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 the correct proportions and anatomy using simple shapes.
No matter whether you're a pro or a beginner, you'll have a lot of fun following this tutorial!
Some brands wouldn’t exist without animals; they’re an important part of a company's identity and personality. You've probably noticed that many global brands use animals in their logos. Animals have strong interpretations and are powerful visual symbols.
Humans have emotional bonds with animals, and including them in a logo can make a brand look more friendly, approachable, and less cold. Going through this tutorial on how to draw a cow will eventually help you create amazing cow logos like the one above. And who knows, you might be designing an animal logo soon!
This is a simple tutorial about drawing a cow step by step. If you're interested in something more advanced (drawing bulls and various bovines like bison, cape buffalo, and yak, their anatomy and details), check out this one instead:
What You'll Learn in This Cute Cow Drawing Tutorial
- How to make a cow's body
- How to draw a cow's head
- Final steps on how to make a cow drawing
1. How to Draw a Cow's Body
Step 1
Let's start creating a diagram of a cow. 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
Now that you have the diagram of a cow, let's move on with the head. To create the correct proportions for the neck, draw it as a triangle coming from the shoulder.
Step 2
Now it's time to move on with the outline of a cow's head. 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. Now you have the outline of a cow's head.
Step 18
Finally, outline the neck and adjust the shape of the ear. Now you know how to draw a cow's head!
3. How to Draw a 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 the legs are quite complex, and there's not much muscle 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 darker shading. You can also darken the main outline of the body.
Good Job! You've Created a Drawing of a Cow Step by Step!
5 Best Realistic Cow Sketches Turned Into Logos From Envato
Envato offers full downloads of thousands of creative assets for a low monthly fee. Get cute drawings of cows, cow sketches, logos, fonts, and other creative assets.
Envato is perfect for graphic designers and illustrators who want to enhance their work and differentiate themselves from their peers. This is the ultimate subscription for creative minds!
1. Classic Cow Logo (AI, EPS, PDF, PNG, SVG)
This simple drawing of a cow was turned into a classic logo that will always make any brand look good and professional. This logo has plenty of room for your slogan, and it's editable, 100% vectorized, and simple to use.
2. Minimalist Cow Line Art Logo (AI, JPG, PDF, EPS)
Minimalist logos are easy to remember and adapt to different sizes and formats. If you’re looking for something similar to cow line art, this logo is the option for you. This design is suitable for food, restaurant, and creative businesses. Simply download and get a vector-based logo that is editable, scalable, and simple to customize to your brand's needs.
3. Professional Cattle Cow Logo (AI, EPS)
This cow drawing with a simple design started as a sketch and was turned into a digital logo. You can use this design for the cattle, dairy, and meat industries. Start working with a high-quality logo that is easy to customize in Adobe Illustrator.
4. Cute Cow Ice Cream Logo (AI, EPS, JPG, PDF, PNG, PSD)
Here’s a kawaii option if you’re interested in cute graphics. Cute logos are not just for kids; these types of designs have grown in popularity among people of all ages. One of the best things about this logo is that you can use it in many different design programs like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
5. Vintage Cow Logo With Slogan (AI, EPS, JPG, PDF, PNG, PSD)
Here's another classic cow design for your logos. Download a detailed hand-drawn vector design with excellent quality and detail. The vector logo can be scaled to different sizes without sacrificing quality.
Discover Similar Tutorials to Cow Sketches & Cute Drawings of Cows
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial about drawing a cow from scratch. If you're looking for similar tutorials, don't leave—we have a full list of articles that'll help you elevate your drawing skills. Check them out:
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