How To Draw Animals by Susie Hodge

A Step by Step Explanation of Basic Drawing Techniques

Mar 14, 2009

In her book, How To Draw Animals, Susie Hodge demonstrates 10 progressive drawing exercises designed to build the confidence of aspiring artists.

The drawing exercises in How To Draw Animals inspire confidence, which is highly motivating for both experienced and inexperienced artists. The simple illustrated instructional text is appropriate for beginning artists because it is based around well explained drawing exercises. These demonstrations show how to capture the characteristics of animals. They are illustrated step by step stages of building up structure.

Scaffolded Drawing Exercises

When starting out, many beginners think drawing animals will be a difficult a task. This daunting view of artistic endeavour is often called talent. To believe that one must possess talent to be able to learn to draw can be disempowering. This discouraging idea often develops because "would be artists" see the whole picture that they would like to capture. They do this without realising that artists go through stages before they realise this polished finished.

It is more advantageous for beginning artists to realise that even though there is work required, artistic technique is a body of knowledge that can be learnt gradually and sequentially. Drawing is an area of knowledge that is best acquired through daily practice. Most artists build up sketches structurally so that after a process of careful arrangement the polished drawing emerges as a whole picture. This is achieved through the application of layers of rendering and detail.

To scaffold learning experiences in a user friendly manner, Hodge has organised a step by step explanation of basic techniques. By doing this she explains how to capture the visual appearance of an animal. She focuses on tone, solidity, shape, character, expression, and movement.

Developing a Personal Drawing Style

Material presented in How To Draw Animals, is not exhaustive. Would be artists may find the need to ferret out other resources in an attempt to emulate others as they hone their skills as they evolve and master a more personal drawing style of their own. However, these demonstrations should be thought of as the basic building blocks of drawing and they provide a very good starting point for students experimenting with style and technique. The book is a useful tool for students as they start on a visual journey in an exploration of what works for them. With time and practice students will invent their own drawing style.

Demonstration of a Variety of Techniques

Hodge carefully discusses the qualities of various media as she demonstrates a variety of techniques. Through discussions of anatomy, ways to capture texture and particularities of form, the author explores facial expressions, and how characteristics come together to capture personality. In this way, she explores particularities of the features of animals so that the portraiture is authentic. She explores features and the proportions of different breeds of animal. The author not only shows how to capture a pet’s personality, through depiction of such aspects of the animal’s persona like texture of fur, she discusses how to portray motion and gait.

The variety of animals featured in these exercises provides scope for wide experimentation. They include dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, squirrels, and ponies. Hodge gives instruction about drawing animals from photographs and then supplies photographic resource material so that the student can practice. She also generously provides small snippets with tips and tricks about a variety of drawing practicalities throughout the pages.

About Susie Hodge

Susie Hodge has a passion for art education and has been teaching practical art and art history to children and adults for over 15 years. She has written and illustrated many art and art history books. She has worked for the Royal Academy, the Tate and the V&A museum to produce booklets for visitors, teachers and students.

Her art instruction books are well set out, well researched and presented. Not only are the stages and steps of drawing easy to understand, but there is a wealth of other practical information encountered by the student who methodically works through the pages. This book will set students well on their way to realising how an artist focuses on topical subject matter, and through focus, develop personal artistic style.

The copyright of the article How To Draw Animals by Susie Hodge in Visual Arts Education is owned by Jo Murphy. Permission to republish How To Draw Animals by Susie Hodge in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.