How to Draw a Squirrel From the Side View Tutorial

by easydrawingtips

This step by step tutorial explains how to draw a squirrel from the side view and provides detailed drawing examples for each step.

This is a general guideline for drawing a squirrel in a pose that they often tend to sit in. Squirrels can vary in shapes and sizes based on species and other factors but the drawing principals provided in this tutorial can still apply.

Step 1 – Draw the Largest Shapes of the Squirrels Body

Generally the squirrels body in this position consists of shapes that are similar to ovals or eggs.

Star the squirrel drawing from the head. Draw a very basic shape of the head without any of the details. Next draw the basic shape of the body which at this point will pretty much be just two fairly smooth curves, one for the back and one for the front. Finally draw the upper part of the squirrels back leg (again basically with just two curves).

Step 2 – Draw the Basic Shape of the Tail

When it’s sitting down the squirrels tail tends to resemble a question mark from the side view. It starts from the very bottom of the body, goes along the back and then curves away from the body around the level of the head.

Step 3 – Draw the Front and Back Paws

In this step add the basic shapes of the smaller parts of the squirrels body. Draw as follows:

Front Ear – egg like shape for the front ear with the back side going farther down then the front side
Back Ear – basically tracing the shape of the front ear but slightly smaller
Front Legs– thick upper part and thinner lower part
Front Paw – sort of hanging down (as one shape for this stage of the drawing process)
Back Paw – long and thin but wider towards the end

Step 4 – Place the Facial Features

Squirrel facial features drawing side view

Add the facial features.

Eye – a lemon like shape
Nose – basically just a small bump
Mouth – curving downwards from the nose with a reverse curve above

Step 5 – Draw the Smaller Details

Draw the smaller details as follows:

Inner Ear Details – thicker at the bottom and thinner at the top (two wave like shapes)
Eyelids – a sort of light outline of the shape of the eye
Eye Reflections – indicate the shape of the reflections in the eye
Whiskers – basically just a few curved lines
Paws – individual toes on each paw

Step 6 – Add the Fur & Finish the Drawing

Draw the fur in clumps of varying sizes and curving in slightly different directions to make it look more natural.

Some areas such as the tail will tend to have larger clumps while other areas such as the head will have tiny clumps.

A squirrel’s fur will generally tend to stick out in the following areas:

Tail – along the outer curves and tip
Head – forehead area
Ears – inner ears area
Front Legs – bottom elbow area
Back Leg – front end of upper part of the leg
Body – chest/stomach area

Other things to add:

Eyes – basic shading (leave the reflections white)
Toes – slightly more detailed claws

You can check the close up drawing of the head above for the smaller details.

Conclusion

Squirrels (from the side view) are not a very difficult animal to draw. The proportions and look of the various body parts can vary depending on the species of squirrels but the same general drawing principals can still apply.

For some similar tutorials also see: