Wolf Art: ‘The Pack’ A Pencil Drawing by Kevin Hayler

This post reveals the story behind my wolf drawing. Learn how I make my art, my methods, and my reasoning. Read through this post if you’ve ever wondered how artists get their ideas, plan a drawing, and make sales. It will open your eyes.

This drawing shows three wolves walking together, but it’s actually the same wolf drawn three times to form the composition. It’s a construct. You’ve got to use the references at hand right?

I positioned each wolf to create the impression of a close-knit family pack, moving as one.

In my rendition, the wolves’ expressions are focused and curious but slightly more menacing than the reference photos suggest. That’s artistic license for you.

My Original Photo References – All Bloody Awful

I knew I had to have a wolf drawing in my portfolio. Too many people enquired for me to ignore their requests. Consequently, I made it my mission to visit a local wildlife trust to photograph their captive wolfpack.

I always use my own photos, it’s part of the deal. I know it constrains what I can do but, paradoxically, it forces me to be more creative with what I have. The 3 images below prove how bad some of my reference shots are.

Holy crap that bad? Yup. This is how I started, many years ago. I had a cheap film camera and these photographs are scanned directly from the old prints.

I have included them here to show you how it’s possible to construct a decent drawing from the most unlikely images. I think you’ll agree I had my work cut out.

I used Derwent Graphic Pencils throughout this drawing. TI drew this before I discovered the delights of mechanical pencils. It was also drawn before Photoshop even existed.

In order to arrange and visualize the composition I photocopied the photographs as various enlargements and cut out each image to juggle them around. When I was happy I pasted them to a sheet of paper and drew a grid on top. Long winded eh?

It was so long ago now that I can’t be 100% sure which pencil grades I used, but I can guess. I rarely use softer than 3B because pencil shine ruins the effect. This must’ve been HB and 3B mainly, and suspect 2H in the lighter fur.

The Strange Mistake I Made Drawing The Wolf Pack

I did everything right, at least in my eyes. I sourced my own photos and went the extra mile composing a unique wolf drawing that didn’t conform to the usual T-shirt cliches.

It was hand-drawn, the printing was top-notch, and I was selling them in person so my customers could buy from the artist himself. Should be a winner right?

I genuinely assumed that it met the needs of my prospective customers. Well, as it turned out, not quite. I got more rejections than I expected.

It turns out that many people want a ‘lone’ wolf, not a wolf pack. Those cliched images you see everywhere exist because that’s what people really want.

My lame joke suggesting these are 3 lone wolves standing together never hit the mark.

My drawing sold well but not as well as it should. Eventually, I bit the bullet and did another one. Can you see that it’s the 3rd wolf from the first drawing?

It’s a sketchier style and no worse for it.

I’ve got a wealth of info like this if you need help selling from your own market pitch. Take a look

‘The Pack’ A Framed Pencil Drawing of Wolves

This will give you some idea of how the drawing/print looks when properly mounted and framed. It makes a big difference. It’s a simple thin black frame with a wide bordered off-white mountboard.

It always looks better if you have a clear margin around the image with plenty of space to play with.

‘The Pack’ Hanging on the Wall

These two mockup examples showcase how this framed drawing of a wolfpack might look in a living room or bedroom setting. Note how black and white art compliments almost any color scheme.

I think you will agree that a well-placed work of art acts as a focal point for a room.

These are my essential drawing materials:

• Pentel Mechanical Pencils 0.3mm
• Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils
• Daler-Rowney Heavyweight Cartridge Paper
• Jakar Battery Eraser
• Tombo Mono Eraser Pen
• Faber Castell Putty Eraser
• Blu Tack
• French Box Easel (A good portable alternative)

To find out why I use these drawing tools, read this: The Best Drawing Supplies

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