How to draw a rat's face?

How to draw a rat's face? - briefly

Begin with a rounded skull outline, then place a tiny triangular nose, almond‑shaped eyes, and whisker pads; add rounded‑triangle ears on top and sketch short, quick strokes to suggest fur. Finish by defining the mouth with a simple curved line and lightly indicating the cheek fur with brief, directional marks.

How to draw a rat's face? - in detail

Begin with a light‑box sketch of the overall shape: a rounded oval for the head, a slightly narrower oval for the snout, and a small triangle for the nose. Keep proportions realistic— the snout should be about one‑third the total head length.

  1. Outline the head

    • Draw a smooth, slightly flattened circle to represent the skull.
    • Add a shallow curve at the lower part for the jawline, ensuring a subtle dip where the mouth will sit.
  2. Place the facial landmarks

    • Position the eyes on the upper half of the skull, spaced roughly one eye‑width apart. Use almond‑shaped ovals with a slight upward tilt.
    • Insert the nostrils as two tiny ovals at the tip of the snout, separated by a thin line for the nasal bridge.
    • Mark the mouth with a shallow, curved line extending from the lower edge of the jaw to the center of the snout.
  3. Define the ears

    • Sketch two large, semi‑circular ears attached near the top of the skull, slightly tilted outward. Their size should be about half the head’s width.
  4. Add whisker sockets

    • Place three to four small circles on each side of the snout, just above the mouth line. These indicate the origin points for the whiskers.
  5. Refine the contour

    • Smooth the connections between head, snout, and jaw. Erase unnecessary guide lines, leaving a clean silhouette.
  6. Render details

    • Shade the eyes with a dark pupil and a lighter highlight to suggest reflectivity.
    • Darken the nostrils and add a faint gradient on the snout to imply curvature.
    • Draw fine, tapering whiskers radiating from each socket, varying length for depth.
    • Apply subtle fur texture along the cheeks and around the ears using short, overlapping strokes.
  7. Finalize with shading

    • Identify a light source; typically, a top‑left illumination works well.
    • Apply a light wash on the side opposite the light, deepening shadows under the chin, inside the ears, and beneath the whisker base.
    • Blend edges softly to maintain the soft, velvety appearance of rodent fur.

The completed drawing should capture the characteristic roundness of the head, the prominent ears, and the delicate whisker arrangement that defines a rat’s visage. Adjust line weight and shading intensity to match the desired level of realism.