Did you know that cows are not only adorable animals, but they also form close friendships? These beautiful creatures have best friends with whom they love to spend time. How cute is that?!
Whether you’re an amateur artist or a seasoned sketcher, we’ve put together a simple and easy-to-follow guide on how to draw a cow in just five steps. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can create your very own cow masterpiece!
The Tools You Need for Simple Cow Drawing
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let’s make sure you have the right tools on hand. Here’s what you’ll need for your cow drawing:
- An H pencil: These pencils have a hard lead, which is perfect for creating guidelines and outlining your cow drawing.
- An HB pencil: This type of pencil has a medium-hard lead and is great for shading and adding details to your sketch.
- A 4B pencil: If you prefer a softer lead, a 4B pencil is an excellent choice for shading.
- A kneaded eraser: Kneaded erasers are elastic and can be shaped and resized to erase mistakes accurately.
- Lightly sketched paper: Drawing on smooth paper ensures that your pencil glides effortlessly, making the process enjoyable. Plus, it’s easy to erase any errors along the way.
Don’t worry if you don’t have these exact tools. The most important thing is your willingness to learn and practice. Feel free to use whatever materials you’re most comfortable with!
How to Draw a Cow in 5 Steps
When it comes to learning how to draw a cow (or anything else, really), taking it slow and starting with guidelines is crucial. We’ll guide you through outlining each body part one at a time and then connect them to bring your cow to life.
1. Draw the Base
To begin, let’s outline the cow’s head. Start by drawing two circles, one below the other. The top circle should be larger, as this is where we’ll add the eyes and ears. The smaller circle will serve as the muzzle and nostrils.
Next, add a large circle for the belly, aligning its top with the top of the head circle. For the backside, draw an oval shape slightly shorter than the belly outline. The distance between the belly and backside should match the belly’s width.
2. Outline the Back & Chest and Add the Ears
Now, connect the chest, belly, and backside outlines to create the body of the cow. Keep the back relatively straight, but draw a wavy line for the chest and belly, rising towards the oval shape in the back.
Sketch a round line below the belly dip to represent the udder. Then, softly curve lines to connect the front two circles, forming the head and muzzle. Don’t forget to add the ears on the sides of the head. Remember, the ears can be different sizes and shapes based on the cow’s perspective.
3. Draw the Legs
It’s time to bring your cow to life by drawing its legs. Begin by sketching the front thighs, which are wider at the top and taper towards the bottom. Outline the hooves and pasterns to complete the front legs.
For the back legs, start at the top of the oval shape representing the backside. Make sure to include the hock, the pointy part of the hind legs.
4. Add the Details
With the basic outline complete, it’s time to add details to your cow drawing. Grab an HB pencil or apply more pressure with your preferred pencil to create darker lines. Add the ears, draw the eyes, and include the nostrils.
Since cows have hair that covers their hide, use zig-zag lines at the top of the head to depict the hair. Don’t forget to sketch the teats and draw the tail.
Outline the patches that give cows their distinct markings. Erase any unnecessary guidelines and use your HB pencil to draw irregular shapes all over the cow’s back.
5. Shade Your Cow Drawing
The final step is to shade your sketch, bringing depth and dimension to your cow. Combine the HB and 4B pencils to create different shades of gray. Decide on the light source and make the cow’s head and front body slightly lighter than the back. Darken the eyes and the bottom of the tail, which are in shadow. Shade the patches in darker gray hues, leaving the rest of the body a lighter gray shade.
Lastly, remember to shade the ground beneath the cow’s feet to give it a solid placement.
Finished Your Cow Drawing? Try These Next!
Congratulations on completing your cow drawing! If you enjoyed this tutorial, why stop here? We have more helpful art tutorials to keep those creative juices flowing. Whether you’re into dragons, fish, unicorns, or penguins, we’ve got you covered. Explore our blog and YouTube channel for additional drawing guides.
Meet the Artist
This beginner-friendly guide was created by Goncalo Lopes, a professional comic book artist with extensive experience in projects ranging from comics and games to TV series and films. With his impressive portfolio including Godzilla, Transformers, GI-Joe, TMNT, and Adventure Time, you’re in good hands! Follow our YouTube channel for more art tutorials from Goncalo Lopes.
A Recap on Easy Cow Drawing
When learning how to draw a cow, start by using geometrical shapes to create the basic sketch and position the body parts. Use circles for the head, muzzle, chest, and belly. Draw a large oval shape for the backside, aligning it with the top of the chest outline. Then, add the udder and legs, gradually adding more details such as ears, eyes, nostrils, teats, and tail.
Once your cow outline is complete, shade your sketch using different levels of pressure with an HB or 4B pencil to create varying shades of gray. Shading will enhance the cow’s features and bring your sketch to life. Finally, don’t forget to shade the area beneath the cow to ground it in reality.
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Note: The images used in this article are from the original post.
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