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.

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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
  

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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