The Field Guide to Drawing & Sketching Animals

This book is packed with practical advice to help you capture the movement and feeling of weight of the animal in front of you, whether you are out in the field, or at a zoo, aquarium, or wildlife park.

Learning to draw wildlife can be fulfilling, challenging and exciting. From quick gestural sketches and linear and tonal studies, through to inspirational finished examples, this book is packed with practical advice to help you capture the movement and feeling of weight of the animal in front of you; whether you are out in the field, or at a zoo, aquarium, or wildlife park.

In this wide-ranging book, illustrator and educator Tim Pond takes you on an incredible journey to discover the underlying artistic principles which will enable everyone from the beginner to the professional artist to capture on paper some of the rarest and most beautiful animals on the planet.

As well as developing your skills, artistic techniques and biological knowledge, this book will deepen your understanding of the animals and their incredible evolutionary adaptations in the eternal struggle for survival in the natural world.

DRAWING ANIMALS FROM LIFE: Science meets art in this drawing book that gives you the skills, techniques, and knowledge you need to draw 45 different animal species. Capture with stunning life, movement, and accuracy a vast array of mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and insects! When it comes to drawing wildlife, illustrators and artists often revert to working solely from photographs, which can leave the artwork looking lifeless and flat. In this inspirational animal drawing book, artist Tim Pond shows you how to observe and draw animals in zoos, farms, wildlife parks, and aquariums – and teaches you fascinating animal facts along the way. Embark on a journey of discovery that will help you develop the skills, techniques, and knowledge needed to sketch a broad range of wildlife – from mammals and reptiles to birds, fish, and insects. Inside, you’ll find quick, gestural sketches and more in-depth studies in a variety of media (pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour); guidance on representing different coat patterns and markings (like the plumage of exotic birds or hippos’ hooves); and information on tools, materials and basic drawing techniques. Combining scientific knowledge with expert practical guidance is the key to successfully drawing animals from life. Tim’s ability to convey this accessibly and engagingly makes this a treasure trove for artists of all skill levels!