How to Draw a Porcupine
Porcupines belong to the Order Rodentia and are the relative of rats, squirrels, etc.
However, they have a marked distinction in terms of appearance.
They have long spines, instead of fur on their skin.
It is a defense mechanism for these peaceful herbivores.
They inhabit the temperate and tropical regions of America, South Asia, South Europe, and Africa.
They can be seen in different environments from deserts to hills.
There are around 24 to 27 identified varieties of porcupines.
They vary greatly in size, with some varieties growing up to 30 cm, while others up to 86 cm.
Overall, the New World Porcupines are smaller than the Old World Porcupines.
The following guidelines will teach you how to draw a porcupine: •Model picture: Be very clear on the type of porcupine you want to sketch.
There are significant differences between the two main sections - the New World and the Old World.
Apart from the length of the bodies, the spikes of the Old World porcupines are much longer (up to 20 inches) than those of the New World porcupines (up to 4 inches).
Porcupines appear in brown, grey, or white colors.
•Basic frame: The next step is to create a skeletal drawing over which the detailed work will be done.
For a porcupine, geometrical figures drawn with a freehand form the framework.
Use a circle for the head and refine the muzzle at a later stage, or take an egg-like shape that includes the muzzle.
The rest of the body is made of a large oval.
Place it connecting to the head, as the neck area of a porcupine is not distinctly marked.
There are three joints in each limb of a porcupine.
Therefore, use angular lines to mark the position of the limbs.
•Details: Start with shaping up the head portion.
Be particularly careful as different subspecies have different shapes and sizes of the snout.
Porcupine has a full rounded central body, which is not difficult to sketch.
The limbs are broader near the upper most joint and taper down to connect with the claws.
The tail of a porcupine varies with the species - brush-like tail, long tail (one-third of the rest of the body length), prehensile tail, and so on.
The spikes, also known as quills, also differ.
The New World species have short evenly spread quills.
On the other hand, the Old World varieties often have bunched formations.
The further subspecies may display features that are more typical.
•Final changes: Except some Old World porcupines, most varieties appear completely covered with the spikes.
Therefore, the final stage work boils down to highlighting these patterns.
The shading (pencil or color) is likely to be a tedious task.
Take reference for the chosen picture to help determine the direction and impact of pencil or brush strokes.
However, they have a marked distinction in terms of appearance.
They have long spines, instead of fur on their skin.
It is a defense mechanism for these peaceful herbivores.
They inhabit the temperate and tropical regions of America, South Asia, South Europe, and Africa.
They can be seen in different environments from deserts to hills.
There are around 24 to 27 identified varieties of porcupines.
They vary greatly in size, with some varieties growing up to 30 cm, while others up to 86 cm.
Overall, the New World Porcupines are smaller than the Old World Porcupines.
The following guidelines will teach you how to draw a porcupine: •Model picture: Be very clear on the type of porcupine you want to sketch.
There are significant differences between the two main sections - the New World and the Old World.
Apart from the length of the bodies, the spikes of the Old World porcupines are much longer (up to 20 inches) than those of the New World porcupines (up to 4 inches).
Porcupines appear in brown, grey, or white colors.
•Basic frame: The next step is to create a skeletal drawing over which the detailed work will be done.
For a porcupine, geometrical figures drawn with a freehand form the framework.
Use a circle for the head and refine the muzzle at a later stage, or take an egg-like shape that includes the muzzle.
The rest of the body is made of a large oval.
Place it connecting to the head, as the neck area of a porcupine is not distinctly marked.
There are three joints in each limb of a porcupine.
Therefore, use angular lines to mark the position of the limbs.
•Details: Start with shaping up the head portion.
Be particularly careful as different subspecies have different shapes and sizes of the snout.
Porcupine has a full rounded central body, which is not difficult to sketch.
The limbs are broader near the upper most joint and taper down to connect with the claws.
The tail of a porcupine varies with the species - brush-like tail, long tail (one-third of the rest of the body length), prehensile tail, and so on.
The spikes, also known as quills, also differ.
The New World species have short evenly spread quills.
On the other hand, the Old World varieties often have bunched formations.
The further subspecies may display features that are more typical.
•Final changes: Except some Old World porcupines, most varieties appear completely covered with the spikes.
Therefore, the final stage work boils down to highlighting these patterns.
The shading (pencil or color) is likely to be a tedious task.
Take reference for the chosen picture to help determine the direction and impact of pencil or brush strokes.
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