The Story Behind
Pugs are one of the world’s oldest companion dogs, with origins tracing back over two thousand years to ancient China. They were highly prized by emperors and lived as pampered palace pets. In the 16th century, Dutch traders brought them to Europe, where they quickly became favorites of royal families.
The breed is instantly recognizable: a round head, large dark eyes, deep facial wrinkles, and a tightly curled tail. Despite their small size, pugs are sturdy and full of character. They are playful, affectionate, and known for their comical expressions, which make them a joy to watch and sketch.
A Word from Alex
As a proud pug owner, I truly believe this is the best breed. For me, the greatest advantage is their kindness and the almost complete absence of aggression. Of course, every dog is unique, but most people genuinely adore pugs. And with their distinctive little faces, they’re also really fun to draw. Give it a try!
Drawing & Coloring Tips
I really enjoy drawing simple images like this on my tablet with the Apple Pencil. They seem easy to draw, but try to get all the shapes this clean on the first try in real life! Especially if you, like me, aren’t a professional artist—it’s quite difficult. On a tablet, you can redraw and correct endlessly. It’s not as fun as a quick, messy sketch, but sometimes you do want to create a beautiful, neat drawing rather than a loose one.
If you draw traditionally (on paper), get some liners of different thicknesses. You can start by applying light contours with a pencil and then trace them with the liners. And don’t be shy about “cheating”: to get the eyes perfectly round, just trace a coin or a bottle cap.
When it comes to coloring, there are two main approaches:
- The “Loose” Style: The colors bleed and mix imperfectly, barely touching the contours, or even spilling outside them. The main thing here is not to overdo the color saturation. It’s better for the finished piece to be paler and lighter than too dark and overworked.
- The Neat Style: Try to accurately stay within the contours. This takes longer because you have to wait for one wash to dry before adding the next layer. But the result will be a much cleaner, tidier drawing, which I think is better for this kind of line art.
If you are just starting with watercolor, a small tip: first, dampen the area you are going to color with plain water, and then simply drop the paint onto the wet area. This allows you to stay fairly precise within the boundaries, even with “unruly” watercolor. My wife doesn’t like watercolor—she says it doesn’t obey her. But I say it’s the perfect blend of control and spontaneity!
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