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 head and body of the prairie dog. Draw a line, which will act as the center of its head and body. Add a line for the feet.

STEP 2. Draw shapes for the animal’s body and neck. Pay special attention to its forehead.

STEP 3. Show, with guidelines, the places for the legs, feet, eyes, nose and lips of the prairie dog.

STEP 4. Sketch the legs, feet, snout and ear of the animal.

STEP 5. Draw the eye and toes of the prairie dog.

STEP 6. Add claws. Work on the whole figure, paying special attention to detail.

STEP 7. Contour the prairie dog, trying to vary the thickness and darkness of the line. Add more detail and add the ground. Erase all guidelines.