Sketching Animals Series: Part 3

Working from moving subjects

To wrap up this series on sketching animals, let’s talk about drawing moving subjects. In the first two parts, I walked you through step-by-step sketches of a fox and a lynx from still photos taken at the Alaska Zoo. Working from photos is excellent practice, but in real life, animals rarely stay still for long. To develop sketching skills for real-life encounters, it helps to practice drawing moving animals—and webcams offer a fantastic way to do that.

There are so many great options, but here are a few webcams I’ve enjoyed sketching from:

Monterey Bay Aquarium live webcams - birds, jellies, sea otters, etc.

Katmai National Park Brooks Falls webcam recordings (highlights) - especially if you prefer to see wild animals. Not live, but you get to see lots of bears.

Alaska Zoo Polar Bear live webcam - not always bears in view but it’s worth checking.

San Diego Zoo live webcams - hippos, tigers, lots of cool options

Please let me know your favorite webcams in the comments.

My Process for Sketching Moving Animals

1. Start by Watching
   When I encounter an animal in the wild, I take time to observe before sketching, since the experience is often brief. I do the same when sketching from webcams. Watching first helps me think about how I’d approach the sketch—what basic shapes I’d start with and how the animal moves. If I’m using a webcam, I often take a few screenshots for reference in case I want to refine my sketches later.

   

   A very quick (5 mins), raw sketch I made from the San Diego Zoo Hippo camp while I was writing this post.

   

   Sketching from the aviary webcam at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

2. Loosen Up and Sketch
   Let go of perfectionism and focus on being present with the experience. Draw what you see, even if you don’t catch the whole animal. I usually begin with simple body shapes—circles and ovals—just like when sketching from photos. Nature journaler Mark Simmons suggests starting with the shape under the legs for four-legged animals, which can be a helpful anchor point.

   Once you have a basic gesture sketch, take a moment to visualize the animal’s anatomy. Think about the position of the skeleton and sketch a simplified stick figure to map out its structure. Observe where muscle groups are visible and layer them onto your sketch. Finally, add textures and details, refining the drawing as much as time allows.

   I usually work with dry media sketching live animals: pencil, colored pencil, and gray marker. If I have more time I might add watercolor later.

   

   

   Sketching from the Brooks Falls Bear cam

3. Work with Movement, Not Against It
   Animals often return to the same positions, so observing beforehand helps you anticipate common poses. I like to sketch multiple poses at once, switching between them as I gather more details. Some sketches remain loose and gestural, while others might get refined with facial features or limb details.

   

   Sketching penguins live at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Sketching live raptors

Practicing with webcams is a great way to build confidence in drawing moving subjects before heading out into the field.

A Challenge for the Week

Sketching moving animals can feel intimidating—I know it does for me! Writing this post made me realize I need more practice, so I’m challenging myself (and you) to four 10-minute sketching sessions over the next week. Pick a live webcam, a pet, or even birds outside your window. Keep it loose, have fun, and remember: the goal isn’t perfect drawings, but getting more comfortable with the process.

If you take on the challenge, let me know how it goes in the comments! I’d love to hear what you learn.

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Want More Practice? Join My Spring Online Sketching Series!

If you’re enjoying sketching from webcams and want to take your field sketching skills further, I invite you to join my Spring Online Sketching Series: Virtual Field Trips on Zoom. These live sessions will transport us to some of my favorite places in Alaska, where we’ll practice observation-based drawing, watercolor, and colored pencil techniques—perfect for preparing for outdoor sketching in the warmer months or simply enjoying the process from home.

Each class includes:
An optional warm-up exercise and field trip orientation a week before the live session
A 2.5-hour live sketching session via Zoom with time for reflection and sharing
$30 per class

Upcoming Classes:

• Drawing Alpine Plants – Sketching with Pen and Pencil
  Virtual Field Trip to Nikolai Plateau
  Friday, March 21 | 1 PM - 3:30 PM AKST

• Glacier Field Trip – Exploring Donoho Basin with Watercolor
  Saturday, April 5 | 10 AM - 12:30 PM AKST

• Mountains and Landscapes – Virtual Field Trip to Iceberg Lake
  Friday, April 18 | 1 PM - 3:30 PM AKST

Whether you're just getting started with field sketching or looking to deepen your practice, these sessions are a great way to build confidence and explore new techniques.

📌 Sign up here