How to Draw a Gorilla in 10 Steps

Welcome to this immersive guide where you’ll learn how to draw one of the most powerful and awe-inspiring creatures in the animal kingdom—the gorilla! Known for their majestic presence, soulful eyes, and remarkable strength, gorillas are both a challenge and a joy to capture in art.

Whether you’re a budding artist or a seasoned pro, this tutorial will guide you through the process of how to draw a gorilla. By breaking the steps into simple, manageable parts, we’ll help you highlight the details that make these great apes extraordinary. From their massive shoulders, textured fur, and expressive faces, you’ll gain techniques to showcase their character and majesty on paper.

So, gather your pencils, paper, and a bit of creative courage, and let’s embark on this artistic adventure. Prepare to channel your inner explorer as we capture the spirit of the mighty gorilla in just a few easy steps!

Materials Required

Before we delve into the drawing process, let’s gather the necessary materials:

Drawing paper or sketchbook: Choose a smooth and sturdy surface that can handle pencil and eraser without tearing or smudging.
Pencils: Collect a range of graphite pencils, such as 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B. These varying grades will allow you to achieve different tones and textures in your drawing.
Erasers: Have a kneadable eraser and a soft eraser on hand for correcting mistakes and achieving highlights.
Blending tools: Consider using blending stumps or tortillions to create smooth gradients and soften edges in your drawing.
Reference image: Find a clear and detailed photograph of a gorilla to reference throughout your drawing process. This will help you understand the gorilla’s anatomy and capture its unique features accurately.

Now that we have everything we need, let’s move on to the drawing steps.

How to Draw a Gorilla: Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketch the Foundation

Start by lightly sketching the gorilla’s basic structure. Begin with a large oval for the head, positioned slightly tilted to reflect the gorilla’s posture. Beneath the head, draw an elongated oval for the body, slanting it slightly to capture the gorilla’s hunched stance. These simple shapes form the framework for your drawing, so keep your strokes light and adjustable.

Step 2: Map Out the Facial Features

Focus on the gorilla’s distinctive face. Inside the head oval, draw two small circles for the eyes, close together to reflect their anatomy. Within each circle, sketch the irises and pupils, leaving a small white highlight to bring the eyes to life. Add a larger oval beneath the eyes for the snout. Below the snout, outline the wide mouth and a rounded triangle for the nose. These shapes will guide you in refining the gorilla’s expressive face.

Step 3: Add Ears and Begin the Fur

Draw two rounded shapes on either side of the head for the ears. Pay attention to their placement—they should be level with the eyes. Gorillas have small but noticeable ears, so don’t exaggerate their size. Begin adding facial hair using short, quick strokes that follow the contours of the face. These strokes will give texture and direction to the fur.

Step 4: Refine the Body Structure

Turn your attention to the gorilla’s powerful body. Add broad shoulders by sketching curved lines extending outward from the head. Draw the arms, making them thick and muscular, and connect them to a barrel-shaped torso. Keep the gorilla’s hunched posture in mind as you refine the lines, curving the back slightly.

Step 5: Shape the Arms and Hands

Outline the gorilla’s massive arms, starting with the upper arms and moving to the forearms. Add thickness to suggest muscle definition, using short lines for subtle texture. For the hands, sketch large, rounded palms with opposable thumbs. Gorillas’ hands are one of their defining features, so emphasize their size and strength.

Step 6: Draw the Legs and Feet

Add the legs, keeping them shorter and stockier compared to the arms. Sketch the feet, ensuring they reflect the gorilla’s anatomy, with long, curved toes designed for grasping. The toes should have slight curvature to give the feet a realistic, natural appearance.

Step 7: Add Fur Texture Across the Body

Now it’s time to add the gorilla’s iconic fur. Use short, overlapping strokes to create texture. Start at the top of the head, working your way down the shoulders, arms, and torso. Vary the stroke length to reflect the different fur densities across the body—longer strokes on the shoulders and shorter strokes on the face.

Step 8: Refine the Facial Features

Return to the face and add details to bring your gorilla to life. Refine the eyes, darkening the pupils and adjusting the shape for expression. Add prominent eyebrows above the eyes, and deepen the lines around the nose and mouth. Use shading to create depth, paying attention to the shadows around the snout and jawline.

Step 9: Add Shading and Depth

Bring dimension to your drawing with careful shading. Identify your light source and darken areas in shadow, such as under the chin, around the arms, and beneath the torso. Use a range of pencils (HB for lighter areas, 2B and 4B for shadows) to create smooth transitions between light and dark. Blend the shading with a blending stump or tissue for a polished look.

Step 10: Final Touches and Finishing Details

Step back and review your drawing. Adjust any areas that need refinement, such as uneven shading or unclear lines. Darken the outlines where necessary and erase stray marks to clean up the overall look. For a final touch, add highlights to the fur, particularly on the shoulders and head, to mimic the way light interacts with the gorilla’s body.

Wrapping Up: Your Majestic Gorilla is Complete!

Congratulations, artist! You’ve successfully brought a gorilla to life on paper, showcasing its strength, intelligence, and character. Drawing a gorilla is a rewarding challenge that combines capturing its powerful physique with its subtle emotional depth.

Practice regularly to refine your technique, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different poses, expressions, or even backgrounds as you practice how to draw a gorilla. Whether you imagine your gorilla in a lush jungle or striking a powerful stance, each drawing is an opportunity to improve and explore.

So keep sketching, keep experimenting, and enjoy the process of bringing the animal kingdom to life through your art.