How to Draw an African Cape Buffalo
Please PAUSE the "How to Draw an African Cape Buffalo" 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 a small circle on the right side for the African cape buffalo's head. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. Leave enough room on the left side for the rest of the body.
Step 2: Draw a U-shaped arc under the circle as a guide for the lower part of the African cape buffalo's head.
Step 3: Draw two intersecting lines inside the head to help you place the African cape buffalo's facial features later on.
Step 4: Draw two small U-shaped arcs on either side of the head, close to the middle, as guides for the African cape buffalo's ears.
Step 5: Draw two C-shaped arcs on either side of the head, near the top, as guides for the African cape buffalo's horns.
Step 6: Draw two big circles to the left side of the head as guides for the African cape buffalo's body. The first circle should be behind the head. Don't worry if it's not perfect. It's just a guide. The second circle should be slightly smaller. Don't place them too far apart, otherwise the African cape buffalo will be too long.
Step 7: Draw four lines under the African cape buffalo's body (two under each circle) as guides for the legs. Bend the lines to indicate where the joints will be. The lines on the left side should bend more.
Step 8: Draw a few more lines to connect the circles and form the body. Add a short line on the left side of the body as a guide for the African cape buffalo's tail.
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 9: Draw the African cape buffalo's eyes inside the head using the lines as guides for placement. The shape of the eyes is similar to a half-circle. Shade the inside of the eye except for a tiny circle to represent glare. Add some lines around the eyes as extra detail for the wrinkles.
Step 10: Draw the African cape buffalo's nose under the initial circle guide. Draw two small slits, one on each side of the guide line, for the nostrils. Draw a few lines around the nostrils for the rest of the nose's structure.
Step 11: Draw the rest of the African cape buffalo's muzzle using the U-shaped arc as a guide. Draw the mouth as a line under the nose and then the shape of the muzzle around the nose. Add the chin under the mouth using quick, short strokes for a fuzzy texture.
Step 12: Use the C-shaped lines as guides to draw the African cape buffalo's horns. Follow the basic path of the guide as you draw the bottom of the horn. Draw the top part of the horn and make the tip pointy. The base of the horn should be inside the top of the head. Draw the other horn in the same manner. Sketch the horn lightly at first to get the shape right. Use the top part of the initial circle as a guide to draw the base of the horn. Add some lines in between the horns for extra detail.
Step 13: Use the U-shaped arcs as guides to draw the African cape buffalo's ears. Follow the basic path of the arcs as you darken the lines and make the tips pointier. Add some lines within the shapes for the inner ear structure.
Step 14: Use the remaining shapes and lines as guides to draw the rest of the African cape buffalo's face. Add some lines within the shape of the head for extra detail. Use quick, short strokes as you draw the sides of the head for a furry texture.
Step 15: Use the two lines on the right side as guides to draw the African cape buffalo's front legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg on the left as you follow the path of the line. When you get the structure right, darken the lines. Draw the hoof at the bottom. Draw the front leg on the other side the same way. Bend the feet forward a bit to indicate the joints.
Step 16: Use the two lines on the left side as guides to draw the African cape buffalo's hind legs. Follow the basic path of the guide line as you lightly sketch the shape of the first leg. Darken the lines only when you have the structure of the leg right. The legs should bend twice at the joints. Add the hoof at the bottom using a couple of small lines. Draw the hind leg on the other side the same way. The legs should be thicker at the top and gradually get skinny toward the bottom.
Step 17: Use the remaining shapes and lines as guides to draw the rest of the African cape buffalo's body and tail. Follow the path of the guides as you darken the lines. Add some lines near the neck to represent the folds of skin. Use the line on the left as a guide to draw the tail. Make the tip bushy using quick, short strokes.
Step 18 (optional): Erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines for a cleaner look. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. 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 to your African cape buffalo drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Don't worry too much about the shading if you're also going to add more value to your drawing.
You can add more value throughout your African cape buffalo drawing for extra detail. Cape buffaloes are mainly grayish black, so add a solid dark value all over the body. You can also alternate between light and dark value throughout the body to indicate the muscle structure. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Try to add the value evenly across the body for a smooth coat and avoid a rough, gritty texture. Add the value lightly at first, then gradually build up to the level of darkness that you want. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Adding the value to the body can be quite time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Remember to pause the "How to Draw an African Cape Buffalo" after each step to draw at your own pace.
And finally, add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the buffalo so it doesn't appear to be floating.
Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for a new tutorial every Saturday.
To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.
RELATED TUTORIALS
 |
 |
 |