How to Draw a Kitsune
Now I will show you how to draw a Kitsune step-b-step. This guide will be be very interesting for all anime and manga fans
How to Draw Kitsune: Basic Information
The Kitsune is a unique and intriguing character in Japanese mythology. You might recognize this creature from various anime or science fiction stories, but it actually has ancient roots.
The depiction of Kitsune varies widely across literary sources. In this interpretation, we follow a simplified drawing style, presenting it as a small fox with many tails, composed of rounded geometric shapes.
If you want to draw a Kitsune, you first need to have an idea of what it should look like. As I already said, I chose to draw in a simplified style, which is not similar to classic Japanese illustrations. I drew a fox with several characteristic features and appearances. Of course, we will talk about this during the lesson.
Attention to detail is another critical aspect highlighted in this tutorial. The multiple tails of the Kitsune provide a great practice ground for working on symmetry and consistency. As you draw each tail, you’ll learn to maintain uniformity.
Kitsune Drawing Tutorial
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 30 minutes
How to Draw a Kitsune
- Draw the head and torso of the Kitsune.
Begin by drawing the basic shapes that form the foundation of the Kitsune’s body. Draw two overlapping ovals, one for the head and one for the body. The head should be slightly smaller and positioned above the body oval. This step creates the basic shape and places the Kitsune on your paper.
- Illustrate the eyes and ears.
Next, refine the shape of the head by adding the outline of the ears. Draw two triangular ears on top of the head oval. Then, sketch the outline of the Kitsune’s eye in the shape of an almond. Since we are drawing an anime character, the eye should be very large.
- Add the inner parts of the ears and the rest of the muzzle.
In this step, add the Kitsune’s facial features. Draw two small triangles inside the outline of the ears. Add a small, rounded nose at the bottom of the head oval. Use a small, slightly curved line to form the mouth of the Kitsune directly under the nose.
- Sketch the front legs.
Sketch two lines extending downward from the body shape, forming the legs. Add small, rounded shapes at the bottom for the paws. The paw closest to us looks larger. This paw also has a noticeable narrowing downwards. Since the drawing is in anime style, don’t draw too many details yet.
- Draw the hind legs and toes.
Add more detail to the front paws. Draw small, curved lines at the end of each leg to define the toes. Next, draw the hind paw. Add the toes using a few short, curved lines. Kitsune’s legs should be very small and convey the style of the anime in the drawing.
- Draw the Kitsune tails.
Draw three large, curved shapes extending from the back of the body. These shapes should fan out to give the appearance of multiple tails. This step adds a unique characteristic to your Kitsune, making it recognizable as the mythical creature. All tails should be the same size and have a slight bend.
- Detail the fur at the chest.
Draw small, jagged lines around the neck and chest area to suggest fur texture. Pay attention to the direction of the fur lines to ensure they follow the natural flow of the Kitsune’s body. You can also detail the Kitsune by adding more texture to the fur with lots of short strokes.
- Erase the guidelines and review the drawing.
Move over the entire Kitsune, making sure all lines are clean and smooth. Erase any unnecessary sketch lines from initial steps. This step focuses on polishing the Kitsune drawing, ensuring that the artwork looks crisp and finished. Correct the lines if necessary.
- Add colours to the drawing.
Choose a base color for the fur and fill in the body, tails, and face. Add different shades to the ears, eyes, and nose for contrast. You can also add lighter shades to the fur for highlights, giving the Kitsune drawing more dimension and realism.
Additional Content
If you are seriously interested in Kitsune and Japanese mythology, you may be interested in my PDF. Here you will find a short version of this drawing lesson, as well coloring paga, tracing worksheet and grid drawing worksheet. By the way, you can train with this even without the Internet – for this you just need to download my PDF.
How to Draw a Kitsune: Additional Tips
I’ve intentionally simplified this character so you can simply draw a slightly more realistic Kitsune. To do this, draw a more elongated torso, a prominent neck and a smaller head. Long, outstretched legs will also be a noticeable and good feature.
And, another way is to work with an already drawn Kitsune. You can add flame highlights to the eyes and fur of this character. Also try adding shadows on the surface or on the body of the Kitsune itself. Finally, you can draw Kitsune again but from a slightly different angle.
Place your Kitsune in a scenic setting. Draw a forest, a traditional Japanese temple, or a mystical landscape as the background. Include details like trees, rocks, or even other creatures to make the scene more interesting.
Change the eye shapes or positions to give your Kitsune different expressions. Adjust the mouth shape to reflect various emotions. For instance, a slight smile can make your Kitsune look friendly, while a more open mouth can convey excitement or surprise.
Change the Kitsune’s posture from sitting to a more dynamic pose, like running, jumping, or playing. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to create a sense of movement and action.
Instead of a single color, use a gradient effect. Blend different shades of fur color to give a more realistic appearance. Use contrasting colors for the Kitsune’s eyes and accessories to make them stand out more.
Conclusion
Your positive response encourages me to continue creating more tutorials like this one. If you enjoyed drawing the Kitsune and would like to see more tutorials featuring similar mythical or culturally significant characters, please let me know. Your input is incredibly valuable to me as it helps me understand what content resonates most with my audience.
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So, if you have specific requests or suggestions for future tutorials, be sure to write to me in the comments. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and continuing to provide lessons that inspire and challenge you.
I loved this tutorial!! I think that it could be a bit easier though. Thanks. =)