Pit bulls have interesting features that make them great drawing subjects.
Pit bulls are a particularly interesting dog breed. Historical record indicate that the dog was initially bred to effectively attack animals. They were primarily set loose on bulls and bears to entertain crowds. This revolting practice then changed into what we now know as dogfights. Dogs are pitted against each other in life and death confrontations much like gladiators were forced to duel in public arenas. Outlawed as a cruel and inhumane sport, these dogs still bear the scars of misguided breeding practices and still exhibit a tendency to be potentially aggressive with other dogs.
Instructions
1. Collect some great photos of pit bulls making sure they are detailed enough for you to see the finer points, such as the musculature and bone structure. Arrange your images in a way so you can easily refer to them as you work on the drawing.
2. Draw a circle near the center of your drawing paper to represent the big chest and torso of the pit bull. Draw another circle a little larger than half the size of the first circle directly beside it on the right, if the dog is facing to the left. Overlap the second circle on the larger circle by about a third of its diameter. This will represent the back end of the dog. Draw the third circle to represent the head, suspended slightly above, and just to the right of the center of the first circle. Draw this circle the same size as the second circle.
3. Connect these circles with the outline of the pit bull using the outer curves as a guideline. Extend lines from the bottom of the first two circles to indicate the position of the legs. Indicate and curves in the legs. Define the outlines of the ears and draw two horizontal lines where the eyes will be. Keep checking with your reference images that you are getting the proper proportions and the correct position for the legs. Add four small oval circles to the bottom of the legs to indicate the paws.
4. Outline the legs and facial features of the dog. Remember that the facial expression is one of the most important features of the drawing. Draw the eyes, nose and the mouth. Finish detailing the outline of the legs, neck, belly and back of the pit bull. Keep checking your references if you get confused at any point. Detail the paws and mark the separation between toes. Draw the claws on the end of the toes. Draw the color boundaries of the fur by outlining dark areas. Erase the circles that you used as guidelines once you have completely finished your outlines.
5. Begin to shade the dark areas on the dog. Even the light areas will have some shading. Take note of where the light is coming from and how it creates shadowing on the dog. Darken the areas that show muscular features and bones. Darken the inside of the ears and wherever else you can detect slight variations in muscle tone.
6. Use a cloth to create a graduated blend in your shading. Try the technique on a separate sheet of paper if trying this for the first time. Keep blending the graphite carefully to create the contours and general depth in your drawing.
7. Erase any smudges that blur lines meant to be crisp. Redraw any lines that have been accidentally rubbed out. Take a small break and then reassess your work with a clear head. Make any necessary corrections until you feel the drawing is finished.
Tags: dark areas, drawing Draw, first circle, Keep checking, position legs