How to Draw a Bison

In this simple step-by-step drawing tutorial, we will show you how to draw a bison – a huge wild bull.

How familiar are you with this animal? These bulls are distinguished by their impressive size and massive build. In appearance, the bison is similar to the wisent. In general, this is one of those animals, from the sight of which a shiver runs through the skin. You would hardly want to meet a bison face to face in an open area!

But we will meet him on paper, armed with a pencil! Our task is to learn how to draw a bison and bring it to life with color!

How to Draw a Bison

Step 1 – Sketch the General Shapes

The dimensions of the bison are striking: the height of the animal at the withers is 1.8-2 meters, the body length is 2.5-3 meters. Therefore, our ovals will be quite cumbersome. Draw the ribcage with a long oval, the head – with a medium circle, and the pelvis – with a larger oval.

Step 2 – Sketch the Spine and Limbs

The bison has a massive front part and a less massive back part. The bison’s legs are squat, and we will draw them not too long. So, draw a line along the very top, it will become a “bridge” between the pelvis and the ribcage.

Step 3 – Draw the Muzzle and Eyes of the Bison

The muzzle of the bison is elongated, like that of cows, horses, etc. Further, draw an elongated shape and lengthen the bison’s head due to it. Make two small dots – these are the dark eyes of a ferocious bull.

Step 4 – Draw the Ears, Nose, and Mouth

The ears of the bison are small and narrow. The neck is massive but short. Create a round nose. After that, draw the nostrils and use a stripe to mark the position of the mouth.

Step 5 – Draw the Horns of the Bison

Let’s draw thick and short horns. They diverge to the sides at the base of the head, and their tips are bent inward. Almost touching the ears.

Step 6 – Draw the Neck of the Bison

On the head, chest, and beard, the hair is longer and darker than on the whole body, which gives the animal even more volume. Draw come fur and cover the bison ribcage with it. Let’s create a characteristic hump at the back of the neck. A short, straight line along the top of the head.

Step 7 – Draw the Front Legs

Draw the powerful front legs – they are connected to the fur coat, which we drew earlier. The bison’s short legs stand firmly on the ground. Our bison is dangerous and its weight can be felt even through the paper.

Step 8 – Draw the Front Hooves and Belly

The belly of the bison narrows with a sharp line closer to the hind legs. And due to this, the hind legs look longer than the front ones. Male bison weigh about 1.2 tons and are considered the largest animals on earth.

Step 9 – Draw the Hind Legs

The hind legs, as a rule, serve as a support when the bison climbs small hills. In this drawing, the bison’s hind legs are positioned so that they overlap. You should pay attention to this.

Step 10 – Draw the Hind Hooves

Draw them qualitatively, and most importantly, proportionate. In the places where the fur goes down to the hooves, make a torn line. Done! Run your hand over the thick fur of our paper bison – feel its strength!

Step 11 – Erase the Guidelines

This is almost the end of the bison drawing tutorial. Let’s remove the extra guidelines. Check how the bison looks – it has a massive head and a broad, pronounced forehead. Further, trace the silhouette and make it more finished.

Step 12 – Color the Bison Drawing

The color of the bison can vary from light red to dark brown, almost black. Let’s fill it with brown color. Leave white dots in the eyes, paint the horns with beige. The nose will be dark brown. Don’t forget about the shadows – they give depth to the whole picture. After that, you can make small strokes to show the direction of the coat.

Cool! It was a great experience. The bison drawing on your paper or on your monitor almost comes to life, loosening the ground beneath!

Power! Release your bison and don’t worry about anything, because you are its creator! How many minutes did it take you to finish the drawing?

What associations does a bison evoke in you? Now we will offer our options – power, strength, the thunderstorm of nature, riot, dimensions, the elements of the earth, primitiveness. Now it’s your turn – more options in the comments!