How to Draw Tails

0 01 Oct 2007 by Rio Tails begin just where the spine ends and looks to rest on the posterior. Below is an example of cat tails that are the same in basic shape but with minor additions, it becomes a completely new tail. For example, a sleek tail with addition of several lines throughout turns the tail furry.

When drawing tails, draw the outline of the tail. Next, add fur lines to the tail if necessary and any other accessory, marking, or coloring. When wearing garments, tailed people have special clothes that deal with their tail. Depicted below is how a skirt may be worn even with a tail present.

Scaly tails are similar to to drawing a fur-less tail except it is generally thick at one end than the other. Tails may include spikes atop and tend to be scaly but does not have to be as shown in the dark tail below. To add scales to your tail, there are two methods of doing so. The first is just cross hatching (#) and the other is to make multiple Vs. Note that the

whole tail does not have to show scales all around.

How to draw anthro heads

By Kelly | June 4, 2007 A quick example of how I approach heads:

It helps to think in terms of 3D objects. The main mass of the head is a sphere, with the attached muzzle and ear shapes varying depending on which species youre trying to depict. Ill start with the rough sphere and some crosshairs on top to set the angle and position of features Ill draw later. Then, on top Ill sketch out the form of the eyes and eye sockets, and the muzzle form below. Eyes are usually placed above the center crosshair. A good rule of thumb is that the eyes are spaced one eye-width apart. After that Ill add in other forms like cheek-fluff and hair, and start working out details. The main objective here is to figure out form and pose before adding any details!
More Examples

These are old but should give you some idea how I approach different species:

1. Basic Hand Anatomy

Anatomy studies by George Bridgeman

Understanding the components of the hand bone, muscle, and tendon- will help you draw believable hands. Draw studies of your own hands, paying particular attention to silhouette and form, and with particular empahsis on change of direction in the lines of the silhouette.

Exaggerate plane changes and overlapping forms to make more dynamic hands

Do many studies of your own hands for practice. After studying, try drawing some new poses using your memory!

2. Simplified Forms

I like to think of the hand as three big pieces- the palm, thumb, and fingers. Imagine the hand as a mitten, with the fingers as one mass. Then, in your mind convert that mitten into a more three-dimensional form. The hand is long and relatively flat, its just the folds of the palm and joints of the fingers that make it seem complex. The fingers have three joints- the knuckle, where it attaches to the palm, a smaller middle joint, and an even smaller joint near the tip. The natural movement of the fingers bend goes from knuckle, to middle, to tip. In other words, the tip joint only bends in the most extreme poses, and it only bends alone if theres pressure on the finger tip (such as poking an object).

Dont forget which side the thumb is on! A simple rule of thumb palms out, thumbs in. Palms in, thumbs out. Check your pose with a mirror or get a buddy to model if you arent sure. Here are some of Bridgemans hand studies, showing how he simplifies the form, including some very geometric plane studies-

3. Animals and Anthro Hands

Here are a couple of techniques for making anthro/furry hands:

Cartoony paws use simple, rounded forms to convey the structure of the hand. Detail is minimal, since with animated characters every line must be re-drawn thousands of times. These animated characters typically have 3 fingers and a thumb, and lack extraneous details like furry accents and paw pads.

Mid-way between animal and human, this style of hand has stubbier fingers and bigger joints, plus the animal characteristics of fur and paw pads. This kind of hand is better for more beast-like or masculine anthros.

These examples are how Id draw hands for my Good Cheese characters. The female hand is slender and elegant, with only pointed nails (and perhaps a pink palm) to lend it some animal flavor. The male hand is more beast-like, with stubby fingers and hints of fur at the knuckles. Feel free to experiment with different styles, and draw the hands that best fit your characters design. Happy drawing!

How to Draw Paws

By Kelly | July 11, 2007 All things furry and footed have paws. And paws can be a bit intimidating to draw- lots of complex moving parts like hands, but less familiar. Dont stress, all paws have a lot in common, and by learning to draw the basic parts you can get by just fine. For the purpose of this tutorial, well focus on just a couple specific animals as examples.

