The Realistic Wildlife Drawings of Kevin Hayler
Realistic wildlife drawings are more than just illustrations to me; they are my way of connecting with the natural world.
It was one of the few ways open to me to try and work with wild animals in some way.
I’ve been making and selling my realistic wildlife drawings for over 20 years, and in that time, my work has refined to the point where now, some of my better drawings manage to capture something of the magic of seeing these animals close up.
All of the drawings below are drawn using my own references and are drawn using nothing but pencils on paper. This has been a labor of love.
Enjoy.
The Art of Realistic Drawing
Why use pencil for my wildlife art? It’s a question I’m often asked. The answer is quite straight forward and totally pragmatic.
I have always been able to draw. Yes I was that annoying kid in class that could draw better than everyone else. There was always one, right?
It became my identity.
If nothing else, that one skill alone made me stand out from the crowd and earned me respect from my peers. It defined me in many ways.
If ever there was a reason to push yourself, it’s seeking the praise from people around you.
I was also obsessed with wildlife and conservation from a very early age, which in the 60’s and 70’s made you a little bit eccentric. No matter, drawing and wildlife was my thing.
I could draw well by the time I hit my teens, but there was a catch. By a cruel twist of fate, I was born colorblind.
That sucks, right?
But hey, when you are born with something, it’s just the way it is, and you live with it. It’s not a handicap if you’ve never known anything different.
Honestly, I can paint as well as I can draw, it’s just a shame the colors are all wrong. They look fine to me!
I specialize in realistic wildlife drawings because that’s what I’m good at. I play the hand I’m dealt with, it’s all you can do. (This is how I do it)
The Pros and Cons of Realistic Black and White Pencil Drawings
On the basis that all traditional painting skills are based around a firm drawing foundation, accurate drawing is not an optional extra.
The difference for me, is that my drawings are an end themselves not simply a stage in the process.
These are the main reasons black and white art makes sense to me:
- Graphite pencils are lightweight and portable, so I can take them traveling.
- I can buy replacement art supplies almost anywhere in the world
- Black and white art is cheaper to print than paintings (Offset-litho)
- I can stop and start a drawing at will, no drying times and all that stuff
- Black and white art compliments most color schemes
- They are easier to frame
Check out more of my Wildlife Drawings HERE. There are over 50!
There are disadvantages, these are the main drawbacks as far as I’m concerned:
- People perceive black and white art and illustration as a lesser artform
- B/W does not catch the eye in the same way color does
- Galleries seldom accept black and white art
- It’s harder to make good Black and white prints because accurate tonal values are so critical
- Realistic pencil drawings take too long to complete, time is money
- You can’t command the prices
You have to take the rough with the smooth. There are always work-arounds for most problems
Why Focus on Drawing Realistic Wildlife?
I’ve always been interested in the natural world so if I was to find meaning in my job, and sustain my enthusiasm, I had to choose a subject that would stand the test of time.
There was also the potential to combine my wildlife art with the possibilty that it could travel and find my subjects in the wild. It was a more appealing prospect than visiting zoos.
I have made this dream a reality but not one without caveats. I’m not footloose and fancy free.
I can’t do as I please. I compromise. That’s life,right?
I learned that only iconic animals are popular with the general public.
I know that sounds obvious, but hear me out. I discovered that a percentage of the public are obsessive collectors of certain animals.
That’s right. If you have an appealing image of an elephant, there will be buyers!
And what’s more, you don’t have to rely on them finding you, because their friends and family will know about this hobby and buy your elephant print as the perfect gift. Woo-Hoo.
WIN-WIN
So elephants sell, and so do tigers, pandas, orangutans, and so on. Ive listed my top 12 bestsellers here if you want to check them out.
I’ve made it sound easy, and it is in principle.
Your wildlife art doesn’t have to be super realistic, but it must have some charm and appeal.
Remember it has to hang in the living room. Anything too aggressive, sad, or badly executed will not sell well.
Stir the emotions in a positive way and you will find buyers. If that means drawing baby animals, live with it. It doesn’t have to sugar-coated.
When you see your first wild baby orangutan clinging to mum high in the canopy, you will want to draw it, believe me.
I draw realistic wildlife illustrations because it’s my USP or unique selling point. True, they take a long time, and that’s OK because they are going to get printed. That’s how this whole operation works.
That takes me to my next point.
How Do You Make Enough Money Selling Wildlife Drawings?
I scale my art business by selling the same image over and over again. Prints are the only answer. I can’t draw quickly enough, or maintain the quality needed, to sell originals only
I tried years ago and burned out. Take my advice. Make prints of your best drawings.
They don’t have to be wall art prints, they can also be t-shirts, mobile phone cases, or fridge magnets. Look on Etsy, Redbubble, and Printful and get some ideas.
I made my money selling face to face in a seasonal tourist street market. (Read this and see how I did it)
I sold limited edition and open edition art prints. It worked because I drew my original in-situ and passers-by could look on. When cuiosity got the better of them they could browse my prints and I would say hello.
The whole enterprise was built around seasonality. I sold as many prints as I could in the summer season to fund my trip overseas in the winter.
That was important because I wanted to be able to close down my stall entirely to give me the time to get away and find and photograph my wildlife subjects for the following season.
It worked and I did it for over 20 years this way. (This is how)
That suited me, but most artists would want to cash in on the Christmas trade and that makes commercial sense.
I didn’t do that mainly because long distance air fares are so much higher at Christmas/New Year. It wasnt worth it for me so I left the UK in November, returning in April.
I’m so spoilt.
How to Start a Business Selling Realistic Wildlife Drawings
If this lifestyle appeals to you, I have good news because I have written all about it. Most of the information you need can be found on my website.
Go to WildlifeArtStore.com/sitemap and skim through. You will see plenty of articles that will help you to get on your feet.
If you want to cut out all the research and get on with things in a more structured way then for $12.99 you can buy my step-by-step guide
That’s what I did in the pandemic. I decided to write a book and reveal how I made a good living for all those years. You can go to the sales page now if you like.
I hope this article has inspired you in some way. I’m just an ordinary guy who managed to find a niche and way of selling art that works on a grass roots level.
I’m not trying to change the world, or trying to be rich and famous. I just draw animals and sell the prints.
Why complicate life?
Wanna see some more drawings? Head over to my website HERE and take a look
