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Beginner’s Guide to Drawing Pets

with Rodgon
Rodgon teaches foolproof drawing methods for beginners, turning basic circles into cute cats, dogs, birds, fish and more. No experience required!
English, Spanish, 4 more French, German, Portuguese, Italian English, Spanish, 5 more French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Turkish
7+
hours
39
lessons
Absolute Beginner
level
Rodgon

Your Instructor

Rodgon is a San Diego-based cartoonist and freelance illustrator, who worked in comics and animation. He loves passing on tips and inspiration to new artists. His motto: ‘Anyone can draw!’

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7+
hours
39
lessons
Absolute Beginner
level
English, Spanish , 4 more
Languages
  • French
  • German
  • Portuguese
  • Italian
English, Spanish , 5 more
Subtitles
  • French
  • Italian
  • German
  • Portuguese
  • Turkish

What you’ll learn

  • Draw pets from scratch using basic shapes like circles and ovals
  • Master a simple but powerful formula to draw any animal head
  • Learn the unique characteristics of cats, dogs, fish, birds, reptiles, insects and others
  • Understand the clear differences between animal and human anatomy
  • Build volume and depth in your drawings so they look good in any angle
  • Use thick and thin lines to create the illusion of light, shadow, and depth
  • Design a host of cute pets, from hedgehogs to hermit crabs to goldfish
  • Discover how texture tricks bring fur, feathers, and scales to life
  • Avoid common beginner mistakes like drawing chins on animals
  • Nail techniques for drawing animals in dynamic poses at various angles
  • Transform your newfound skills into drawing fantasy creatures, eg: dragons
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Description

This course is your blueprint to drawing animals of all shapes and sizes. Discover mind-blowing methods for mastering ANY animal in minutes, like the ‘4-Quadrant’ trick for drawing heads.

Most artists struggle with sketching cute creatures because no one ever taught them the simple guidelines and clear steps that actually work. That’s why Rodgon took his 20 years of art experience and boiled it down into a clear, easy system that absolutely anyone can follow.

Rodgon shows you how to break down complex features into easy shapes and guides, mapping them out like a puzzle that fits together logically. Starting with the simplest techniques, your skillset will grow as you move from basic shapes to full figures.

Animals’ various bodies and unique features will finally make sense to you. Drawing them won’t be daunting anymore because you now know how!

Each lesson sneaks in a crucial fundamental skill (like overlapping shapes, volume, texture, and foreshortening) so you’ll be leveling up your overall art game without even realizing it!

You can look forward to drawing a host of cute creatures in this course, such as hedgehogs, bunnies, birds, cats, dogs, fish, reptiles, frogs, turtles, and even creepy crawlies like spiders and scorpions.

By the end, you’ll have the confidence to draw practically any pet from scratch using just a few simple shapes and tricks. So grab your sketchbook, a good drink, and get ready to surprise yourself with what you can create!

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Who is this course for

  • Absolute beginners who have never drawn animals before
  • Artists looking for a fun, simple approach to animal anatomy
  • Anyone who wants to build strong foundational drawing skills
  • Pet lovers who want to draw their furry (or scaly!) companions
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This course includes

  • 7+ Hours of on-demand videos
  • Certificate of Completion
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Used in course

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What you'll need

  • No drawing experience needed
  • Just a paper/sketchbook and a pencil
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Lesson Plan

Expand all sections
00

Introduction

01:30

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Meet your new favorite art teacher! Rodgon introduces himself and shares how 20 years of professional experience (including drawing animals at the San Diego Zoo) led him to develop the simplest way to teach anyone how to draw pets.

You’ll get a rundown of what to expect, what you’ll need, and why following along with a smile is the secret ingredient to getting better fast.


0.1
Introduction
01:30
01

Animal Basics

43:25

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This is where the magic formula begins! Rodgon reveals that almost every animal head starts with a simple circle divided into four quadrants, and from there, you can draw practically anything.

You’ll learn where to place ears, eyes, and snouts, discover why animals don’t have chins (seriously, it’s a game-changer!), and explore how the spine connects the head and body differently than it does for humans.


1.1
Animal Basics
15:27
1.2
Snouts and Ears
18:44
1.3
Body Anatomy
09:14
02

Birds

52:41

how to draw birds for beginner artists

Welcome to the wonderful world of birdies! Rodgon shows you that birds are basically a circle plus a blob, and from those two shapes, the variety is endless.

