How to Draw a Harp Seal
- 1). Choose the kind of seal you want to draw, such as an adult female, for example. Select several images to get a clear view of all the features of the seal. Assemble these images at your drawing station so that you can easily refer to them as you work on the drawing. Decide on the composition of your drawing and the position of the seal and the shape of the ice around it.
- 2). Sketch the most distant objects such as the ice, the horizon and a mountain range, for example. Draw in the outline of the seal near the center of your sketch. Draw this outline carefully and refer to the images to get the right shape and proportion. Continue to outline other features in the drawing such as the ice around the seal.
- 3). Examine the photographs and begin shading in darker regions around the seal. Keep the light source coming from the same direction and draw parallel lines to indicate hard shadows. Complete your shading of the seal using the photo as a guide. Darken the seal along the top, getting lighter towards the belly.
- 4). Rub the graphite into the lighter areas using a cloth. Experiment using this technique on a separate piece of paper if it is your first attempt. Blend in gradually to preserve light areas. Use an eraser to lighten areas that are too dark. Keep blending and shading until you can see the shape and depth of the objects.
- 5). Add the eyes, snout, whiskers and crease lines of the seal. Draw the lines to indicate the flipper detail and outline the dark spots that are typical of this seal. Keep the eyes parallel to the horizon and darken them, as well as the patches on the fur. Define the line separating the seal from the ice and continue to detail the drawing until it is finished.
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