Why Learning to Draw Animals Feels Overwhelming — and How to Make It Easier
- debbielouart1
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
Learning to draw animals in coloured pencils can feel incredibly exciting at first.
You choose a beautiful reference photo, gather your pencils, sit down with your paper… and then suddenly your mind goes blank.
Where do you start?
Which colours should you use?
How do you make fur look soft instead of flat?
How do you build up layers without ruining the drawing?
And how do you know when to stop?
If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re definitely not alone. So many beginner and intermediate artists want to create realistic animal drawings, but they often feel overwhelmed before they’ve even properly started.
The good news is that drawing animals doesn’t have to feel confusing. With the right structure, gentle guidance, and a step-by-step approach, you can build your confidence one small skill at a time.
Why animal art can feel so difficult at first
Animals are beautiful subjects to draw, but they come with a lot of detail.
You’re not just drawing “a dog” or “a cat”. You’re looking at fur direction, values, texture, eyes, noses, whiskers, markings, shadows, and all the tiny changes in colour that make the animal look realistic.
That can feel like a lot to take in.
Many artists also fall into the trap of thinking they need every pencil, every paper type, and every tool before they can begin. But often, having too many choices makes things harder, not easier.
Instead of feeling inspired, you end up feeling stuck.
The real problem usually isn’t lack of talent
One of the biggest worries beginner artists have is that they’re “not good enough” or “not talented enough”.
But most of the time, that isn’t the issue at all.
The real problem is usually that you haven’t been shown a clear process yet.
When you don’t know what order to work in, how to layer your pencils, how to choose colours, or how to break a drawing down into manageable sections, it’s easy to feel frustrated.
That doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
It simply means you need a method that helps you understand what to do next.
A simpler way to approach animal drawings
Instead of trying to complete a whole animal portrait perfectly from the beginning, it helps to break your learning down into smaller pieces.
For example, you might practise:
how to create smooth base layers
how to build darker values gradually
how to follow fur direction
how to draw realistic eyes
how to add texture to noses
how to layer colours without pressing too hard
how to create soft, believable fur
Each of these skills builds on the last.
And once you understand them separately, full animal drawings start to feel much less intimidating.
Why step-by-step learning helps build confidence
When you’re learning on your own, it’s easy to jump between random tutorials, different artists, different materials, and different techniques.
While there’s nothing wrong with experimenting, it can sometimes leave you feeling more confused than confident.
A structured approach gives you a clearer path.
You’re not guessing what to learn next. You’re following a process that helps you build your skills gradually, with each lesson supporting the next one.
That’s especially helpful if you’re someone who feels overwhelmed easily, struggles with too many options, or needs things broken down into clear, manageable steps.
Progress matters more than perfection
One of the most important things to remember is that your artwork does not need to be perfect to be worthwhile.
Every layer teaches you something.
Every drawing helps you understand your pencils better.
Every mistake gives you useful information for next time.
The goal isn’t to become perfect overnight. The goal is to keep building confidence, one drawing at a time.
This is something I really believe in: progress over perfection.
You don’t need to rush. You don’t need to compare yourself to other artists. You don’t need to have the most expensive materials before you begin.
You just need a supportive place to learn, practise, and grow.
How Pencil Paws Academy can help
This is exactly why I created Pencil Paws Academy.
Pencil Paws Academy is a gentle, encouraging membership for beginner and intermediate artists who want to learn how to draw animals realistically with coloured pencils.
Inside the Academy, you’ll find step-by-step lessons, animal tutorials, focus studies, helpful resources, and a supportive community where you can learn in your own time.
The aim is to help you go from feeling confused, overwhelmed, and frustrated to feeling more confident, capable, and proud of the artwork you’re creating.
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
Inside the membership, you can follow clear lessons at your own pace, revisit tutorials whenever you need to, and build your skills gradually without pressure.
What you can learn inside the Academy
Inside Pencil Paws Academy, you’ll find:
The Pencil Perfect Foundation Course
A structured course designed to help you understand the core coloured pencil techniques needed for animal art.
Step-by-step animal tutorials
Full animal projects that guide you through the drawing process from start to finish.
Focus lessons
Smaller studies that help you practise specific skills, such as eyes, noses, fur, feathers, and other animal details.
Helpful resources
Materials lists, line art, reference photos, tips, and guidance to make the learning process easier.
A gentle community space
A place to share your work, ask questions, celebrate progress, and feel supported as you grow.
Is Pencil Paws Academy right for you?
Pencil Paws Academy could be a lovely fit if you:
want to learn how to draw animals with coloured pencils
feel overwhelmed by where to start
want clear, step-by-step guidance
prefer learning in your own time
are a beginner or intermediate artist
want to build confidence without pressure
enjoy a calm, encouraging approach to learning
You don’t need to be perfect.
You don’t need to know everything already.
You just need to be willing to start.
Join Pencil Paws Academy
If you’d love to feel more confident drawing animals in coloured pencils, I’d love to welcome you inside Pencil Paws Academy.
The membership is reopening next week, and this is a wonderful time to join if you’re ready to build your skills with gentle guidance and step-by-step support.
Come and learn at your own pace, practise with clear tutorials, and start creating animal artwork you feel proud of.
Join Pencil Paws Academy waitlist and be the first to find out when the doors to the membership open.
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