HOME | DD
Pawlove-Arts β Hamster / Rodent Expression tutorial
#anatomy #animals #dwarfhamster #expression #expressions #guide #hamster #pet #reference #rodent #syrianhamster #tutorial #art
Published: 2017-12-15 12:03:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 8494; Favourites: 304; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
Something requested a while ago. I try to explain how I usually draw hamster's and other critters expression. I thought my works aren't particularly varied in mood/expressions, and I definitely need to learn more.Please note it's based on my style of drawing hamsters, which isn't quite realistic nor cartoon. So it's not really complete and not always applicable to everyone's style. Though I hope sharing my perspectives could help somehow.
My advice is to be brave and experiment with different expressions and find out what works for you.
Related content
Comments: 31
π: 0 β©: 0
Oh my gosh you are now my favourite person!!!
π: 0 β©: 0
Very nice tutorial it was very helpful
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks! Glad it helped.
π: 0 β©: 1
No prob. & indeed it did uwu
π: 0 β©: 0
This is actually super helpful, thank you! It's awesome how much expression you can get into a creature with minimal expressions.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you! I was actually surprised people think so, I still have a long way to go.Β
π: 0 β©: 1
True, but you'e also come a long way from where you started :3
π: 0 β©: 1
Haha yeah! I'll try my best to be much better at it
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks for this,
It is interesting how you manage to draw rodents. The way you find the appropriate limb placement still eludes me though.
I'm finding it quite difficult because their skin is so loose. The majority of their anatomy is obscured when working from reference.
I have made some progress in the face construction though. I'll leave a link (in case you are curious).
I apologize advance for the poor presentation I did not have a scanner available at the time.
img00.deviantart.net/5e84/i/20β¦
I'm trying to find a balance between realism and stylized this was my first attempt.
I would greatly value your input, my goal was to make the face more expressive so maybe you will find this useful.
once again great work,
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you! Sorry it took a while for me to reply.Β
I am planning to make another tutorial about anatomy.Β
I suggest try looking for hairless rats pictures usually, since you can see where their arms and legs are and how they fold and unfold. With a bunch of practice you'll get a feel of where their limbs go.
I think your face drawings looks good. I'm not sure if rats can pull edges of their lips to far back though, but their mouth do look wider when viewed from front than from side. Considering it's your first attempt, I'd say it's very good!
I think every artist is different in that balance between realism and stylized, something that look too stylized for me might look fine to other people. I wouldn't worry about it and focus on finding what you think look good.
π: 0 β©: 1
I'm looking forward to the tutorial!
It seems that I have a lot of practicing to do.
You are right about the lips, the problem with rats and rodents in general is they have limited expressions.
They primarily rely on their ear position to convey emotion.Β
I was hoping to create a style that would allow for more dramatic facial expressions while maintaining the general shape of the head.
Do you think I should scale it down a bit?Β
Thanks for the reply and your input.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yeah, they are pretty expressionless. The good thing is, humans see expressions when there are none. Like how hamsters look like they are slightly smiling all the time, even though it's just their usual neutral face. You can convey positive and negative emotions from just curling up and down the edges of their mouth, changing the eye shapes and choosing a different angle. And then improve with ears, whiskers, posture, and such.Β
I tried sketching the same expression and I think that's about how much I'm comfortable pulling it's lips back, and it doesn't show it's molars at all because they are so far back.Β
I think it's up to you to choose to stylize it more or stick to a more realistic style, Realistic isn't always the best approach anyway. A bunch of popular animated movies gives up realism and get more expressive characters in return.Β
Β
Β
While this sketch looks enough to me in terms of expressions, I know other people might find it lacking. There's just no right or wrong that fits for everyone, so I stick to what I think look best.Β
Sorry for the ramblings!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks for the sketch and the ramble.
The way you draw the eyes and ears seems to compensate, for the lack movement in the lips.
Maybe I need to shift my focus to these areas, then decide what to do about the mouth.
This was incredibly useful.
Thanks again,
π: 0 β©: 1
You're welcome and thank you for the fun discussion! I'm sure you'll find that balance if you keep trying. My own style isn't set in stone either, I don't know if it will ever be. It always shift a little when someone improve.
π: 0 β©: 0
Thank you for posting this!! it will help me a lot. I've always tried to draw hamsters but it looks like a ball of fur with a cat face.Β
I will use it - thanks!
π: 0 β©: 1
You're welcome! I'm glad it could help. I am planning to make a hamster anatomy one next.
π: 0 β©: 0
thanks for this! If I were to draw a real hamster instead of how I usually draw them I would definitely use this to help meΒ
π: 0 β©: 1
You're welcome! I'm glad it's helpful.
π: 0 β©: 1
yeah sameΒ
π: 0 β©: 0
Hamster looked like a butter. β€β€β€
π: 0 β©: 1
They do. Or potatoes.
π: 0 β©: 0
I adore this, your style has always been one of my favorite
π: 0 β©: 0
you should sell an artΒ book with the small balls of fluff Β
π: 0 β©: 1
hopefully, I would buy it. as it's so cute
π: 0 β©: 0
You always make your Critters look so expressive.
π: 0 β©: 1