Sketch Sunday: Funny Frog

As part of my new feature series, Sketch Sunday, I will sketch a new drawing and explain how I made it. My first sketch is a comical looking frog.


For this sketch I used the following:-

  • Different grades of graphite pencils: 2H, HB, 2B, 4B and 6B
  • Strathmore Windpower Drawing Sketchbook
  • a kneaded eraser
  • pencil sharpener
  • Q-tip

First I drew a square box on the paper to help contain the proportions of my sketch. I then drew a dividing line down the center as an aid to get the symmetry of the frog on either side.

I then drew the top half of his face and body and a couple of lines to mark where the legs and feet would go.

Roughly sketch the outline of the frog using a H pencil.
Roughly sketch the outline of the frog using a H pencil.

Two ovals become eyes. A slight curved line becomes a mouth with a couple of goofy teeth. I then erased all the guide lines and center marks so I was left with a plain frog sketch.

Next I used a 2B pencil to make some neat thin dark lines around the eyes, mouth and teeth. I then added some circles of different sizes that would become warts over his body. I finished off marking up the rest of the drawing with thin dark lines.

With a 2B pencil define the frog outline with a nice dark edge.
With a 2B pencil define the frog outline with a nice dark edge and add some different size circles to make warts on his upper body.

Next up is shading. First of all I used a HB pencil and added light shading to the frogs eyes, body, legs and feet. As I was shading I followed the contours of the lines, for example the curves in the eyelids. I continued in the same manner across the body and the legs with the darker shadows on the left and the lighter shadows on the right.

Shading the frog with a HB pencil adding light shade to  the eyes, body, legs and feet of the frog.
Shading the frog with a HB pencil adding light shade to the eyes, body, legs and feet of the frog.

Next I used the HB and 2B pencils to add dark shading on the eyelids and the 4B pencil to fill in the tiny cavities in the corners of the eyes. I used the 6B pencil to fill in the the pupil.

Building up with darker shading.
Building up with darker shading.

Using a 2B pencil I cast some shadow underneath the warts and then added some darker shading to the inside of the wart leaving a little highlight in each.

Carefully blend the pencil marks using a Q-tip
Carefully blend the pencil marks using a Q-tip

Using a Q-tip I blended the pencil marks in a circular motion until it looked a little shiny and the pencil marks were less defined.

The Final Funny Frog Drawing
The Final Funny Frog Drawing

This was a really useful exercise learning how to use shading to emphasise certain parts of the drawing. I think the warts on the frog demonstrate how shading can work really well.


If you would like to find out more about which pencils to use, why not check out The Drawing Pencil Guide

 

 

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