Wolves are awe-inspiring creatures that symbolize loyalty, spirit, trust, and guardianship. We can learn valuable lessons from these majestic animals, such as trusting our hearts and instincts to lead fulfilling lives. If you’re interested in capturing the beauty and fearlessness of a wolf in your artwork, look no further. In this tutorial, renowned concept artist IzzyBll will guide you through the process of drawing a realistic wolf face, step by step. Whether you prefer traditional pencil and paper or a graphics tablet, this tutorial is perfect for beginners and those looking to improve their artistic skills.
Necessary Materials for Drawing a Wolf
While there are various methods for creating wolf art, drawing with pencil and paper is one of the easiest and most accessible techniques. For beginners, we recommend using the Bellofy sketchbook. It provides plenty of blank pages where you can showcase your wolf sketch and other artistic creations.
To start sketching and drawing, you’ll need two to three different shades of pencils. We suggest using the light construction or drafting pencils from the Nicpro set for your initial sketch lines and markings. For shading, finer details, and shadows, the Dowswin 30-piece pencil and charcoal sketching set is ideal.
If you prefer digital art, you’ll be working with a stylus, mouse, or drawing pen on a graphics tablet. Use standard brushes and adjust the DPI settings for your mouse if you’re not using a stylus or pen.
Remember, the most important thing is to have fun, enjoy the tutorial, and take your time. Patience is key to achieving perfection in your artwork!
How to Draw a Wolf Head Step by Step
As with any animal, drawing a wolf might seem intimidating, especially when it comes to capturing the intricacies of their fur. However, this tutorial will break down the process into easy-to-follow steps, making it achievable for anyone.
Step 1: Sketching the Head Shape
Begin by deciding where you want the wolf head to be positioned on your canvas or paper. In this tutorial, we’ll place it in the center to create a focal point. With a lightly shaded pencil or brush on a graphics tablet, draw an oval shape to represent the head. Adding blocks across the surface can help you identify center points and ensure proper perspective.
Step 2: Add the First Construction Lines
Draw a centerline down the middle of the oval shape and another line across, about one-third down from the top. These lines will help you determine the placement of the eyes, eyebrows, ears, snout, and mouth. They serve as a basic guide for the facial features of your wolf drawing.
Step 3: Additional Construction Lines
Continuing from the previous step, add a secondary horizontal line above the oval shape. This line will help you position the ears symmetrically. Draw another horizontal line, half the length of the top line, about one-third upwards from the bottom. This line will assist in aligning the nose and mouth.
Step 4: Listen Up
It’s time to add the ears! Draw two triangular shapes on the top of the oval, ensuring their tips reach the top horizontal line. These simple triangles will later be transformed into realistic-looking ears.
Step 5: Outlining the Snout/Nose
Draw an oval shape as close to the center as possible, using the middle center line for symmetry. Add two streak lines to capture the shape of the wolf’s snout/nose. Remember that a wolf’s nose is wider compared to other facial features, much like that of a dog.
Step 6: Shaping the Facial Characteristics
Refine the ears by shaping them to look more curved, without touching the oval shape. Don’t worry if they’re slightly offside; we’ll add fur to enhance their appearance later. Draw the mouth, making it wider than the snout and adding a small hint of the bottom lip for emphasis.
Step 7: Facial Features
To bring your wolf sketch to life, start adding detailed facial features. Draw the eyes, sloping them slightly inward towards the center of the snout. Depict the nostrils with basic squiggles on the nose. Use a darker pencil shade to follow the construction line of the snout/nose.
Step 8: Outer Fur
Begin adding fur to the outer layers of the wolf’s face. Follow the oval construction lines and draw fur on one side of the oval at a time. Remember that a wolf’s fur always spreads outwards, even the inner fur. The only exception is at the “connecting points” where the fur joins together, creating a flame-like effect.
Step 9: Inner Fur
Using the construction lines of the ears, draw small streaks to represent the wolf’s inner fur. Just like the outer fur, the inner fur should point outward, but with smaller streaks indicating shorter and thinner hair. Create inner fur lines around the eyes, resembling eyebrows, and along the face for a three-dimensional look.
Step 10: Shading and Details
Add darker shading to the outer fur, especially on the top of the head and ears. Darken the eyes, snout/nose, and mouth to emphasize these important facial elements. Fill in the inner fur with strokes until you reach the outer fur, following the direction guided by the center lines. Erase the construction lines and add more layers of fur strokes, decreasing their hardness as you move down towards the neck for a fading effect. Don’t forget to add fine lines, details, and shadows to enhance the realism of your wolf drawing.
Things to Consider When Drawing a Wolf Face
- Begin with a simple oval shape and break down the facial features.
- Emphasize the key characteristics of a wolf’s face.
- Remember that a wolf’s fur always spreads outwards.
- Use minimal shading for a more realistic look.
Some Motivation and Tips to Make Drawing a Wolf Easy
- Art takes practice, so don’t get discouraged. Every artwork you create contributes to your experience and growth.
- Follow tutorials to build your skills and receive guidance.
- Create a workspace that inspires creativity and self-expression.
- Familiarize yourself with different pencil shades and experiment with various techniques and mediums.
- Challenge yourself to draw subjects that you find difficult and explore different textures, materials, and platforms.
- Develop your own style while expanding your skill set.
- Never stop practicing!
For more details and visual steps, visit our Wolf Head Drawing web story.
