Drawing on the theme of Mumu and Gerasim step by step with a pencil

Literary scholars claim that Turgenev's story about Gerasim and Mumu was based on real events that took place in the writer's mother's house. The prototype of Gerasim was a serf named Andrei and his dog, who was really called Mumu. This fact is of interest to new readers of the work, as well as to experienced and novice artists. Draw an illustration on the topic You can follow the instructions provided later in the article to tell the story.

What you need for drawing

To draw a three-dimensional and beautiful illustration, 1 simple pencil is not enough. You will need a whole set, which will contain tools with graphite of varying degrees of hardness.

The hardness of a pencil lead is indicated by letters on the top tip of the tool:

Pencil hardness ratings	Letter designation	Line characteristics	How to use
Very hard	From 4H to 9H, or from 4T to 8T	Faint, barely noticeable lines.	For shading the light parts of the drawing.
Solid	From 3H to N, or from 3T to T	Slightly richer than the lines from very hard pencils.	To create a sketch, processing transitions between dark and light tones.
Hard-soft (medium)	HB, TM or F	The lines are medium tone, not too bright, but not pale either.	For drawing small details and shading individual parts of the drawing.
Soft	From B to 5B, or from M to M4	Dark lines that are easy to shade.	For drawing small details and highlighting dark areas of the drawing.
Very soft	From 6V to 9ххВ, or from M5 to M9	Deep black lines.	Outlining the drawing, highlighting rich shadows.

What paper can be used for drawing with pencils:

• album sheets;
• sketchbook pages;
• printer paper;
• whatman;
• drawing paper;
• writing sheets.

The surface of the paper should be white and smooth. On brown sheets, the drawing will look pale. On paper with a rough surface, for example, on watercolor, it will be more difficult to shade the lines. You will also need a high-quality eraser for the work. A double-sided rubber eraser is a great option for a beginner artist. It does not smear the graphite on the paper.

The soft side of such an eraser removes marks from soft pencils well, and the rougher tip quickly erases lines from hard pencils. All tools should be sharpened. To avoid debris on the table, you can buy a sharpener with a removable container in which wood shavings will be collected.

To shade the lines, you need cotton swabs and cotton buds. Experienced artists do not recommend shading graphite with your fingers, because the drawing will look untidy.

Gerasim saved Mumu

A drawing on the theme of Mumu and Gerasim should reflect the key moments of the work. This picture shows Gerasim, who has just saved a drowning puppy. This is how he met his pet and decided to adopt her.

How to make such a drawing:

1. Place a sheet of A4 paper vertically on the table.
2. Use a hard pencil to make a sketch. On the right side of the sheet, schematically depict Gerasim's head. Draw in the shoulders and arms.
3. Draw the shape of the hairstyle and headdress.
4. Draw a little puppy in Gerasim's hands.
5. In the background, closer to the top of the sheet, depict the river bank, a church and 1-2 houses.
6. Outline Gerasim's facial features.
7. Draw large strands of hair.
8. Draw ripples on the water in the form of short horizontal lines.
9. Use an eraser to erase extra lines.
10. Using a hard-soft pencil, draw smaller strands of Gerasim's hair.
11. Draw his facial features more clearly. Add an ear.
12. Draw the puppy's eyes and nose.
13. Draw the depressions and folds of skin on Gerasim’s hands.
14. Use a soft pencil to highlight the shadows on the man's face, as well as on his hair and hands.
15. Draw stubble on the face.
16. Draw the dog's ears and highlight the tufts of fur on the muzzle.
17. Trace around the outline of the house in the background of the drawing.
18. Paint the windows.
19. Shade the top of the drawing (sky) using long lines.
20. Highlight the ripples on the water.
21. Shade Gerasim's hat and jacket with a very soft pencil. Leave the top of the jacket collar unpainted, as well as the seam on the sleeve and the edge where the fasteners are located.
22. Highlight the shadows under Gerasim's hair.
23. Shade the shore. The shading should be very dense, without gaps.
24. Carefully shade these lines, as well as the shading on the man's headdress.

Using a very hard pencil, draw a few strokes above Gerasim's eyebrows, and also highlight the shadows on the hair. Use a cotton swab to blend these lines.

Mumu drinks milk

A drawing on the theme of Mumu and Gerasim can display a man's warm attitude towards his pet. The writer I.S. Turgenev in his story described Gerasim's affection for the puppy drinking milk from a bowl for the first time. Mumu could not drink like adult dogs, she lowered her muzzle into the bowl, sneezed and slurped. Gerasim laughed, stroking her. This is the scene captured in the picture above.