Recommended Reading :

Cyclopedia Anatomicae (aka Anatomy Drawing School) by Gyorgy Fehr and Andrs Szunyoghy This book includes some really detailed anatomy studies for humans, cats, dogs, lions, pigs, cows, horses, and apes. Lots of great reference for paws, hooves, and legs. Theres also a comparative anatomy chapter. Its a good investment for intermediate to advanced artists.

Drawfurry.com is an Amazon Affiliate

Check the Recommended Reading Booklist for more reference books, and tips on getting them cheap.

Whats In a Paw

The paw has three main parts:

the phalanges (fingers or toes for humans) the claws and the pads.

Although their arrangement may vary, these elements occur in most pawed animals. Cats, dogs, and their relatives are mostly digitigrade- that means that they walk on their tiptoes. In the image above you can see where the wrist joint appears in a cats leg. The pad on the bottom of the foot acts as a grip and a cushion, the same as the palm of our hands. The elbow is up high, close to the rib cage.

Feline Paws

The main paw pad is a rounded teardrop shape, with four small toe pads arching above. Felines also have a dew claw on the inside of the paw, which is the same joint as the human thumb. Further up on the wrist in the carpal pad. The carpal pad isnt a joint, but like the pads on the phalanges it gives the animal extra padding and traction for quick stops. All cats, except cheetahs, have retractable claws that are sheathed beneath the skin. The slit is usually visible on each digit.

Canine Paws

The canine paw has a few distinct differences from the feline:

no retractable claws- claws are always visible large pad is triangular middle two toes are longer and tend to point inward

Plantigrade Paws

Animals that walk on their heel and palm are called plantigrade. Like a human, they have wide, flat feet. Plantigrade animals include bears, skunks, opossums, raccoons, and many rodents. In this example featuring bear paws, I included an orange circle to indicate where the wrist and ankle joints are located. Compare that to the top image of a cats paw, and you can see the primary difference between digitigrade and plantigrade paws.

Now that you know the bear essentials, keep studying paws on your own. Look at photos at the library or online, or get your furry friends to lend a paw. Youll be hot to trot in no time flat!

How to Draw the Body : Basics

By Kelly | June 18, 2007

This tutorial doesnt go in-depth into anatomy youll have to study that on your own. But I hope youll learn a thing or two from seeing how I approach drawing a figure from imagination.

1. Structuring the Figure

Heres an example of a quick and easy way to block out a pose. Nothing fancy, just a simple stick-figure armature made of simple shapes. With just a few lines, Ive plotted out the basic pose and proportions of the figure. Note that the tail is sketched in as well, and it forms a natural extension of the spine. I sketch in a crosshair on the head, just to plan where the eyes will be on the face.

I added these festive lines to give you a hint what Im thinking as I sketch this out. The red line, which falls from the hollow of the collarbone at the necks base, all the way down to the level of the feet, is the figures center of weight. It doesnt have much bearing on the figure drawing itself, but you can use it to judge if your figures in a stable standing pose. For action poses, dont worrry about it- but remember than the point on the collar leads the pose, more often than the head. The happy green swoosh indicates the angle of the feet. Most beginners draw the feet as perfectly parallel, or perpendicular, to each other. Instead, the feet are usually at an angle closer to 45 degrees, nearer at the heel with the toes angled out.

2. Block in the Forms

When I settle on a stick-figure pose, I start drawing the 3D forms on top of it. This is a good point to double-check with a mirror (or digitally, horizantal flip) to see how your sketch is shaping up from a fresh perspective, and correct any weirdness in the rough drawing. I flesh out all the forms before adding details like fur and clothing. For more detailed instructions on specific parts, check out Drawing Anthro Heads, How to Draw Eyes, and How to Draw Hands.