You’ll learn how to draw all kinds of beaks (from parakeet to parrot to duck), master feather texture using overlapping U-shapes instead of pointy zigzags, tackle wings in any position, and nail those tricky little chicken-drumstick legs. Three toes in front, one in back… don’t forget!


2.1
Birds
08:20
2.2
Head and Beak
15:12
2.3
Body and Tail
08:32
2.4
Wings and Feathers
12:15
2.5
Feet
08:22
03

Small Furry Creatures

01:09:35

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Time to draw your first pets! You’ll start with adorable hedgehogs (basically little ovals with zigzag spikes), then move on to guinea pigs, chubby hamsters with their gloriously poofy cheeks, cute mice versus edgy rats, and the cutest bunnies you’ve ever sketched.

Along the way, you’ll pick up essential skills like thick and thin lines for depth, overlapping shapes for volume, and the “outside edge, inside for volume” rule that makes legs a breeze.


3.1
Hedgehogs
16:00
3.2
Guinea Pigs
11:28
3.3
Hamsters
10:41
3.4
Mice and Rats
17:22
3.5
Bunnies
14:04
04

Dogs and Cats

01:01:08

how to draw dogs and cats for beginner artists

Let’s draw the most popular pets on the planet! Rodgon breaks down the key differences between cats and dogs, from nose shapes (triangle for cats, diamond for dogs) to paw details (claws for cats, smooth for dogs).

You’ll discover how moving facial features higher or lower on the head transforms a chihuahua into a Great Dane, learn how animal legs actually work compared to human legs, and pick up tips for drawing everything from “potato cats” to big burly pups.


4.1
Cats
12:11
4.2
Dogs
10:31
4.3
Heads
08:56
4.4
Anatomy - Part 1
15:34
4.5
Anatomy - Part 2
06:53
4.6
Tails
07:03
05

Fish

01:00:20

rodgon the artist teaches beginners to draw fish

Dive into drawing underwater pets! Fish are one of the simplest and most fun animals to draw. Their heads are built right into their bodies, and their variety is endless. You’ll master fins (think mohawks!), gills, scales, and those adorably derpy side-facing eyes.

Plus, Rodgon shares a bonus mini-lesson on his favorite animal to draw: hermit crabs! Any shape can become a shell, and their little segmented legs are the perfect intro to more complex limb structures.


5.1
Body
07:02
5.2
Head and Face
09:19
5.3
Fins, Texture, Structure and Tail
13:30
5.4
Body Anatomy
14:15
5.5
(Bonus Lesson) Hermit Crab
16:14
06

Creepy Crawlies

57:23

how to draw insects, bees, spiders and scorpions for beginner artists

Don’t be scared! Creepy crawlies are actually some of the most fun pets to draw! You’ll start with bees (three circles: small, medium, large… done!), move on to armored beetles, then tackle eight-legged friends like tarantulas and spiders.

Scorpions teach you all about segmentation and overlapping shapes, while millipedes and centipedes put your new skills to the ultimate test. If you can handle eight legs, two will be a piece of cake later!


6.1
Bees
11:46
6.2
Beetles
09:33
6.3
Spiders and Tarantulas
16:23
6.4
Scorpions
13:57
6.5
Millipedes and Centipedes
02:30
6.6
Wrap Up
03:14
07

Reptiles and Amphibians

01:23:31

how to draw snakes, lizards, geckos, turtles and frogs for beginner artists

Get ready for our scaly friends! This lesson combines everything you’ve learned so far into slightly more complex (but still totally doable!) animals.

You’ll tackle snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles and tortoises in this final lesson, mastering all the features and characteristics that make each one unique. By now, you’ve got all the tools to draw any pet (and any animal!) you can imagine! Congratulations!


7.1
The Basics
11:00
7.2
Eyes and Feet
15:10
7.3
Snakes
13:32
7.4
Snake Head and Features
09:43
7.5
Lizards and Geckos
12:37
7.6
Frogs
08:17
7.7
Turtles and Tortoises
13:12
08

Conclusion

02:16

drawing cute animals beginners course

Congratulations for reaching the end of this course! You’ve learned how to draw all kinds of amazing animals; now it’s time to use your newfound skills in your own artwork. Keep practicing and growing creatively.


8.1
Conclusion
02:16

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About the Instructor

Rodgon
Cartoonist, Illustrator, Teacher 4 courses

Rodgon (aka Rodrigo Gonzalez) is a San Diego-based cartoonist and illustrator. A late bloomer into art, he began his journey at 18 and has not looked back since.


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