GRID STEP. You can print out the base construction lines and start drawing on tracing paper, or you can draw the grid layout yourself using the following steps.1) Draw a rectangle that will define the conditional proportions and boundaries of the chosen drawing. 2) From the middle of the rectangle, draw one vertical and one horizontal line equally dividing the shape. 3) Draw another horizontal line equally dividing the upper half of the rectangle. Similarly, draw a horizontal line equally dividing the bottom half of the rectangle. 4) Draw a vertical line equally dividing the left half of the rectangle. Similarly, draw a vertical line equally dividing the right half of the rectangle.

STEP 1. Mark off the width and height of the picture. Draw two ovals for the otter’s head and body. Draw a line, which will act as the center of its head.

STEP 2. Draw smooth lines for the neck and body. Define a tail.

STEP 3. Mark the features of the river otter’s face. Add guidelines for legs and forelegs.

STEP 4. Draw all four legs.

STEP 5. Add toes, ears and eyes.

STEP 6. Finish with the river otter’s toes by adding tips. Delineate a snout shape.

STEP 7. Work on the whole figure, paying special attention to details.

STEP 8. Contour, trying to vary the thickness and blackness of the line. Add more details and the ground. Erase all guidelines.