Tracing

• 1). Find a picture of the animal you want to sketch. To start with, look for easy outlines to follow without too much detail.
  
  
• 2). Put a piece of paper over the animal you want to trace and draw in the outline. If you can't see the animal clearly, try holding your picture and paper up against a window, as the backdrop of light will help you focus.
  
  
• 3). Sketch in the details after the shape is sketched in. Don't be too concerned with small things when you are first tracing, as it is a learning process.
  
  
• 4). Set aside the photograph when you finish tracing the outline. Try to shade in the details freehand as your artistic skills improve. Refer to the photograph regularly to make sure you don't forget anything, such as the sharp teeth on the shark.
  
  

Drawing

• 1). Start with shapes. According to Dragoart, the best way to draw animals is to start with the shape of the body. When drawing a rabbit, for instance, draw a large circle for the body and a smaller one for the head.
  
  
• 2). Add specific features. Once you have the basic body shape of the animal, start working on the particular characteristics of the animal. Drawing an elephant requires a trunk from the head almost to the ground and a short tail. A giraffe, on the other hand, requires a long neck to give it a recognizable shape.
  
  
• 3). Work on the details. If you are drawing a horse, pay attention to the tail so that it is small at the top, fills out in the middle and curls around at the bottom. Add lines to the mane to make it look realistic.
  
  
• 4). Finish up with the final touches. A camel requires two sets of eyelashes and fuzzy hair on the bottom of the underbelly and top of the legs.
  
  
• 5). Erase your original stretch lines. Color your animal to give your drawing a more finished look.