I02 - Canine Noses

CANINE
BBrreennddaa H
Hooddddiinnootttt
I-02 BEGINNER: CARTOONS & CRITTERS
This project challenges you to draw two dog noses from slightly different perspectives. You may
find the lessons in D Beginner: Squirkling extremely helpful as you try your hand at squirkling
graduations of textured shading.
This lesson is divided into the following two parts:
FRONTAL VIEW OF A DOG NOSE: You draw a simple frontal view of a dog nose,
while being challenged to rely on visual skills rather than text instructions.
ANGULAR VIEW OF A DOG NOSE: People who love dogs simply can’t resist that
adorable tilt of their heads as they look at your face and listen attentively. Naturally, when
the head is tilted, the nose must also be drawn at an angle.
Suggested drawing supplies include good quality white drawing paper, graphite pencils, kneaded
and vinyl erasers, and a pencil sharpener.
12 PAGES – 28 ILLUSTRATIONS
This project is recommended for artists from age 12 to adult, as well as home schooling,
academic and recreational fine art educators.
Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada – 2004 (Revised 2006)
-2-
FRONTAL VIEW OF A DOG NOSE

This lesson challenges you to rely on your visual skills rather than text instructions. The initial
sketch lines throughout Steps 1 to 4 establish proportions. A Sketch is a simple drawing that
captures the integral aspects of your subject quickly and efficiently. Proportion is the
relationship in size of one component of a drawing to another or others.
STEP 1 STEP 2
The sketch lines and the outlines look dark in many of my illustrations. However, in reality they
are so light that I can barely see them. I have made them look darker in a computer program so
you can see them. Keep your lines very light by pressing very gently with your pencil (I used an
HB). No matter how careful you are, accidents do happen, and you may need to erase sections
you aren’t happy with.
STEP 3 STEP 4
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
-3-
In steps 5 to 15 you outline the nose, and add a few sections of fur above and below it.
STEP 5 STEP 6
The faint lines used to indicate the fur above and below the nose are ragged and uneven, and are
also various lengths and thicknesses.
As you sketch, constantly check the relationships of lines and spaces to one another. Note
whether the sizes and proportions are accurate, and adjust as needed. Pay close attention to the
shapes created by the spaces.
STEP 7 STEP 8
As you complete each step, compare your drawing to mine to make sure you haven’t missed
something. If you’re not happy with some of the lines you draw, simply erase that section,
redraw the lines, and keep on going.
-4-
STEP 9 STEP 10
STEP 12
A kneaded eraser works well for erasing rough

sketch lines.
STEP 11
-5-
STEP 13 STEP 14
Draw slowly! Accuracy is

more important than speed.
Your speed will
automatically improve the
more you practice.
Don’t forget that you can
turn your sketchbook
around as you draw.
STEP 15
Always place a piece of

clean paper under your
Remember, hand as you draw.
learning to Each time you work on
a new section,
see as an remember to move your
artist is the paper so it’s always
very under your hand.
foundation This prevents you from
of smudging your
drawing, and protects
drawing. the paper from the oils
in your skin.
-6-
STEP 16
In steps 16 to 18, you add shading to the nose
with squirkling.
Squirkling is an easy method of shading, in which
randomly drawn curved lines (called squirkles)
combine squiggles and scribbles with circles to
create textured values. Texture is the surface
detail of an object, as defined in a drawing with
various shading techniques. The senses of touch
and sight help identify the surface texture of
drawing subject. Values are the different shades of
gray created when you draw by varying both the
density of the shading lines, and the pressure used
in holding various pencils.
Before you begin shading, use your kneaded
eraser to lighten your lines until they are so light
that you can barely see them.
STEP 17
Consider using the following pencils:

2H - primary highlight (A highlight is the
brightest area of a form where light bounces
off its surface and is usually the section
closest to the light source)
HB - highlights on the nostrils and the light
values surrounding the primary highlight.
2B - darker shading in the shadow sections
4B - darkest values inside the nostrils
Keep in mind that you can achieve a full

range of different values with squirkling by
using various pencils, and by varying the
density of the lines and the pressure used in
holding your pencils.
-7-
STEP 18
A full range of values gives contrast

between the light and the shadow areas.
Contrast refers to the comparison of
different values when put beside one
another, and an invaluable tool for
heightening the effects of composition.
A combination of dots and tiny squirkle
lines provides the fun texture to all
sections of the nose.
To make a section darker simply
add more squirkling lines. To
lighten a section, pat it very gently
and carefully with a kneaded eraser
that is molded to a point.
Examine the nose you just drew as

part of a drawing of a Jack Russell
named Isaac.
Sign your name, put today’s date on

the back of your drawing, and put a
big smile on your face!
Continue on to the next section and try
your hand at drawing a dog nose from
an angle, which is slightly more
challenging.
-8-
ANGULAR VIEW OF A DOG NOSE

