How to Draw a Cow

Do you want to learn how to draw a realistic cow? In this tutorial I will lead you through the process, explaining every little step in detail. I will show you how to achieve correct proportions and anatomy using simple shapes. No matter if you're a pro or a beginner, you'll have a lot of fun following this tutorial!

This is a simple tutorial about drawing a cow step by step. If you're interested in something more advanced (drawing various bovines like bison, cape buffalo, and yak, their anatomy and details), check out this one instead:

• 
  Animal Anatomy
  How to Draw Animals: Cows and Other Bovines
  Monika Zagrobelna

1. How to Draw a Cow's Body

Step 1

Draw a long rectangle. Don't use a ruler—it should be just a sketch! Don't press too hard either—these lines should be barely visible. This will be a "bounding box" for the torso of our cow.

Step 2

Cut this rectangle in half.

Step 3

Cut each half in half again.

Step 4

Draw an oval in the middle. Don't worry about it being perfect! This will help us create the correct shape of the chest.

Step 5

Draw two ovals in the side quarter—one at the bottom (the arm), and one on top (the hips).

Step 6

Add two smaller ovals to the arm oval—the sternum on the bottom and the shoulder on top.

Step 7

Add the curve of the shoulder blade.

Step 8

Connect it to the arm.

Step 9

Go to the hips now. Draw two smaller ovals to mark their tips.

Step 10

The sacrum should be slightly elevated.

Step 11

Attach the tail to the sacrum.

Step 12

Outline the shape of the torso. Don't press hard yet!

Step 13

Let's add the udder under the hips.

2. How to Draw a Cow's Head

Step 1

To create the correct proportions for the neck, draw it as a triangle coming from the shoulder.

Step 2

Attach an oval to the tip of this triangle.

Step 3

Draw a "head cross" in perspective. It's created by a line coming along the whole head, and an eyebrow line.

Step 4

Add an oval for the muzzle.

Step 5

Add the oval cheeks.

Step 6

Draw an area for the eyes. Keep it in perspective!

Step 7

Draw the top of the muzzle.

Step 8

Add the nostrils.

Step 9

Add the ears.

Step 10

Place a narrow oval on top of the head, to create a space for the horns.

Step 11

Sketch the curve of the horns.

Step 12

Draw a "coil" around these curves, to better see their 3D form.

Step 13

Outline the form of the horns.

Step 14

Add the oval eyes.

Step 15

Add some bone around the eyes.

Step 16

Draw the mouth.

Step 17

Add the details to the mouth: the nose and the lip corner.

Step 18

Finally, outline the neck and adjust the shape of the ear.

3. How to Draw Cow's Legs

Step 1

Draw a vertical line slightly shorter than the height of the torso. Then draw a horizontal line under it.

Step 2

Sketch the curve of the front and hind limbs.

Step 3

To make the pose more interesting, we can shift the perspective a little. Draw another ground line slightly above the other.

Step 4

Sketch the curve of another pair of limbs.

Step 5

Mark the "wrists" and ankles.

Step 6

Mark the top of the hooves.

Step 7

Draw a circle on top of each hoof.

Step 8

The joints in legs are quite complex and there's not much muscles on them that could conceal their shape, so pay special attention to them.

Step 9

Add the knee and the top of the forearm.

Step 10

Finish the hooves.

Step 11

Add the thigh mass.

Step 12

Add the muscle mass to the forearm and the calves.

Step 13

Outline the shape of the limbs.

4. How to Finish a Drawing of a Cow

We're going to finish the drawing now, so feel free to press harder to create the final lines. You can also put a new sheet of paper over the sketch to draw the final lines separately.

Step 1

Draw all the details suggested by the guide lines. If you need help, you can use the muscle diagram from How to Draw Animals: Cows and Other Bovines.

Step 2

Add some value to the darker elements: the horns, the eyes, the nose, and the hooves. Sketch the outline of the pattern.

Step 3

Gently shade the cow to create an illusion of depth.

Step 4

Darken the pattern by filling it with some hatching.

Step 5

Adjust the contrast of the whole drawing by adding more dark shades. You can also darken the main outline of the body.

Good Job!

That's a beautiful cow! If you enjoyed this tutorial, you may also be interested in these:

• 
  Animals
  How to Draw a Puppy
  Monika Zagrobelna
• 
  Drawing
  How to Draw a Pig
  Monika Zagrobelna
• 
  Animals
  How to Draw a Tiger
  Monika Zagrobelna

Or maybe you need some cow related resources for your project? You should check out what Envato Elements has to offer!

Low Poly Cow

Farm Organic Product Vector Graphic

Cow Photo