In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Dwarf Hamster step-by-step.

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All of the tutorials on How2DrawAnimals.com are good drawing tutorials for beginners and experienced artists alike. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow.

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To draw this Dwarf Hamster step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

The Written step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: Draw a circle near the left side of the paper as a guide for the dwarf hamster's head. To draw the circle, make four marks to determine the height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a circular object like a coin or a lid. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle.

Step 2: Draw a horizontal line across the head as a guide to help you place the hamster's facial features later on. On the top, left side, draw a smaller, curved, vertical line for another construction guide.

Step 3: On the left side of the head, below the horizontal line, draw a small circle as a guide for the muzzle. Pay attention to the size of this circle in relation to the dwarf hamster's head. The left side of the circle should stick out of the head.

Step 4: On top of the head, draw two small arcs as guides for the hamster's ears. Don't make the arcs too big. The arc on the left should be a bit smaller.

Step 5: To the right of the head, draw another circle as a guide for the back portion of the body. Use the four-marks method to draw this circle too. Pay attention to how big this circle is in relation to the head. Don't place this circle too far away from the dwarf hamster's body, otherwise the body will be too long. The top edge of this circle should be level with the head, but the bottom edge should be lower than the head.

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Step 6: Draw a curved, horizontal line that connects the tops of the main circles as a guide for the front of the body. Draw a long, curved line from the muzzle to the bottom of the big circle for the rest of the body. On the lower, right side, draw a curved line for the rest of the back portion of the hamster's body.

Step 7: Under the front part of the body, draw two short lines, that curve to the left as guides for the dwarf hamster's front feet. Under the back portion of the body, draw a line that curves to the left for the hind leg and a line that curves t the right for the tail.

That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.

Step 8: Inside the head, lightly sketch two small circles for the dwarf hamster's eyes. Use the initial lines as guides for placement. The eye on the left should be small and thin because the head is turned. When you get the size and position of the eyes right, darken the shapes. Shade the eye on the left except for a tiny circle at the top that represents glare. Inside the eye on the right, draw two tiny circles for highlights. Shade the eye except for the tiny circles. When you shade the eye on the right, use a dark value at the top and a light value at the bottom for a rounder feel. Don't overlap the highlight circles. Add some strokes on the right side of the eye on the left for fur. Add a few curved lines around the eye on the right for a bit of bare skin.

Step 9: Inside the muzzle, on the left side, lightly sketch a small oval for the hamster's nose. When you get the size and position right, darken the shape. Add a small line on the bottom edge. Curve the right edge of the nose inward to create the nostril. Use a series of short strokes at the top for fur.

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Step 10: Above the nose, draw a series of short strokes along the initial circle for the top of the muzzle. Under the nose, draw a couple of lines that are made up of short strokes and that curve to the right for the mouth. The dwarf hamster's mouth should stretch outside of the initial circle. Above the mouth, draw a few dashed lines for the bases of the whiskers.

Step 11: Darken the arc on the top, right side of the head to create the hamster's first ear. Stretch the bottoms of the lines farther inside the head to make the ear longer. Add strokes near the top for fur. Add more strokes along the bottom of the shape for more fur at the base. Darken the arc on the left for the other ear. Inside, draw a line for the edge of the ear and a series of strokes for fur.

Step 12: Use the big initial circle as a guide to draw the rest of the dwarf hamster's head. Draw a series of short strokes along the edge of the circle to create the shape of the furry head. Draw the short strokes on the left close to the eye to make the top of the head skinnier than the initial circle. Draw the strokes farther left from the muzzle to make the bottom of the head wider for the cheeks. On the right side, draw the strokes farther to the right than the edge of the circle for bigger cheeks. On the bottom, draw the strokes higher than the edge of the circle. Don't close off the shape at the bottom.

Step 13: Use the second line from the left as a guide to draw the dwarf hamster's first front foot. Draw a series of thin, short arcs on the left side of this line for the small toes. The toes at the bottom should be even smaller. Draw a line that's made up of short strokes that curves up into the body for the furry top part of the hamster's foot.

Step 14: Use the line on the left as a guide to draw the other front leg the same way. Draw a series of thin, short arcs along the bottom of the guide for the toes. Don't add the fur at the top. Draw the toes for the hind foot along the bottom of the line on the right. Make these toes a bit bigger. The top of the foot should also be longer. Add some short strokes along the top for fur.

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Step 15: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the body. Simply draw short strokes along the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the dwarf hamster's furry body. Make the strokes short near the head and longer toward the body. Don't overlap the front foot that's on this side of the body as you draw the strokes for the fur. Darken the line on the right for the bottom of the hamster's tail. Draw a short, curved line at the top to complete the shape.

Step 16: For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step: Add some shading to your dwarf hamster drawing using short strokes for extra detail. As you shade the head, use strokes that radiate outward from the nose. Leave the bottom of the head and the muzzle blank. Separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more fur-like texture. Add strokes to the top half of the body too. Shade lightly at first, and then gradually build up to darker values. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

Alternate between dark and light value on the top part of the fur to give the coat more texture. Use a dark value across the middle of the body. It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for a more accurate depiction of a dwarf hamster. If you have a pet dwarf hamster or a similar breed, try to duplicate its coat on your drawing. Add strokes with a medium value along the bottom for shadows. Use smoother shading for the feet and tail. Using a very light value, add some strokes to the bottom half of the body for more texture. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks.

Add a cast shadow underneath to ground the hamster so that it doesn't appear to be floating. Add more strokes throughout the body if you'd like. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace.

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