How to Draw a Wolf Step by Step

Final product image — What You'll Be Creating

Do you want to draw a beautiful, realistic wolf? In this tutorial I will show you how to do it step by step, without any reference. You'll learn how to plan the pose, how to add the body, how to create the correct proportions of the head, and how to cover it all with fur. You can use any tools you want!

Before You Start

To get in the right mood for drawing wolves and to remind yourself what the goal is, first take a look at some wolf photos:

1. How to Start Drawing a Wolf

Step 1

When you want to draw something from scratch, it's very important to create a base first. This way it will be easier to keep the correct proportions and pose during the process. Such a base may take the form of a very simple sketch, a shadow of the final drawing you have in mind.

Step 2

Let's build the basic skeleton for this sketch now. First, the chest.

Step 3

Draw the back and turn gently to create the outline of the fluffy rump.

Step 4

Add the shoulder blade in the front.

Step 5

Correct proportions are very important if you want to draw a specific animal. Wolves have long legs, so the distance between the chest and the ground should be slightly longer than the height of the chest.

Step 6

Once you have the ground established, you can build the limbs out of simple lines:

Step 7

The other pair of limbs must have the same proportions, even if they have a different position. To achieve this, create curvy paths across the joints.

Step 8

The joints of the other pair of limbs must follow these paths.

Step 9

Add the general shape of the head.

Step 10

Add the neck and the tail in a typical wolf position.

2. How to Draw a Wolf's Body

Step 1

Time to add some body to this skeleton. First, the big muscle mass of the arm: the biceps and triceps.

Step 2

Add the mass of the shoulder above it.

Step 3

Close the shape of this mass with a gentle curve.

Step 4

The shoulders seem to be slightly rotated, so we should see another one, too.

Step 5

Draw an oval in place of the thigh. No muscles needed—they would be covered with fluff anyway!

Step 6

Connect the thigh with the hips.

Step 7

Give a special, detailed shape to the wrist and ankle joints.

Step 8

Time for the paws. Wolves have them quite big and flat.

Step 9

The upper part ("hands" and feet) should be slim, because they're not very furry.

Step 10

Add some muscle mass between the upper body and the paws.

Step 11

Some more details will be useful here.

Step 12

Finish the outline around these simple shapes to create a nice outline of the limbs.

Step 13

Outline the main body, too.

3. How to Draw a Wolf's Head

Step 1

The proportions of the head are even more important than those of the body, because we're very good at recognizing faces. We have a clear image of a wolf's face in our mind, and the drawing must match it! Let's add the details of the head carefully then.
Draw a cross on the head to show the middle and the eyebrow line.

Step 2

Draw a teardrop shape under the eyebrow line for the muzzle.

Step 3

Mark the front of the muzzle. This will add a little perspective.

Step 4

Put "upside-down glasses" on top of the wolf's nose. This will be the space for the eyes.

Step 5

Draw the nasal bridge.

Step 6

Draw the forehead.

Step 7

Draw the ears behind the eyes. They're long and rounded on tips.

Step 8

Draw the nose.

Step 9

Draw the circular eyes.

Step 10

Draw the mouth.

Step 11

The eyes need some more details to be fully wolf-like:

Step 12

Add more detail to the nose as well.

Step 13

Give a detailed shape to the ears.

Step 14

Don't forget about the fur! It really adds to a wolf's head shape.

Step 15

Add fur to other places, too.

4. How to Draw a Wolf's Paws

Step 1

We already have the base for the paws, so now we need to add the details. First, draw the middle toe (there are two toes in the middle, but in this perspective only one is visible).

Step 2

Draw the outer toes. In wolves, the middle toes are visibly longer than the outer ones.

Step 3

Connect them with the rest of the limb, creating a little hump right before the toes. This will give them a more accurate look.

Step 4

Draw the paw pads.

Step 5

Draw the claws. They're long, slightly curved, and blunt.

Step 6

Draw the back of each paw with the big pad beneath.

Step 7

That third paw is in perspective, so it needs a different treatment. Draw all the toes...

... then the paw pads...

... and the claws.

Step 8

There are special "wrist pads" on the front legs as well, and dew claws (thumb claws) which are not visible in this pose.

5. How to Finish a Drawing of a Wolf

Step 1

The guide lines are all drawn, and we can create the final lines now. If you've been drawing traditionally, you can use a darker tool for this final outline, or put a new sheet of paper over the sketch.
Outline the nose.