Shape/Proportion

• 1
  Rabbit side viewrabbit image by Han van Vonno from Fotolia.com
  
  Wait until your rabbit is taking a nap or resting. Draw the rabbit from a a side view. Set up your lamp to create shadows on the rabbit's body and face. Take a digital photograph in case your rabbit moves.
  
  
• 2
  Sketch padsketch image by Aleksander from Fotolia.com
  
  Sit at the same level as your rabbit. Make sure you are at least 3 feet away so that you have space for all your supplies. Place your sketch pad in front of you. Put your pencils on one side and watercolor supplies on the opposite side.
  
  
• 3
  Rabbit headRabbit image by Andrew Real from Fotolia.com
  
  Look carefully at your subject. Note the simple shapes which form his body and head. Squint to eliminate any details you see. Notice how the body is a horizontal oval, and the head is simply a smaller oval with a flattened front, which overlaps the body slightly.
  
  
• 4). Position your sketch pad horizontally. Quickly sketch in the body shape. Draw the shape large enough to fill at least half of the page, but make sure to leave room for the head and ears.
  
  
• 5
  Measuring thumbgiant thumb image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
  
  Measure the size of the head in relation to the body; hold out your thumb horizontally and extend your arm. Hold your thumb so it is parallel to the rabbit's back. Measure how many thumb lengths make up the rabbit's length. Now, measure how many thumb lengths make up the rabbit's head. If the head is one-fourth the length of its body, draw the oval shape one-fourth the size of your body shape.
  
  
• 6
  Rabbit haunchesa wild rabbit closeup. image by Tom Oliveira from Fotolia.com
  
  Notice how the front and rear legs are different shapes and sizes. The rear haunch is again an oval shape. It is a vertical oval, and shares one edge with your rear body oval. Use your thumb to measure the length of the haunch compared to the length of the rabbit head. Draw in the haunch oval.
  
  
• 7). Complete the leg; draw a thinner oval shape for the leg portion. Check the angle of the leg versus the horizontal line of the back. Reproduce this angle and draw the leg. Repeat this technique for the front leg. Draw the other two legs if they are visible behind those two closest to you.
  
  
• 8). If the tail is visible, draw its soft shape. Use light circular strokes to delineate the shape and reproduce the texture.
  
  
• 9
  Rabbit facerabbit image by Piter Pkruger from Fotolia.com
  
  Measure the size and position of your rabbit's eyes. Look at the shape of the eyes. Rabbit eyes are usually rounded almond shapes. Draw the eye shape. Color the iris with a brown pencil. Draw the pupil in black as a large oval.
  
  
• 10
  Rabbit nose shapelapin image by Karine Macchi from Fotolia.com
  
  Measure the distance down from between the eyes to the rabbit's nose. Draw the nose as a rounded, "V" shape. Measure where the ears sit in relation to the eyes. Draw the ears as two leaf shapes, one inside the other.
  
  
• 11
  Subtle shadingCoelhinha da p??scoa image by Val Gropo from Fotolia.com
  
  Add volume to your drawing; squint to eliminate details, and notice the shadow shapes on the body. Reproduce the shadow shapes on your drawing. Make sure to follow the curving shapes. Fill in the shadow shapes with the side of your pencil. Draw and shade all the shadow shapes you see.
  
  

Color/Expression

• 1). Use your black Conte pencil to emphasize the weight of the rabbit on the table or floor. Press down firmly for a dark bold line. Use the side of the pencil to add any shadow shapes cast on the table or floor.
  
  
• 2
  Watercolor setcase of water color and brush in water image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
  
  Choose which color in your watercolor set most accurately represents the overall color of your rabbit. Wet your watercolor brush and swirl it in your paint selection. Add lots of water so that your paint is very transparent.
  
  
• 3). Drag your brush inside the rabbit drawing. Follow the curves of the outline. If your rabbit has white patches, leave those areas unpainted. Your drawing and shading underneath should still show, though.
  
  
• 4
  Face detailshase image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
  
  Use your reddish-brown (sepia) colored pencil to fill in details. Add face whiskers. Use your white pencil to add highlights on top of the iris, and to draw in quick diagonal lines indicating the rabbit's coat. Keep these lines delicate.