Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Doberman Pinscher" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.
Step 1: Draw two circles as guides for the doberman's body. The circles don't have to be perect. They're just guides. The circle on the left should be about half the size of the first one. Don't place the circles too far apart.
Step 2: Draw another circle on the top right side as a guide for the doberman pinscher's head. This circle should be about the same size as the second one. Don't place it too high up.
Step 3: Draw two curved, intersecting lines inside the dog's head. These lines will help you place the doberman pinscher's facial features later on.
Step 4: Draw a small arc on the lower right side of the head as a guide for the doberman pinscher's muzzle.
Step 5: Draw two triangle-like lines on top of the head as guides for the doberman's ears.
Step 6: Draw a series of lines that connect the major shapes to form the doberman pinscher's body. Angle the lines that make up the torso to emphasize the dog's powerful chest.
Step 7: Draw two lines under the doberman's body (one below each circle) as guides for the legs. Bend the lines to indicate where the joints will be. The hind leg should bend a lot more.
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 8: Lightly sketch the doberman pinscher's eyes inside the head as small circles. Darken the eyes. The eye on the left will be similar to a football. The other will be a smaller ellipse-like shape because of perspective. Shade in the inside of the doberman's eye for the pupil and iris. Leave a tiny circle blank to represent glare. The eye on the right is not fully visible because of the way the dog's head is turned. Shade all of it in. Add a few lines around the eyes for extra detail. Use a series of quick, short strokes above the eyes for fur.
Step 9: Draw the doberman pinscher's nose inside the muzzle by first lightly drawing an oval at the tip. Darken the outer edge of the nose. Use short strokes at the top for fur. Draw an oval on each side and shade them in for the nostrils. Add a line at the bottom that splits the nose in half. Darken the sides more and use quick, short strokes at the top.
Step 10: Use the initial small arc as a guide to draw the rest of the doberman pinscher's muzzle. Follow the basic path of the arc as you darken the top part. Draw a couple of lines under the dog's nose that stretch back toward the initial circle for the mouth. Use the arc as a guide to draw the chin and extra loose skin under the mouth.
Step 11: Use the triangle-like arcs on the doberman pinscher's head to draw the ears. Follow the path of the guides as you darken the outer shape of the ears. Draw a few lines inside the shape for the structure within the ear. Draw the ear on the other side the same way.
Step 12: Use the initial circle as a guide to draw the rest of the dog's head. Draw the line for the face on the right closer to the eye. Darken a line under the muzzle to create the neck. Add a few lines throughout the dog's head using quick, short strokes for extra detail on the fur.
Step 13: Use the line on the right as a guide to draw the doberman pinscher's front legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the dog's leg as you follow the basic path of the guide. When you get the structure of the leg right, darken the lines. Bend the shape near the bottom for the foot. Draw a few lines at the tip for the toes. Use the first leg as a template to draw the front leg on the other side. Not all of the second leg will be visible.
Step 14: Now use the line on the left side as a guide to draw the dog's hind legs. Follow the basic path of the guide as you lightly sketch the shape of the leg. Make the leg thicker at the top and bend the shape to indicate the joints. Darken the lines only when you have the structure of the legs right. Draw the hind leg on the other side by using the first one as a template. A large portion of this leg will be hiding behind the first one, so most of it will not be visible.
Step 15: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the doberman pinscher's body and tail. Simply follow the path of the guides and darken the lines to create the body. Use a small curved arc for the tail. You can draw a longer tail if you'd like.
Step 16 (optional): Erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines for a cleaner look. Don't worry about erasing all of them. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step (optional): Add some shading throughout your drawing for extra detail. Doberman pinschers are usually black or dark brown, so use a dark value when shading. Draw a line on the dog's muzzle to indicate where the separation of the light and dark color will be. Use a lighter value for the section on the muzzle and continue adding a dark value to the rest of the head. Use a lighter value on a small section above the eye as well. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.
Continue shading the rest of the body. Use a lighter value across the body to indicate the coat's shine. Push down hard on your pencil to achieve a darker value on the rest of the body. Try to add the value evenly across the body for a smooth, shiny coat and avoid a rough, gritty texture. Add the value by using strokes that go in the general direction of the dog's fur. Adding the value can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's always a good idea to use reference when you draw. If you have a doberman or a similar breed, try to duplicate its coat on your drawing. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.
Finally, add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the dog so it doesn't appear to be floating. Use a dark value near the middle of the shadow and a lighter value along the edge for the shadow's diffusion.
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