Don't Maroon Your Animals: Learn to Draw Them Too

We all loved the zoo as kids. Now, as adult artists, we can love them for the opportunity to draw them live. I was always disappointed by the lazy lions because I came to see them move. Now that would be an advantage to get a long pose while I draw. Draw your pets. Draw your dogs, cats, birds, fish, snakes, and hamsters at play and rest.

Check out these animal anatomy books

Now add books to study the anatomy, and we fill in an overlooked area that is a weak spot for most artists. Animals don't have the same muscular structure as humans.

Here are some recommended books to buy or read. I say read because, if you once again have an excuse that you can't afford to buy them, you can use the library for free.

Buying any of these books I recommend below gives me a little kickback and helps support me in doing the blog.

Foundational Anatomy & Reference

 - Animal Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form by Eliot Goldfinger

Often considered the definitive modern reference guide. Goldfinger provides incredibly thorough breakdowns of muscles and bones across a wide variety of species, making it an essential desk reference for technical accuracy.

 - An Atlas of Animal Anatomy for Artists by W. Ellenberger, H. Baum, and H. Dittrich

A classic Dover publication known for having some of the most detailed dissection plates available. It focuses strictly on a few core animals—specifically the horse, dog, lion, cow, and goat—but covers them with unparalleled, authoritative depth.

Form, Construction, and Action

 - The Art of Animal Drawing by Ken Hultgren

Written by a former Disney animator, this book focuses less on strict medical anatomy and heavily on gestural quality, form construction, and capturing the illusion of life. It is excellent for artists who want to draw dynamic, moving animals rather than static, stiff studies.

 - How to Draw Animals by Jack Hamm

A dense, page-packed classic that excels at breaking down the visual differences between species. Hamm provides highly useful mental models and simplifications that make constructing complex animal forms much more approachable for beginners.

 - The Weatherly Guide to Drawing Animals by Joe Weatherly

A highly recommended modern resource that emphasizes capturing an animal's essence through gesture. It effectively bridges the gap between understanding internal anatomy and expressing the animal’s external action and weight.

Motion and Mechanics

 - Animals in Motion by Eadweard Muybridge

Although it is a collection of photographs rather than drawings, this late-19th-century book remains a staple for artists. Muybridge's frame-by-frame sequential photos of animals walking, running, and jumping are invaluable for understanding how anatomical landmarks shift during locomotion.

to be continued…

previous - A Word About Books
read next - Betty Davis Gave Good Face

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copyright 2016 H. Simpson