New to sketching wildlife? Begin here.
Go from “I don’t know where to start” to sketching wildlife with confidence.
Step by step, you’ll learn to
really see a photo reference,
find the shape and form of your wild being,
and build them on the page with light, loose pencil lines.
This is the foundation every realistic drawing grows from.
All you need is a pencil and some paper.
Never sketched before? PERFECT
Done a little sketching, but don’t feel confident? PERFECT
Just really want to be able to draw wildlife, realistically? PERFECT
Most beginners start with the eye and a hard outline, then wonder why their animal ends up lopsided.
Wild Beginnings starts where realistic drawing actually begins - with seeing the whole being, their shape, their form, the way they take up space.
Understanding the process behind that and practising it, means that everything else has somewhere to grow from.
Drawing isn’t a gift. It’s a skill, and it gets stronger with every line you make.
A little taste of how we learn…
Before you make a single mark, I’m going to ask you to do something a little unusual.
Pat your animal.
Trace around their silhouette with the back of your pencil. Then imagine your hand resting on them: feel the roundness of their body, stroke down their back, notice the angle of their neck and the tilt of their head.
Suddenly they’re not a flat photo anymore. They’re a living, breathing being who takes up space, and that’s what you’ll learn to draw.
(It’s also the safest way you’ll ever get to pat a wild fox!)
You Will
learn where to find good, free reference images, and how to use them ethically
get to know your pencils, and use light and dark to create depth
draw loose, confident lines and shapes that build form, rather than locking in a hard outline
see your animal as a living, rounded being, not a flat photo
capture their silhouette and proportions, so the eyes, beak and legs land in the right place, without formulas
sketch seven wild beings, birds and mammals, in several poses each
meet frustration with compassion, curiosity and courage, so you keep going
Maybe even start to think of yourself as an artist (spoiler alert, you are!)
🌟 From Rose’s Sketchbook 🌟
I've been working my way through Wild Beginnings. It is definitely challenging for me, but I am really enjoying the challenge.
Graphite and drawing in general are not my comfort zone. A lot of new things have really clicked for me while doing this course and while these sketches are very simple, I'm very proud of them.
Thank you so much, Natalie! As a recovering perfectionist, I could of course point out all the things in this drawing that could use improvement.
But your materials and tutorials have really helped me let go of that and really focus more on how it feels to create this art, rather than focusing on the finished product.
I know with time, that improvement will come. Looking forward to the journey.
~ Rose
Go from “I don’t know where to start” to sketching wildlife with confidence. Step by step, you’ll learn to really see a photo reference, find the shape and form of your wild being, and build them on the page with light, loose pencil lines: the foundation every realistic drawing grows from. 🌟 Prices are in US Dollars. Your currency will be converted on checkout.
What’s Inside
Six chapters, from your very first line to recognisable wildlife drawings:
Compassion, Curiosity & Courage. The mindset that keeps you drawing when it gets hard.
The Basics. Pencils, paper, swatching, value, lines and circles, and caring for your hands.
Shape & Form. Finding reference, silhouette before detail, finding relationships, and working light and loose.
Birds. Robin, Barn Owl, Raven and Superb Fairywren.
Mammals. Red Squirrel, Fox and Deer.
Details & Going Further. Where to add detail, and how your own style will grow with practice.
Plus:
a 140+ page eBook with exercises, practice pages, reflection prompts and a Creative Check-in to track your growth
video lessons where you watch exactly how my hand moves in those first light, loose lines
a curated collection of free reference photos for every wild being, in multiple poses
lifetime access, so you can start any time and come back whenever you need
ALL YOU NEED
A sketchbook (or even some printer paper)
+
A pencil. Any sort.
That’s it. Truly.
I demonstrate the whole course with a cheap supermarket sketchbook and ordinary graphite pencils. The supplies are not what makes the magic, that, dear one, comes from you.
Oh hello, I’m Natalie, a wildlife artist and creative guide on Australia’s east coast.
I’ve been drawing wildlife for over a decade, mostly inside sketchbooks (I am currently working in more than, ahem, thirty), and teaching others to do the same for nearly as long.
I didn’t start out knowing how.
I learned the way you will: one light, loose, wobbly line at a time, plus lots of loving practice. Wild Beginnings is everything I wish someone had shown me at the very start.
About Natalie
TAKE YOUR TIME.
A note on pace…
Take your time. There’s no behind, no keeping up, no falling behind. There is only the pace of you and your humanity.
Fifteen minutes most days, or an hour or two a week, is wonderful - small, steady sessions are where the real growth happens.
This should feel like a coming home for you, not an exam you have to cram for.
Frequently asked questions
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Absolutely not! This class is specifically made for beginners. If you can hold a pencil and have access to paper, this class is for your wild heart
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It’s completely self-paced, with lifetime access. Many people work through it over a few weeks with an hour or two a week, but there’s no timeline. Go at your own pace, and come back to it whenever you like.
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Wild Beginnings is the foundation: seeing, shape and form, with only a little detail. Drawn to Wild builds on that across more than 55 wild beings, adding the light, texture and detail that bring them fully to life. If you’re brand new or unsure, start here. If you’re already comfortable getting the basic shape of an animal down, or wanting to jump in and try, Drawn to Wild may be your place.
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No need! Wild Beginnings is already included in your Hedgerow tutorial library - you have access as long as you are a Hedgerow member.
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The videos and eBook are best on a laptop, desktop or large tablet.
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Certainly! If you could also credit me as inspiring your creation, and tag me so that I can cheer you on, that would be wonderful!
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The nature of this course means that all content is accessible immediately. While I wouldn’t want you to be unhappy, I cannot offer a refund on these courses. Contact me so we can chat about how to support you best.
