How to Draw Animals

by Jack Hamm

Simple, clear instructions for drawing animals with more than a thousand step-by-step illustrations. Basic fundamentals for the beginner, new principles and techniques for the professional. A detailed guide for everyone who enjoys—or wants to enjoy—drawing.

Genres: Art, Drawing, Reference, Nonfiction, Animals, How To, Art Design

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Jack B. Hamm was an artist who is recognized both for his Christian-themed artwork and editorial cartoons, and for his books on drawing technique. He both studied and taught at the Frederic Mizen Academy of Art. As a cartoonist and comic strip letterer, he worked on the "Bugs Bunny", "Alley Oop", and "Boots and Her Buddies" comic strips before attending Baylor University to study theology. He taught at Baylor both before and after he graduated in 1948.

Jack Hamm started drawing at 5 years old. Hamm went to Frederick Mizen Academy of Art c. 1936-1941. After finding success in cartoons, he was offered his own creation to which he turned down in order to study ministry at Baylor University from 1945 to 1948.

Hamm hosted an early TV drawing program, The Jack Hamm Show, in Texas and conceived of what became The New Testament from 26 Translations, published by Zondervan. His work drew praise from such diverse folks as "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz, Norman Vincent Peale, and FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. By the end of his life, Jack Hamm's artwork could be found in over 25 books.

Reviews

[Khanh Cao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This and "The Art of Animal Drawing" have many things in common. Would suggest readers to only choose one of the two rather than reading both! Great book all in all

[Skallagrimsen]

Old fashioned art instruction manual demonstrating how to sketch realistic animals using simple geometric patterns. Loved it as a kid, especially when I realized it could be just as easily used to draw unrealistic animals, by mixing and matching elements of the templates; for example, giving a dog's body the head of a walrus. Led to many hours of quiet, creative diversion.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a great book; not only do u get a lot of pictures to help you along the way but he also explains things in clear cut ways so that you understand how to get from point A to point B with your drawings and sketches.

[Mitch B · Rating 1 out of 5]

HEAVILY reference-reliant Drawings with super fake "construction" and little to no depth.

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh this is a great book it gives you step by step instructions to draw an animal of course even with this book I'm not very good at drawing animals.

[Lulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first 'good' drawing book I ever got, this will always have a place in my heart. I was amazed when I was an adolescent and could draw realistic cats from this book. Fond memories <3

[Anna Morgenstern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you familiar with the art-book meme? Well, it's pretty much like that.
I use it mainly if I seek specific reference or need inspiration.
If you're looking for tutorials or something more elaborate, skip this one.

[JOSCHUA · Rating 3 out of 5]

my mom gave me this book when i was younger and i didn't really start appreciating it until the past few months.. and it has been very useful!! it has a lot of random ass animals.. why would i ever draw a gopher?? i dont know!! but the illustrations are very nice

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful reference book

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neil, Central patron, July 2018, 5 stars:

A classic. This book will actually help you to understand how to draw animals. Highly recommended.

[Buried in books · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very informative and inspiring but I think Jack should have added how to draw small animals or fish

[Michèle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are like me a comic artist, and appreciate accuracy in drawing animals, this book is for you!

Never did I draw animals before this encounter. And the few books on the subject generally presented 1) a dog, 2) a cat, 3) a horse. And Voila!

In Jack Hamm's 120-page book, you get hundreds of different species, and pointy informations, plus comparison of skeletons, anatomy, muscles. Nose, eyes, paws, claws, ears, each get a full page of interspecies comparisons.

Order of presentation: felines, (lion and Tiger, plus all the best-known sepcies) the ursus, then the horse... 18 pages of horses! The elephant, the dog ans all related canines, the girafe, the bovines, primates...

The only missing species in the book are the birds. You may want another book for birds.

Alas, such an accomplished artist has passed away in 1996. Thank you, Mr. Hamm: now I can draw horses without fear!

[Pannita · Rating 4 out of 5]

When i want to draw an animal, i usually use real photos from the internet but this 10 USD book by Jack Hamm is somewhat useful. It offers many techniques but sometime it’s quite hard to follow and it doesn’t includes marine life animals. Check out my full reference books collection here: http://korpannita.wordpress.com/2013/...

[Serge Pierro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to have on hand should you need to draw animals for a project, or a good first book on animal drawing. Good presentation of the material, so that you will have a solid understanding of basic animal anatomy.

[David Leemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to draw animals, you are going to want this book. This guy has detailed descriptions of specific features of many of the commonly drawn animal species, side by side comparisons of differences between animal species, and even a page of tips on how to draw cats.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide to drawing animals! Starting with clear explanation of the underlying structures, Hamm demonstrates how to make variations on the basics to create different types of animals. This is the best book I have found for the basics!

[Basil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful for grasping the shape of various kinds of animals.

[Nestor Rebata carrizo]

hi

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needs more animals!!

[Sheila Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first books I bought when I wanted to learn how to draw better. It provides easy to follow steps on how to draw animals.

[William Andrew Loomis II · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY GOOD!

[Vicky Du Plessis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "How to Draw Animals" I am currently reading, the book is a big help.