3. Clean-up and Details

My final task is simply to draw on top of my rough sketch, finalizing all the details without stressing over the pose and anatomy. Planning your drawing and analyzing it at every stage will usually have the best result. If youre drawing with pencil, use a pen or brush to ink over your sketch, and rub out the loose lines with an eraser. Digitally, if you sketch in blue its a simple task to drop the colors, leaving only the black lines on top (see this tutorial for a demo). Dont be afraid to sketch lots of loose and messy poses before you get it right. Good luck and happy drawing!

How to Draw Facial Expressions

By Kelly | July 27, 2007 One key to conveying your characters mood and personality is in the face. In this tutorial, youll find out the elements that convey emotion, and discover which cartoon shorthand

drawing methods are used to convey them. I recommend you read through How to Draw Eyes before you continue, if you havent read it already.

1. Elements of Expression
The key elements of facial expressions are the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth. In furry characters, the ears are also important. Take a look at these examples:

Which parts change the most? The shape of the eyes, the angle of the eyebrows, and the mouth.

Notice that ears are pinned, or pointed back, when the character is angry or distressed. Both the upper and lower eyelids affect the shape of the eye, and even the eyebrows have some effect too if they are strongly furrowed, as in the angry expression. A genuinely happy expression should show the effect of the lower eyelid, flattening the shape of the bottom of the eye- fake smiles lack this effect in real life! In cases where the pupil is floating, not touching the top or bottom edge of the eye, the character appears surprised. Without raised eyebrows and lowered jaw, the floating pupil just makes a character look deranged. In other words, the combination of all 3 elements is key to conveying the right expression.

2. Focus on the Eye

Heres an eye in several poses, depicting some different possibilities for showing emotion. The first shows a little of the bottom eyelid, as well as the top. This expression is relaxed, or just plain normal. The high and slightly arched eyebrow makes the character alert. Theyre engaged or interested, and thinking. The second example eye is surprised, or shocked. The eyebrow arches way up, and we see the floating pupil again. The upper eyelid is pulled back, making the eye seem larger. You can change the angle of the eyebrow to add more subtle effects to the expression angle it up and toward the center of the face for a concerned or unhappy surprise, and angle it down toward the center of the face to show anger. The third eye is definitely not happy. We have the angry, down-angled eyebrow, which touches the eye itself its so low. Making the angle of the eyebrow even sharper, and covering more of the eyeball, will make a more intensely angry expression. Eye #4 is concerned, sad, or fearful. The up-angled eyebrow is pulling at the flesh around the eye, distorting it. The lower eyelid is also making a strong appearance. An even more angry, menacing expression in the next eye. Like I mentioned before, the angle of the eyebrow has intensified the emotion. The addition of the lower eyelid narrowing the eye adds to the effect. The last eye is bored, tired, or otherwise disengaged. Most of the eye is covered by the upper lid, and theres not much action in the eyebrow.

3. Learn by Example
My final advice to you, is to study the right models. Dont just copy expressions you see in cartoons or manga. Get a mirror, study your own expressions. Watch how the muscles of the face move and bunch. Pay attention to the shape of the eye, and how much of the teeth you see when the mouth is open. Animators often act out the poses and expressions they need to draw, and I think this technique will serve you well. Dont be afraid of looking like a goofball! Here are some examples of facial expressions from my webcomic Good Cheese. Analyze the shape of the eye, angle of the eyebrow, and the mouth. What emotion does it convey? And, can you think of a better way to draw it?

Happy Drawing!

How to Draw Feet Bending

By Kelly | October 5, 2007 This tutorial was requested by Raysuko, who had difficulty drawing the feet in a kneeling pose. The important thing to keep in mind for this kind of pose is the location of the main joints in the foot. Theres the ankle joint, which has a limited degree of movement, and the joints of the toes, which bend mostly from the ball of the foot. The toes dont have the same fine control as the finger joints, and mostly are bent by weight placed on the ball of of the foot.

The foot always maintains its arch, even with pressure on the toes such as in a kneeling pose.