nature journals regularly, being able to draw animals has become one of the most essential parts of my creative life. Whether I’m sketching birds in the park or capturing the silhouette of an elephant from a photo I took on a trip, learning to draw animals has helped me slow down, observe more closely, and connect more deeply with the natural world.

In this post, I’ll walk through how I approach animal drawing from a practical, personal point of view. I’ll share tips that helped me go from awkward sketches to more confident drawings, even when working quickly outdoors. If you want to draw animals as part of a creative practice—whether that’s for nature journaling, illustration, or just for fun—you’re in the right place.

Key Points

• Use reference images and real-life observation together—don’t rely only on one or the other.
• Start with quick gesture drawings to capture movement and shape before going into details.
• Focus on the animal's silhouette and main body shapes first; you can always add texture later.

How to draw animals with confidence and observation

A lot of people think drawing animals is just about getting the proportions right. But in my experience, it’s more about learning how to look. When you draw animals regularly, especially in the wild or from life, you start to notice how a bird tilts its head before hopping, or how a cat shifts its weight before pouncing.

That’s why I always combine reference photos with real-life observation. For example, when I put together this how to draw a bird step by step tutorial, I used photos I took in the field but also sketched live birds at the park to understand their movements.

Even if you’re not drawing from life, practicing animal drawing regularly builds a sort of visual memory that helps later when you’re working from imagination or loose references. I used to think I needed the perfect reference photo to get started, but honestly, just picking something and doing a few messy sketches gets you further than over-preparing. The key is doing it over and over again.

Practice from different types of reference

Don’t just draw from polished photos. Use field guides, low-quality snapshots, or video stills. These messier references force you to interpret and simplify, which strengthens your skills. I used to pause nature documentaries and sketch the animals in motion. It’s a great way to get used to working quickly and not being too precious about details.

Make quick gesture drawings

Try setting a timer for 30 seconds and sketching the animal’s shape and movement. Don’t worry about accuracy. These help loosen you up and get your hand and eye working together. I do this as a warm-up when I’m feeling stiff or unsure. I think of it as drawing energy, not outlines.

Understanding animal anatomy without overthinking it

You don’t have to memorize every bone in a horse’s leg, but having a rough sense of underlying structure goes a long way. I started improving my animal drawings when I stopped copying outlines and started thinking in terms of simple shapes—cylinders for legs, ovals for torsos, triangles for heads.

One of the most helpful things I did was draw simplified skeletons or muscle groups just to understand how movement worked. You don’t need to go deep into anatomy textbooks—a few good diagrams and lots of repetition will take you far. When I draw something like a fox or a cheetah, I think first about how the spine curves and how the weight is distributed between the front and back legs. That basic understanding helps the drawing feel grounded.

Start with big shapes

Block in the torso, head, and limbs with basic shapes first. Don’t start with the details like fur or stripes. I often sketch a rough skeleton with circles and lines before fleshing it out. It’s like scaffolding for the drawing.

Pay attention to joints

Watch how elbows, knees, and hips bend. This helps when drawing animals in motion or unusual poses. I used to avoid drawing certain poses because they felt too complicated. But once I understood where the limbs hinge and how they connect, those poses became more fun than scary.

Use nature journaling to deepen your animal drawing

Nature journaling made a huge impact on how I draw animals. When you're outside drawing what you see, you have to observe quickly, make choices about what matters, and learn to work with imperfections. That practice makes your studio drawings much more informed and fluid.

I often bring a small sketchbook with me when I hike or travel. Even if I only manage a few messy sketches, the act of drawing in the moment builds memory and connection. Sometimes I write notes alongside the sketches, like what the animal was doing, what sounds it made, or what the light was like. All of that adds to the experience. I wrote more about this in my nature journaling guide.

It’s also a great way to develop your own drawing style because you’re forced to adapt to whatever conditions you’re in. I’ve sketched monkeys from a moving jeep and birds while standing in ankle-deep mud. It teaches you to draw fast and let go of perfection.

Start with animals that have strong silhouettes

If you’re new to animal drawing, it helps to start with animals that have clear shapes and not too much detail. I recommend starting with birds or elephants. Both are fun and surprisingly forgiving.

You can check out this step-by-step elephant drawing tutorial if you want a simple starting point.

Once you get the hang of breaking down their forms, you can move on to more complex animals like dogs or big cats. When I was starting out, I would avoid animals with fur or feathers because the texture felt overwhelming. But I learned that you can suggest texture without drawing every strand. Focus on light and shadow instead.

Make a sketchbook list

Pick 10 animals you’re interested in and sketch one each week. Track your progress. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns in how different animals move and are structured. I like revisiting the same animal every few months to see how my understanding and approach have changed.