ISOLATING A FIGURE

Drawing a dog without a background accentuates the physical characteristics of a breed, as there is nothing to distract the eye from the proportions, stance, and features of the dog. It’s best to begin these types of drawings with a strong reference photo that shows the dog in a balanced, attentive pose—a profile view is most effective, as it shows off the length and shape of the body. For this Australian Cattle Dog, I focus on the erect ears; alert eyes; broad chest; and strong, muscular neck.

Image

Step 1 First I transfer the major outlines of the dog using the grid method. Then I sketch the features and lightly delineate the pattern ...

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