Study Giraffe Anatomy

• 1). Look at the reference picture of a giraffe. You can find reference pictures of giraffes online. Observe the shape and joint structure of the giraffe's body. Take notes of key characteristics such as the giraffe's neck, horns, and long legs.
  
  
• 2). Practice drawing parts of the giraffe's body. Do not try to create a full body sketch. Draw the form of the giraffe's neck, and legs. Focus on memorizing how to draw its joint structure. Work quickly and try not to erase any mistakes you make.
  
  
• 3). Sketch other parts of the giraffe's body, such as the torso, tail, and snout. Study teh drawings closely and focus on finding mistakes within your work. Continue to study Giraffe anatomy until you feel comfortable creating a full body sketch.
  
  

Sketch Your Giraffe

• 1). Sketch the rough draft of the giraffe. Draw a circle to map the giraffe's head. Use the circle as a guide to sketch the basic outline of its snout, ears, and horns. Don't worry about drawing the giraffe's face in detail, and focus on drawing a draft to follow. Extend a long line from the base of the head, this will represent the neck. Curve the line to adjust the pose of the giraffe as desired. Draw a large circle at the bottom of the neck to map the body. Sketch the draft of the legs by extending four lines from the bottom of the body, and the tail by sketching a curved from the back of the body.
  
  
• 2). Pencil the outline of the giraffe using the rough draft as a guideline. Start from the giraffe's head and sketch the basic details of its face. Sketch the simple outline of its eyes, nose and mouth. Place the nostrils of the giraffe at the front end of the snout, and the eyes of the giraffe close to the ears. Sketch the outline of the giraffe's neck starting at the base of the head. Follow the guideline to draw the neck in the correct pose. Make sure the bottom of the neck broadens as it reaches the body.
  
  
• 3). Draw the outline of the body, legs, and tail of the giraffe. Sketch the giraffe's body by starting at the base of the neck. Use the guideline and sketch the joints of the legs and tail which attach to the body. Review the reference picture as a guide while sketching. Sketch the shape of the legs starting from the top of the body and working downward. Make sure the width of the legs tapers at the bottoms. Draw the giraffe's tail starting from the body. Follow the shape of the two hind legs to create a natural fall for the tail.
  
  
• 4). Erase the markings left by the rough draft. Review the giraffe's outline and adjust the proportions as needed. Create the spots of the giraffe's body by drawing in each spot individually. Be patient and focus on making the shape of each spot unique. Shade in each spot using your pencil.
  
  
• 5). Look over the drawing for any extra smudges or markings left previously. Erase any that are found, and darken your entire picture by tracing over your lines hard with a pencil. Add shadows to the giraffe by lightly adding shadows along the curves of the body, ears, eyes and overlapping limbs.