Drawing animals for kids is a lot of fun but drawing animals together is also a powerful way to learn.
Taking some time to analyse a wildlife image first and you can learn a lot about the animals in your picture together before you even put pencil to paper!
Drawing animals for Kids & with Kids
Grab one of your animal photography books and let your child skim through its page until they find something they want to draw.
I think it’s an important step to talk about the subject of your image before you start drawing. The best part about drawing is to take your time, and notice all the features closely and carefully to help you replicate it on paper.
Questions to ask before you start drawing
Here’s some more general questions you can ask your child before drawing from a wildlife image:
- What animal is it?
- What’s the animal doing? Why do you think that?
- What body covering does the animal have?
- What type of animal is it? E.g. bird? Mammal? Reptile?
- Where could the animal be going?
- Is the animal happy or sad? Why do you think that?
- What’s in the background of the image or behind the animal?
- Is there anything in front of the animal?
- Why do you want to draw THIS animal?
Take your time drawing.
Here’s our attempt
I noticed Miss Possum was interested in the way I was adding some shading to my drawing of the elephant.
It wasn’t easy explaining that light from the sun hits the animal and where the sun can’t get to creates shadows on the animal. She managed to understand when I showed her the shadows on the elephant and the same shadows I tried to make on my drawing. She started to shade parts of her elephant.
It was so enjoyable to draw again and I could see that Miss Possum was quietly enjoying herself too.
Miss Possum’s drawing is on the right and mine is on the left. Not bad for an almost five year old is she?!
When did you last get out the pencils and draw from a beautiful wildlife image?
I can attest that she is a fabulous artist for a 5 yr old! (My skills are only slightly more developed to be honest).
Athough, looking at your attempt, it seems like the apple really does not fall far from the tree!
LOL, I love sketching animal too, obviously but haven’t had much time to do that hobby of late. I’m so glad Miss Poss enjoys it because then it gives me an excuse to do it more often!
Wow, she’s amazing for five. Obviously in the genes! 🙂
Thanks so much ALeney. That was a lovely comment for both of us 🙂
She has done a wonderful job and aren’t you gifted! Mine would look more like your daughters but I’m 32 lol
Oh I’m sure you’re better than you say. I used to be a terrible drawer until I practised all the time and then I got better and better. Miss Possum has been a natural drawer since she was little. It so nice for us to both share in something we love doing.
Wow, both drawings are so clever and beautiful! She has a wonderful role model to follow on this 🙂
Hello Penny. I loved reading this fabulous article and it’s wonderful to see you and Miss Possum sitting down to draw together. You haven’t changed a bit since I last saw you. You both did a great job and I must say that Miss Possum’s elephant has oodles of character! Love that long trunk and what about those legs and toes! Utterly adorable. Many of my students choose to draw wildlife too and they have produced some stunning artworks in my studio. I am very touched that you mentioned the art classes in this article. Thank you:)
What a great drawing, both of them. Your daughter has talent.
I wish dimples loved drawing, I’d love to sit and draw like this with him. I enjoy it!
I love sitting down with the kids to do some drawing, painting or story telling. Bringing out and encouraging their creative side is so fun, and very important, I think.
That is just the most adorable thing! What a wonderful idea…I love her face as she watches you and her drawing is just fantastic….I bet she was so proud of it too! You are pretty clever yourself Mum!
Penny,
Everytime I visit your site I learn about another talent of yours. Love your drawings.
She did a great job! (you did too btw!)
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