Painting a kangaroo

Whatever medium is intended for carrying out a painting, it must begin with a drawing. A careful study and observation must be carried out before painting. To teach myself how to draw animals I spent many hours sketching looking at animals in the Zoo, because that is the easiest approach to animals than travelling distances to wildlife parks. Until this study is done, it is good to spend time to get the basic structure of the animal before painting.

Today's lesson is about Kangaroos. They have long, strong tails and disproportionately large hind legs, and they progress at speed by great leaps over distances. The kangaroo is an animal from Australia. As in previous demonstrations in drawing animals on Figure 1, A1 and A2 show the basic outline drawing. With the help of an HB pencil with a sharp point start drawing the basic outline structure which will help you to get the correct formation of the animal. Notice the animal on Figure 1 show starting to leap. The basic outline shown with circles the head, the chest and body.

The sketch A3 shows a complete coloured drawing

At first a light wash of burnt sienna is put. Next a dark shaded colour is added when the first coating is dry. Observe the long ears pointed up and the kangaroo's eye is added in black just before the paint gets dry. A mixture of little cobalt blue and yellow Ochore is added as a final coat to give the correct shading.

On Figure 2. B1 and b2 illustrates a profile in outline. Note the shape of the body, the basic lines are drawn in circles into three parts the head, chest and body.

B3 shows a complete painting in colour. At first a pale wash is applied in burnt sienna mixed with a slight colour of yellow Ochore. A dark cobalt blue is washed over the wet ground where required. The brown on the toes of the hind feet, the eyes, the inside of the ears, the nose and the whiskers are added after the wash is dry. The fine details are kept to an absolute minimum as these sketches are prepared for children only. The drawing paper to be used in Whatman or Kent 180 gsm with a slight grain and brushes sable hair No1 3,4 and 6.