Sketching is the fastest route to improving your artistic skills. Are you stuck in the "what to draw" quandary? Here is my favorite way to break the deadlock. Simple fish or birds are great warm-ups, but wait until you see the Aardwolf. Once your hand is in the swing of it, be adventurous. I invite you to join me in a 25-animal quick sketching challenge. Sketching fast is the key. You will be surprised at what you can do. With freedom from perfectionism, the blank page becomes your friend.
Sketch #1: Badger
"I have no time for perfectionism, I’m late for badger business!"
How do you start a daily sketching habit?
A great way to start is with a 10-minute 'brain dump' of simple animal shapes. In this post, I invite you into my daily sketchbook. How did I select the animals? You will laugh at how simple it is. I ask Google for a list of animals that start with A, B, etc. Whichever letter takes my fancy. Skimming the list, I click on random animal names. Sometimes, on animals I have never heard of. That is why this list has some unusual creatures. Then I Google the animal to find a photo I like.
Sketch #2: Quoll
Quick lines for a creature that never stays still for a portrait.
Easy Drawing Inspiration for Beginners
Something magical happens when you draw quickly. Without meaning to, you may suddenly sketch a caricature. Your linework becomes expressive when you draw fast. Your mind is detached. Your inner critic sits in a corner, not allowed to participate. And just like that, a humble sketch can inspire a finished artwork later on.
Sketch #3: Bear
Sometimes the mood of the day is just sitting and pouting. Time to get going with some sketching! Your spirit is sure to be lifted.
Sketching energy and movement
I captured energy and movement by chance in some of my sketches. Not because I intended to. The energy in my hand when drawing fast, somehow translated onto the lines on paper.
Sketch #4: Beaver
Naughty and loud. A high-energy doodle.
Sketch #5: Egret
A dance of lines. Capture the flow.
Sketch #6: Badger cub
Messy and curious; perfection is a foreign concept here.
Sketch #7: Axolotl
On a mission with a permanent smile on its face. Perhaps because it can regrow any damaged limb? (it's true).
Sketch #8: Tapir
A casual stroll. A minimalist outline where simplicity is the point; the single, heavy stroke captures the sluggish, rhythmic movement of a creature never in a hurry.
Sketching attitude and "questionable" intentions
The personality of animals tends to express itself in quick sketches, somehow.
Sketch #9: Aardwolf
Expressing "mafia vibes" through posture. The resolute linework captures questionable intentions.
Sketch #10: Bluejay
Windblown and haughty; let the Mohawk hairstyle tell the story. Forget details.
Sketch #11: Ostrich
A high-held head with attitude, sketched with confidence.
Sketch #12: Manatee
This creature has a permanent pout, so I leaned into the sadness with bold lines.
Sketch #13: Sand goby fish
Even fish can be stunned when they learn the truth.
Sketch #14: Hyrax
"Solving the universe’s deep math problems", one sketch at a time.
Sketching quiet observation and elegance
When the inner critic is mute, a quick hand can also capture stillness and elegance. Focus on the subject, not your pencil.
Sketch #15: Crane
Elegance in motion, with sweeping curves to capture the crane´s flight.
Sketch #16: Impala
Not ready to bolt, but alert and relaxed. A study in calm awareness.
Sketch #17: Cougar
Surveying the kingdom from a rock with a steady, watchful gaze. Always start with the eyes and spread out from there. The eyes tell all.
Sketch #18: Reindeer
Capturing cold-weather "smoke" with wispy strokes.
Sketching Casual Shapes and Explorations
Here are the remaining animals, with a variety of linework and expression.
Sketch #19: Aardwark
Simple shapes are the best shapes; waiting patiently for mum.
Sketch #20: Camel
Keeping it mellow and hippie-esque; no bad vibes allowed.
Sketch #21: Mouse
A quick study of two tiny shapes. One sits still while the other scurries off.
Sketch #22: Alpaca
A friendly, innocent greeting captured with fluffy pencil marks.
Sketch #23: Mayfly
Spindly marks for a peculiar, tiny subject.
Sketch #24: Lizard
An inquisitive tilt of the head captured in under sixty seconds.
Sketch #25: Frog
To jump or not to jump? For when you and your pencil haven't made up your minds yet.
Next level sketch: Mother rhino and calf
This is a more advanced exercise. Drawing two animals together demands attention. You can´t do it that quickly. You need an eye used to discerning shapes and a hand set free by regular sketching.
Don't get bogged down in the thick skin textures. Focus on the two massive silhouettes. One large and one small are overlapping. Separate the two shapes with bold pencil strokes.
Ready to Fill Your Own Sketchbook?
Now it’s your turn. Get a pencil and let your own 'zoo' out onto the paper. Don´t overthink a single stroke. Remember, every quick line and ‘not-so-cute’ mouse is training your eye and freeing your hand. With a free hand, you can venture into drawing more complex subjects. So, fill the blank pages. Embrace the messy lines, and let your sketchbook be a place of exploration and joy.
Happy sketching!
More drawing and sketching tutorials:
How to Draw a Bird in Flight
5 Quick Tips For Keeping a Daily Sketchbook
How to Draw a Horse Step-By-Step
25 Sea Life Drawing Ideas: From Fish to Curiosities
How to Draw an Elephant Easily, Step by Step
