I thought I’d walk you through my process for creating textured fur on drafting film. I usually work on Graphics drafting film 0.5 double matte, and for this particular example, I used a reference photo by Tristan Bane. Here’s an insight to my process 🙂

Setting the Scene with Dark Tones

I always begin by laying down the darkest areas first. On drafting film, this is especially important because I use a subtraction technique, and having those dark tones in place helps me determine how light my highlights and mid-tones need to be. For this piece, I started with Polychromos Dark Sepia, one of my go-to pencils. Instead of using black, this pencil gives a richer, softer look. I then introduced Warm Grey 4, followed by Luminance Brown Ochre 10%, and topped it off with Polychromos Walnut Brown. These shades work beautifully together to create depth.

Adding Details Early

Drafting film is smooth and doesn’t have much tooth, which limits the number of layers you can add. Because of this, I like to bring in details early in the process. The Tombow Mono Eraser is perfect at creating texture by gently lifting pigment. My trusty Slice Manual Pen Cutter is used to carve out fine hair details. Pairing these tools allows me to achieve a mix of sharp, defined hairs and softer, subtler ones for a realistic texture.

Plotting Colour and Building Structure

When I move on to the face, I started by plotting the base colours. For this, I used Cold Grey 2 and then layered Burnt Ochre and Walnut Brown to build up depth. It’s crucial to get your darkest areas really dark to ensure the final piece has enough contrast. To avoid muddying the colours with graphite, I place my line drawing underneath the semi-transparent drafting film. This lets me reference the lines without having to erase them later. I like to pay close attention to the direction of the fur growth. Following the angles and curves ensures that the structure looks natural and realistic. Pretty early on, I like to start incorporating the texture by varying my pencil strokes and using tools like the Tombow Mono Eraser for soft highlights and the Slice tool for precision details.

Layering and Final Touches

Before bringing in the slice tool, it’s essential to make sure your base colours are dark and rich enough. If you skip this step, the slice marks won’t stand out, and the texture will lack definition. I think it’s always a good idea to step away after creating texture, and revisit the piece with my pencils to refine details and add dimension. I’ve learnt that using a makeup brush is fab to gently sweep away pigment debris while working. This prevents smudging.

Wrapping It Up

I’d say the key to mastering fur texture is balancing values, texture, and colour. Focus on your darkest tones early, and build up the layers and details gradually. This technique is straightforward but incredibly effective for creating realistic fur. If you found this helpful and want more, this full tutorial is available in my Ignite Membership. You can join the waitlist by clicking here.

Make sure to click the video above if you want to hear me talk about this in a little more detail!