People who love dogs simply can’t resist that adorable tilt of their heads as they look into your
eyes and listen attentively. Naturally, when the head is tilted, the nose is also drawn at an angle.
ILLUSTRATION 02-01
1. Lightly sketch the shape of a dog nose at an
angle.
Take note of how the nostril on the right is
considerably higher than the other. Also, the lines
outlining the overall shape of the nose are at an
angle rather than horizontal and vertical.
ILLUSTRATION 02-02
2. Redraw the outline of

the nose with nice neat
lines.
Take note of the shape of
the lower part of the nose
and the v-shape in the
center of the very bottom
section.
ILLUSTRATION 02-03
To keep your drawing neat,

erase the rough sketch lines as
you complete each section.
3. Add the outlines of the

nostrils.
-9-
ILLUSTRATION 02-04
4. Very lightly outline crescent

shaped sections under the
nostrils.
These crescent shapes will be
left very light to help make the
noses look three dimensional.
ILLUSTRATION 02-05
5. Add two circular shapes

as highlights on the main
section of the nose.
These sections will be
lighter than the rest of the
nose to help make it look
shiny.
ILLUSTRATION 02-06
6. Use HB and 2B
pencils, and
graduated
squirkling, to shade
the various values.
The light source is
from the upper left.
As you add more
shading, remember
that the values need to
be slightly lighter on
the upper left, closer
to the light source.
- 10 -
ILLUSTRATION 02-07
7. Add a combination
of dots and tiny
squirkles below the
nostrils and on the
main section of the
nose.
8. Use a 2B to add
darker shading to
the sections in
shadow.
9. Fill in the nostrils

with a 4B.
ILLUSTRATION 02-08
I prefer to leave the
gorgeous texture of
squirkles on a dog’s nose,
without blending. However,
if you’d like to try blending
continue on!
Blending is the process of
rubbing shading lines with
a blending tool (such as
tissue or paper towel) to
evenly distribute the
drawing medium over the
surface of the paper,
thereby achieving a silky
smooth graduation of
values.
10. Gently blend the

lighter sections of
shading with a Q-tip
or Kleenex.
- 11 -
ILLUSTRATION 02-09
11. Use your

kneaded
eraser to re-
lighten the
highlights
after
blending.
12. Add a few

more dots
to enhance
the texture
of the nose.
Check out this drawing of a Jack

Russell named Jumpin’ Jack, and
observe the nose you just drew as
part of a dog portrait.
Add your name and today’s date to

the back of your drawing, and go hug
your dog!
- 12 -
BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY

As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda
Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk
pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, and oil paints.
My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the

enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and
academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter,
the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable.
>Brenda Hoddinott<
Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Brenda grew up in the small town of Corner Brook. She
developed strong technical competencies with a personal commitment to self directed learning,
and the aid of assorted “Learn to Draw” books. During Brenda’s twenty-five year career as a
self-educated civilian forensic artist, numerous criminal investigation departments have
employed Brenda’s skills, including Royal Canadian Mounted Police and municipal police
departments. In 1992, Brenda was honored with a commendation from the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, and in 1994, she was awarded a Certificate of Membership from “Forensic
Artists International”.
Her home-based art career included graphic design, and teaching recreational drawing and
painting classes. As supervisor of her community’s recreational art department, Brenda hired and
trained teachers, and designed curriculum for several children’s art programs. In 1998, Brenda
chose to end her eighteen-year career as an art educator in order to devote more time to writing,
drawing, painting, and developing her websites.
Drawspace http://www.drawspace.com incorporates her unique style and innovative approach to
curriculum development. This site offers downloadable and printable drawing classes for
students of all abilities from the age of eight through adult. Students of all ages, levels and
abilities have praised the simple step-by-step instructional approach. This site is respected as a
resource for fine art educators, home schooling programs, and educational facilities throughout
the world.
LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT

Drawing for Dummies: Wiley Publishing, Inc., New, York, NY, this 336 page book is
available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Drawing People: Winner of the Alpha-Penguin Book of the
Year Award 2004, Alpha - Pearson Education – Macmillan, Indianapolis, IN, this 360 page
book is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally.

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CANINE

FRONTAL VIEW OF A DOG NOSE

A kneaded eraser works well for erasing rough

Draw slowly! Accuracy is

Always place a piece of

Consider using the following pencils:

Keep in mind that you can achieve a full

A full range of values gives contrast

Examine the nose you just drew as

Sign your name, put today’s date on

ANGULAR VIEW OF A DOG NOSE

2. Redraw the outline of

To keep your drawing neat,

3. Add the outlines of the

4. Very lightly outline crescent

5. Add two circular shapes

9. Fill in the nostrils

10. Gently blend the

11. Use your

12. Add a few

Check out this drawing of a Jack

Add your name and today’s date to

BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY

My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the

LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT

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