How to Draw a Sheep
I’ve put together three truly simple instructions for you that will help you draw a sheep with its cute face and distinctive cloud-like body.
How to Draw a Sheep: Introduction
Each animal has its own characteristics, and perhaps one of the most distinctive features of a sheep is its wool, along with its characteristic face and expression.
In this lesson on how to draw a sheep, I’ll show you the best way to depict these details without going too deep into unnecessary elements while still giving this cute animal a recognizable final look.
Of course, we won’t limit ourselves to just one lesson, as the sheep is a very popular and interesting creature that many people want to draw.
To thoroughly cover the process of drawing a sheep and give you variety in styles and forms, I’ve supplemented the main lesson with two additional sheep drawing lessons. All three lessons have their own features, style, and step-by-step structure. You can choose the one that suits you best, but I recommend going through all three to become a truly skilled animal artist.
Sheep Drawing Tutorial
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 35 minutes
How to Draw a Sheep
- Sketch the head outline.
To draw a sheep, start by sketching a simple oval shape in the center of your paper. This oval will serve as the base for the sheep’s head. Make sure to leave enough space below and to the sides for the body, ears, and wool details that you will add in the next steps.
- Sketch the facial features.
Draw two small circles for the eyes of the sheep. Position them slightly above the horizontal center of the head. Next, add a tiny rounded triangle or an upside-down “Y” shape for the nose in the middle of the face. From the bottom of the nose, extend two short curved lines to form a simple mouth.
- Add the wool on the head.
To give the sheep its characteristic fluffy look, add a cloud-like shape on top of the head. Start from one side of the head and draw a series of connected semi-circles that go up and over the top of the oval, then connect back down on the other side.
- Add the ears at the sides of the head.
Now, draw two small ears on either side of the head. Sheep ears are short, rounded, and slightly droopy. Start by sketching an oval-like shape on each side of the head, slightly below the fluffy wool. Then, include a small curved line inside each ear to represent the inner ear structure.
- Sketch the fluffy body.
Now, it’s time to create the sheep’s woolly body. Start at the lower part of the head and draw a large, cloud-like shape. Just like the wool on the head, use a series of small, curved bumps to form the fluffy texture. The body should be oval-shaped but irregular, mimicking the natural unevenness of a sheep’s wool coat.
- Sketch the front legs and hooves.
Sheep have relatively short, sturdy legs. From the lower part of the woolly body, extend two parallel vertical shapes for the front legs of the sheep. At the bottom of the legs, add small horizontal lines to indicate the hooves, and slightly round off the edges to make it look natural.
- Add the back legs and hooves.
Draw two more legs in a similar style to the first pair. The back legs can be slightly angled backward. Since the sheep’s wool covers part of its body, the legs should appear to be coming from beneath the fluffy shape rather than attached separately. Add small horizontal lines at the bottom of each leg to define the hooves.
- Add the tail and erase the guidelines.
The last main feature to add is the tail. Sheep have small, rounded tails covered in wool, so draw a short, fluffy shape extending from the back of the body. Once the tail is in place, go over your entire drawing, smoothing out any rough edges and erasing the construction lines.
- Color your sheep drawing.
Now that your sheep drawing is complete, it’s time to add some color. Use a soft, off-white or cream color for the wool of the sheep. The face, ears, and legs can be colored in a light beige or pale pink tone. For the hooves, use a slightly darker shade. You can also add small highlights to the eyes and blush to the cheeks.
Additional Content
Great! Now you know how to draw a sheep. Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and enjoyed your time. You can share your impressions in the comments. Don’t forget to subscribe to download my free PDF worksheets with additional materials. For your convenience, I have prepared a PDF file that contains a short tutorial and some helpful drawing tools.
How to Draw a Sheep: Additional Methods
Alternative Sheep Drawing Technique
This method of drawing a sheep demonstrates simple, rounded shapes with minimal detailing. The key differences include a larger, more oval-shaped body, a proportionally smaller head, and a more uniform wool texture throughout the drawing. The legs are shorter and more simplified, while the facial features are positioned in a way that gives the sheep a more symmetrical appearance.
Start by drawing the body as a large oval and then add a smaller circle overlapping one side for the head. Sketch the facial features by adding two small circles for the eyes, a tiny “Y” shape for the nose and mouth. Draw two short, rounded ears on the sides of the head. Add the wool on top of the head using a series of curved bumps. Outline the fluffy body by drawing curved, cloud-like lines around the oval shape.
Draw the front legs of the sheep at the bottom using short vertical lines and add small hooves. Complete the back legs in the same manner. Refine the outline and erase any extra lines. Color the sheep drawing using soft, natural tones to highlight its wool and facial features.
How to Draw a Simple Sheep
This method is more simplified than the previous tutorials, using basic shapes and a different step structure. The body and head are drawn a different way. The legs are sketched early in the process, and the wool is added in distinct layers. The face is completed near the final steps rather than early on.
Start by drawing an oval for the body and a smaller overlapping oval for the head. Sketch four simple vertical lines for the legs. Add rounded hooves at the bottom. Draw a fluffy cloud-like shape on top of the head for the wool. Outline the outer wool of the body using curved, bumpy lines. Refine the body shape by making the wool texture more distinct.
Add small oval-shaped eyes and a tiny curved line for the mouth. Sketch the ears as small, rounded shapes extending from the sides of the head. Complete the legs with small, darkened hooves. Go over the drawing to smooth out any lines. Add color, using soft, natural shades to highlight the wool and face.
Conclusion
Like all my other drawing lessons, I’ve tried to make this tutorial on how to draw a sheep as simple and accessible as possible for everyone. If you found it helpful, be sure to let me know in the comments section of the article. Also, let me know if you tried drawing all three sheep or if you focused on just one of the three options.
To make your sheep drawing more interesting, add extra elements. For example, you can draw a tree or a fence to create an interesting background. If you want to improve the drawing further, consider adding more sheep in the distance or draw a dog besides the main sheep.
Additionally, don’t forget to tell me what lesson you’d like to see next on my website and which section or topic interests you the most. I always try to keep you updated on the latest articles as quickly as possible, so to make sure you don’t miss any new updates – whether it’s drawing tutorials or coloring pages – be sure to follow me on social media.
Along with getting fresh content, you’ll also find a lot of additional materials. For example, on my YouTube channel, you can access a large collection of video drawing tutorials that will help you learn to draw any animal or object from a new perspective.
