Beginner's - ArtTrader Magazine
Beginner's - ArtTrader Magazine Beginner's - ArtTrader Magazine
Art TRADER m a g a z i n e Step 3. Laying down the linework and primary features Think of this as laying the foundations. You must look at your references and divide them up into parts. The easiest way to do this is to train yourself to see them not as features, but as shapes. Start with the general head shape: felines and canines have a roundish, slightly squared facial shape. This is because, being predators, they need to have good spatial vision and be able to focus both eyes on their potential dinner, whereas ungulates and rodents/lagomorphs have a more rectangular one. As “prey species” they benefit more from having good peripheral vision and can see the afore-mentioned predators sneaking up from all angles (except right behind them...) Sketch out the placement of the main facial features: • Eyes • Ears • Nose or muzzle Step 4: Secondary features Here’s where things get particularly fun. You have to look at your animal and think “what is it that makes this animal what it is?” Look for distinguishing markings - stripes on a tiger, the shaggy mane of fur on a wolf’s throat, the rabbit’s long ears. Now add in the secondary facial features - mouth, cheeks, eyebrows. PREDATORS Felines Felines tend to have short, rounded muzzles. Their ears are set at the edge of their head and usually point outwards. • • • • • Muzzle shape - square or round? Tigers have a squarer, more powerful muzzle Fur type - sleek or shaggy? Tigers and long-haired housecats have a distinctive ruff of fur Ear shape - rounded or pointed? Tigers ears are quite small and rounded, whereas most domestic breeds are more triangular Eye size - big or small? If the feline is predominently nocturnal - as the smaller species are, the eyes will be larger in proportion with their bodies. These can be exaggerated in the name of cuteness, but when applied to tigers or lions may confuse the viewer as to what they are actually viewing Eye shape - almond or round? Although my two subjects here are similar, a persian’s bug eyes are quite different from the narrow glare of a burmese -60-
Art TRADER m a g a z i n e Canines Canines have a longer, more rectangular shape to their muzzles. Of course, some of the more mutated breeds of dogs - chihuahua and boxers for example, have far shorter and rounder muzzles. Their ears either are erect pointing directly upwards, or flop comically beside their face. Their eyes are smaller in proportion to their body size, although it should be noted that some canine species are nocturnal (fox and coyote for example). Some species of wild dog and domesticated breeds sport a ruff of fur about their face and neck. These are not quite as defined as their feline cousins, but should not be overlooked. PREY Rodents/Lagomorphs Rodents and Lagomorphs are about as closely related as cats and dogs. They have large, round, dark eyes identifying their largely nocturnal lifestyle and more pronounced eye sockets. Their ears are quite large in proportion, giving them good hearing - all the better to hear those predators! Their snouts are quite long and pronouced but their mouths are quite small. Eyes are set back closer to the ears, giving them “all-round’ vision. Note the difference in noses from the carnivores above - these prey species have a “V” shaped nose, the nostrils rimmed with pink. Features to look for when drawing rodents and lagomorphs: • Eye size - big or small? Most rodents have quite large eyes. • Cheeks - ruffs/pouches? Rodents store their food in cheek pouches, which can be characterized by tufts of fur. Ungulates Hoofed animals are prey species of the larger carnivores and as such need good peripheral vision. Their eyes are set back in the sides of their head, near the base of the ear and at a distinctly different angle to that of a carnivores. Their snouts are quite long, their mouths small. They also have fleshy lips, used to pull leaves from trees or grass. Their ears are set high on their head. Features to look for when drawing rodents and lagomorphs: • Nostrils or Dy Noses? Many ungulates have two separate nostrils, set to either side of their snout and rimmed with pink. Some, however, like deer and antelopes, have actual “dry noses” not unlike those of the carnivores. • Head adornments? To protect themselves and help defend mates, many ungulates sport defensive measures in the form of horns or tusks. Look for where these attach to the body and the form they take. They should be sketched in now if they’re not already. • Ear shape? Ungulates have longer, pointed ears. Some, like horses, point directly upwards, whereas goats and deer may rest at right angles to the cheeks or droop downwards. • Lips - narrow or wide? Ungulates have fleshy lips - browsers (tree eaters) have narrower lips often with prehensile properties, ideal for plucking. Others, like the white rhino which is a grazer, are much wider and act more-or-less like a lawnmower. Study your reference and imagine how it likes to dine. Also, look for tongues. Giraffes, for example, have very long tongues which they use to denude branches. • Pupil shape and size? Are the eyes large and dark and limpid like a deer’s or are the pupils narrow, evil, horizontal slits like a goats? -61-
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Art TRADER<br />
m a g a z i n e<br />
Step 3. Laying down the linework and primary features<br />
Think of this as laying the foundations. You must look at your references and divide them up into parts.<br />
The easiest way to do this is to train yourself to see them not as features, but as shapes.<br />
Start with the general head shape: felines and canines have a roundish, slightly squared facial shape.<br />
This is because, being predators, they need to have good spatial vision and be able to focus both eyes<br />
on their potential dinner, whereas ungulates and rodents/lagomorphs have a more rectangular one. As<br />
“prey species” they benefit more from having good peripheral vision and can see the afore-mentioned<br />
predators sneaking up from all angles (except right behind them...)<br />
Sketch out the placement of the main facial features:<br />
• Eyes<br />
• Ears<br />
• Nose or muzzle<br />
Step 4: Secondary features<br />
Here’s where things get particularly fun.<br />
You have to look at your animal and think<br />
“what is it that makes this animal what it<br />
is?” Look for distinguishing markings -<br />
stripes on a tiger, the shaggy mane of fur<br />
on a wolf’s throat, the rabbit’s long ears.<br />
Now add in the secondary facial features -<br />
mouth, cheeks, eyebrows.<br />
PREDATORS<br />
Felines<br />
Felines tend to have short, rounded muzzles. Their ears are set at the<br />
edge of their head and usually point outwards.<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
Muzzle shape - square or round? Tigers have a squarer, more<br />
powerful muzzle<br />
Fur type - sleek or shaggy? Tigers and long-haired housecats have a<br />
distinctive ruff of fur<br />
Ear shape - rounded or pointed? Tigers ears are quite small and<br />
rounded, whereas most domestic breeds are more triangular<br />
Eye size - big or small? If the feline is predominently nocturnal - as<br />
the smaller species are, the eyes will be larger in proportion with their<br />
bodies. These can be exaggerated in the name of cuteness, but<br />
when applied to tigers or lions may confuse the viewer as to what<br />
they are actually viewing<br />
Eye shape - almond or round? Although my two subjects here are<br />
similar, a persian’s bug eyes are quite different from the narrow glare<br />
of a burmese<br />
-60-
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