Little Mouse & Chick 🐭🐥 (Step-by-step guide - Week 23) (Patreon)

Hi everyone!! 🤗

For this week, we are focusing on How to draw a little mouse & chick ✨

I created two illustrations based on this week's references! The little mouse smelling a pink flower, and the little chick exploring his new world 🥰

You will find my tips, step by step instructions and final illustrations below, together with the materials I used!

PS. Sorry for posting this today instead of yesterday! I thought I did post it, but it turned out that I didn't 😅

Tips

Start with a sketch first: This time, don't skip the sketching stage! A light pencil sketch helps you place the head, body, and features before adding color and details.

Focus on the biggest shapes first: Look at the overall body shape before drawing ears, fur, feathers, or tiny details.

Cute animals are often round: Softer, rounder shapes can make animals feel more friendly and adorable.

Suggest textures instead of drawing everything: A few pencil strokes and scribbles are enough to create the feeling of fluffy fur.

Practice is more important than perfection: Every animal you draw teaches you something new. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and experiment! 🥰

Little Mouse

For the sketch I used Faber-Castell 188 (Sanguine). I always try to use a color that fits the colors of the illustration. When I finish the sketch, I erase the sketch lines lightly with a kneadable eraser!

I used the following Brush pens as a base layer:

Tombow 126 (Light olive)

Tombow 553 (Mist purple)

Ecoline 374 (Pink Beige)

Adding mist purple might seem funny at first, but it's a great way to have it as a base layer for adding shading & depth!

For the second layer, I used the following Pencils:

Faber-Castell 278 (Chrome Oxide Green)

Faber-Castell 283 (Burnt Siena)

Faber-Castell 226 (Alizarin Crimson)

Faber-Castell 157 (Dark Indigo)

For the second layer we will use burnt siena for the fur, alizarin crimson & chrome oxide green for the flower and dark indigo for the eye! As finishing touch, you can add more depth with Dark Indigo, like I did in the right picture.

Little Chick

For the sketch I used Faber-Castell 108 (Dark Cadmium Yellow)

I used the following Brush pens as a base layer:

Tombow 553 (Mist purple)

Tombow 991 (Light Ocre)

Tombow 020 (Peach)

To add some extra depth, you can add a second layer of peach on top of the first layer, and then add some details already with light ocre.

For the second layer, I used the following Pencils:

Faber-Castell 108 (Dark Cadmium Yellow)

Faber-Castell 188 (Sanguine)

Faber-Castell 157 (Dark Indigo)

For the second layer we will use dark cadmium yellow for the feathers/fur and we will add some extra details with Sanguine. Dark indigo will only be used for the eye.

I wish you all lots of fun with this week's reference, and don't hesitate to ask me any questions or show your illustrations in the group chat 🤗

Celyn 🌸