Wolves have long been admired in art for their beauty and majesty. Cave paintings dating back to 6000 BC depict wolves as a threat to humans, leading to their hunting for fur, meat, and skin. However, perceptions of wolves shifted over time, recognizing their importance in maintaining ecological balance by hunting overpopulated prey species like elk and deer.
So why do people continue to depict wolves in their artwork? Wolves hold symbolic meaning, representing power, bravery, and intelligence. Even in modern times, drawing and painting wolves allow individuals to express their creativity and practice their artistic skills.
In this tutorial, we will guide you through drawing a wolf step-by-step, using simple shapes.
What You’ll Learn:
- The structure of a wolf’s body
- How to draw a wolf
- How to shade a wolf
Materials Needed:
- A piece of paper
- A 0.5mm 2B mechanical pencil
- A 0.5mm HB mechanical pencil
- A 4B graphite pencil
- A 2.3mm Tombow Mono Zero eraser
- A blending stump
- A ruler
- An eraser or a kneaded eraser
This is the wolf you’ll be drawing:
And now, let’s get started!
Section 1: Structure of a Wolf
In this section, we will learn how to draw a wolf from scratch. It may seem complicated, but if you follow the steps, you’ll find it surprisingly simple!
Step 1: Split your canvas vertically
Using a measuring ruler, divide your canvas into three equal parts vertically. Use a mechanical pencil with light pressure.
Step 2: Split your canvas again
Repeat the previous step and split your canvas horizontally. This will create a 3×3 grid to help you center your drawing and maintain proper proportions.
Step 3: Draw a circle
Draw a circle that rests on top of the lower horizontal guideline. Ensure that the vertical guideline passes through the middle of the circle. This circle represents the wolf’s rib cage.
Step 4: Draw another circle
On the left vertical guideline, draw a smaller circle. This circle should be positioned slightly lower than the lower horizontal guideline. It represents the hip and lower part of the wolf.
Step 5: Draw a third circle
This circle will serve as the head of the wolf. Make it smaller and align it with the first circle. If you need assistance with positioning, refer to the diagram and use the guidelines as references.
Step 6: Connect the upper and lower body
Connect the circles you’ve drawn with a curved line. This line represents the spine of the wolf.
Step 7: Draw two lines
Divide the head circle vertically and draw two lines extending from the top. These lines will serve as guidelines for the nose and mouth. Ensure that they are not too far apart.
Step 8: Draw an irregular hexagon
Using the diagram as reference, draw an irregular hexagon below the face. This shape represents the mouth area.
Step 9: Add the eyes and lower jaw
Split the head circle in half horizontally. Then, draw parallelogram-like shapes on each side of the face for the eyes. Ensure that they align with the middle of the circle. Add half of a hexagon for the lower jaw, considering the perspective.
Step 10: Add the ears and nose
Refer to the diagram and add the ears and nose. For a more detailed tutorial on drawing snouts, you can check out our article on “How to Draw a Dog’s Face.”
Step 11: Add two lines
Add two lines on each side of the head, extending from the top sides of the head to the nose.
Step 12: Draw an M-like line
Draw an M-like shape from the corners of the face to the top of the eyes and nose.
Step 13: Draw a V shape
Draw a V shape from the sides of the face to the lower part of the torso. This will complete the wolf’s face and neck structure.
Step 14: Draw two circles
To simplify the legs, draw two circles of different sizes, representing the wolf’s legs. Refer to the diagram for their positions and sizes.
Step 15: Draw another two circles
Add two more circles, along with an irregular pentagon shape to represent the paw. Place them closer to the lower horizontal guideline.
Step 16: Connect the circles
Connect the circles with lines, as shown in the diagram. This will complete the front leg of the wolf.
Step 17: Repeat
Repeat the previous steps for the other leg. Erase any overlapping lines and use softer or dashed lines to determine the correct position of the leg.
Step 18: Draw two circles again
For the lower part of the leg, draw two more circles. Make them larger, as the lower limbs of most animals tend to be thicker.
Step 19: Draw a circle and a pentagon
Draw a smaller circle and a pentagon to represent the paw.
Step 20: Connect the circles
Connect the circles to form the lower leg.
Step 21: Draw the tail
Sketch the rough shape of a fluffy tail, and you will have completed the basic structure of your wolf.
Section 2: How to Draw a Wolf
Before moving on to shading, gently erase the guidelines, leaving a faint outline of your wolf’s structure. Grab your 0.5mm HB mechanical pencil and follow these steps:
Step 22: Wolf fur
Refer to the diagram for the fur direction and types. Use short, fur-like strokes to create a soft graphite layer.
Step 23: Paws and claws
Follow the steps provided to draw the paws and claws of the wolf’s left side limbs. For the right side, refer to the diagram for the visible part.
Step 24: Eyes and nose
Shade the nose and eyes, as they are the darkest parts of the wolf’s face.
Step 25: Face fur
Follow the lines shown in the diagram and use the “short and thick” fur technique discussed earlier to sketch the fur on the wolf’s face.
Step 26: Body fur
Add fur lines to the body, following the reference lines. Congratulations! You now have a perfectly drawn wolf. But if you’d like to take it a step further and add shading, keep reading.
Section 3: How to Shade a Wolf
For this section, we will utilize almost all of our materials. Let’s go through three simple steps for shading each part of the wolf’s body. Enjoy the process!
Step 27: The head
Using a 0.5mm HB mechanical pencil, create a soft graphite layer with small fur-like strokes. Fill the entire head, taking your time. Avoid rushing, as it can result in a messy appearance.
Refer to the image below for areas that require darker shading. Utilize a 2B mechanical pencil and a 4B graphite pencil for these areas. Observe how the darkest fur areas align with the previous fur pattern.
Step 28: Upper body
Repeat the previous steps for the upper body. Fill the upper body with graphite and add details with the 2B and 4B graphite pencils.
For areas with the lowest value, you can use a Tombow Mono Zero eraser or kneaded eraser to simulate white fur.
Step 29: Lower body
Apply the same techniques to the lower body. Wolves have darker fur on their backs, so this part will require even more graphite. Use the 4B pencil and eraser accordingly. Note the clear spots on the highlighted areas, representing white fur details with low value.
Step 30: Tail
For the tail’s base layer, use large and loose strokes to imitate fluffy fur. Add details with the 2B mechanical pencil and 4B pencil. Blend some of the fur on the wolf’s body using a blending stump.
Congratulations! You’ve completed the tutorial. Thank you for following along, and I hope you learned something new today. Now you have a better grasp of how to draw and shade a wolf. Keep practicing and have fun!
Until next time!
