Introduction
This comprehensive tutorial will guide you through the process of drawing a wolf’s face and head from the front view. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this step-by-step guide will make it easy for you to follow along. By using detailed line drawing examples, you’ll be able to recreate a realistic and captivating image of a wolf. So, grab your pencil and let’s get started!
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Step 1 – Construct the Wolf’s Head
To begin, create a construction line sketch of the wolf’s head. This will establish the basic shape and proportions of the drawing.
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- Start by drawing two intersecting lines, with the vertical line passing through the middle of your drawing area and the horizontal line in the upper part.
- Add the upper shape of the head using two sets of curves that gradually widen past the horizontal line before curving back inward.
- Sketch the lower shape of the head with a pair of angled lines that connect at the bottom.
- Create the ears, resembling triangles, and connect the area between them with a single curved line.
- From the horizontal line, extend a pair of vertical lines downwards, then draw another set of angled lines towards the center line.
- Complete the snout by drawing a half-circle at the bottom, connecting it to the angled lines. From the connection points, draw two curves that go upwards to define the shape of the snout.
By following these steps, you’ll have the basic shape of the wolf’s head.
Step 2 – Position the Facial Features
Next, it’s time to place the eyes and other facial features of the wolf.
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- Position the eyes slightly overlapping the horizontal line from the first step. Use the same line as a guide to ensure that both eyes are level.
- From above the eyes, sketch two “wave-like” lines that extend towards the outer sides of the head. These lines will help create the fur patterns later on.
- Draw the nose, wider at the top and narrower towards the bottom.
- Add the mouth by drawing two straight angled lines from the bottom part of the snout, angling towards the nose without touching it.
Step 3 – Refine the Face Shape and Add Details
Now, refine the shape of the face by replacing the straight construction lines with organic curves that better define the wolf’s head.
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- Use curved lines to enhance the inner sides of the ears, the upper part of the snout, the mouth, and the bottom of the head.
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- Add more details to the wolf’s head.
- Along the snout, draw additional “wave-like” lines to define its shape. Start close to the nose and point them towards the inner corners of the eyes.
Eye Details
- Focus on the eyes and their surrounding details.
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- Draw the eyes, indicating the pupils and adding small circles for highlights, representing reflections of light. Also, draw a pair of lines near the upper halves of the irises to indicate the shaded area.
Nose Details
- Pay attention to the nose and its specific features.
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- Add nostrils and indicate the split line that wolves have in the middle of their noses. Include a tiny area for highlights to leave white space for shading.
Mouth Details
- Complete the mouth by adding more details.
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- Allow the sides of the mouth to slightly protrude from the snout. You can also draw a hint of the wolf’s bottom lip above the bottom of the lower jaw.
Step 4 – Shade the Facial Features
Now, it’s time to add shading to the facial features of the wolf.
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- Shade the eyes, leaving the reflections and the bottom parts of the irises white.
- Shade the nose, leaving the main highlight area defined earlier white. Create a “broken up” white outline to define the nostrils, adding highlights to emphasize their shape.
- Completely shade the bottom area of the mouth below the nose, as well as the sides.
Step 5 – Draw the Inner Fur of the Face
To add depth and texture, draw the fur patterns inside the wolf’s face.
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- Using pencil, draw fur clumps over the construction lines. Erase the construction lines gradually as you go, or lightly erase the entire line to make it barely visible.
- Draw fur patterns as follows:
- Forehead: Stack small curves to create texture.
- Areas below eyes: Draw a swirl-like pattern that follows the shapes previously defined.
- Above eye “wave shapes”: Add random clumps that point in the general direction of the waves.
- Around eyes: Include small hints of fur above the eyes and near their inner ends.
- Inner parts of the face: Use varying length strokes pointing slightly downwards and to the sides of the face.
Step 6 – Draw the Fur in and Around the Ears
Continue by adding fur details to the outer and inner parts of the wolf’s ears.
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- Use very tiny strokes to draw fur clumps on the outer parts of the ears.
- For the inner parts, draw longer lines and larger clumps.
Step 7 – Draw the Fur Around the Head
Complete the drawing by adding fur clumps around the wolf’s head.
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- Draw fur clumps in three sections:
- Between the ears at the top of the head, fan out the fur upwards.
- Below the ears, create small clumps that point to the sides and slightly upwards.
- From the bottom of the ears to the bottom of the face, draw fur that transitions to point more downwards.
Ensure that the fur lines create an appearance of small clumps. For larger or more complex clumps, draw two longer lines with shorter lines in between.
Step 8 – Clean up the Drawing
Once you’ve finished adding fur, clean up the drawing and make any necessary adjustments.
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- If you’ve been using a pencil, use a kneaded eraser to lighten or remove the construction lines between the fur clumps.
Step 9 – Add Whiskers and Finalize the Drawing
Give the wolf its signature whiskers to complete the drawing.
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- Draw a few curved lines around the bottom outer sides of the snout for the whiskers.
- Take a step back and admire your finished line drawing of a wolf’s head.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, you’ve learned how to create a detailed and realistic drawing of a wolf’s face and head. By using precise lines and minimal shading, you’ve captured the essence of this majestic animal. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep honing your skills and exploring different drawing techniques. If you enjoyed this tutorial, be sure to check out our other step-by-step guides on drawing animals, including foxes, lions, eagles, and lynxes.
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