How to draw such an illustration:

1. Using a hard pencil, draw Gerasim's head.
2. Mark the edge of the bed.
3. Draw broad shoulders.
4. Use lines to indicate the position of the man's body and limbs.
5. Draw the shape of the shirt and pants.
6. Finish drawing the hands.
7. Sketch the shape of the hairstyle and add facial hair.
8. Draw the face and ear.
9. Finish drawing the bed.
10. Closer to Gerasim's leg, depict a round bowl and a puppy drinking from it.
11. Draw folds on the blanket.
12. Draw a table in the background.
13. Draw a kerosene lamp on the table.
14. Draw the boards on the floor and wall with thin lines.
15. Use an eraser to remove excess lines.
16. Using a very hard pencil, without pressing, densely shade all the details of the drawing, including objects in the background.
17. Blend all lines.
18. Using a hard-soft pencil, draw the gaps between all the boards.
19. Draw the boards on the tabletop.
20. Highlight the folds of fabric on the man's clothing and also draw a dot pattern on the shirt.
21. Draw the folds on the blanket more clearly.
22. Paint the lamp supply.
23. Use the eraser to highlight the light areas on the blanket and also show the highlights on the lamp stand.
24. Draw the bowl more clearly. Draw waves on the milk.
25. Draw fur on the dog.
26. Use a soft pencil to darken the upper parts of Gerasim's trousers.
27. Trace the outline of Gerasim's shirt. Blend the strokes with a cotton swab.
28. Draw the man's facial features.
29. Without pressing on the pencil, highlight the shadows on his face.
30. Highlight the shadows on the folds of the blanket.
31. Using a very soft pencil, highlight the shadow on the top of the lamp.
32. Draw the hair on the head and face.
33. Highlight the shadow under the bowl and the dog.

Use a thin line to outline the contours of Gerasim's clothes. Use an eraser to highlight the area where the light from the kerosene lamp spreads.

Mumu and Gerasim in the yard

On the theme of "Mumu and Gerasim", you can make a drawing in which the man will be depicted playing with a dog, in a secluded place in the lady's yard, sitting on a block. In the background, you can draw tools that speak of Gerasim's occupation in the master's house.

How to draw a picture like this:

1. Place a sheet of A4 paper horizontally on the table.
2. Using a hard pencil, draw the outline of a wooden block.
3. At the top of the sheet, draw Gerasim’s oval head.
4. Mark the position of the man's neck, torso and limbs.
5. Schematically draw the clothes.
6. Finish drawing the high boots and hands.
7. Draw the shape of the hairstyle and beard.
8. Mark the position of the nose.
9. Draw a silhouette of a dog. It stands on its hind legs. The front legs are raised.
10. Draw the shape of Mumu's fur more clearly.
11. In the lower left corner, draw a plant. In the right corner of the sheet, draw tools leaning against the wall.
12. Use thin lines to mark the boards from which the wall is made.
13. Use an eraser to erase extra lines.
14. Use a hard-soft pencil to draw the folds of fabric on the man's clothes. Shade the lines.
15. Draw individual strands of hair and beard. Blend the lines again.
16. Highlight the shadows on the dog's head and body. Blend the strokes.
17. Paint the leaves of the plant.
18. Shade tools. Blend lines.
19. Without pressing, paint the wall boards. The lines should be long and horizontal. Lightly shade the strokes.
20. Use a soft pencil to highlight the shadows on Gerasim's clothes, as well as on the block. Highlight the large folds of fabric on the clothes.
21. Show shadows under the leaves of the plant.
22. Draw Mumu's fur.
23. Outline the tools. Draw the twigs on the broom. Highlight the shadows on the shovel handles.
24. Shade Gerasim's boots.
25. Draw the bark on a wooden block.
26. Select large strands of hair on the man's head.
27. Darken the lower part of the beard.
28. Draw facial features.
29. Using a very soft pencil, outline all the elements of the drawing along the contour. Lightly shade the lines using cotton swabs.

Highlight the folds on the boots, and also draw large strands of Gerasim's hair and tufts of fur on Mumu's body. Draw the man's facial features more clearly.

Gerasim ponders the lady's order

The drawing on the theme of Mumu and Gerasim can illustrate how difficult it was for Gerasim to accept the order of the mistress. She wanted to get rid of Mumu. In Turgenev's story, a man with a dog entered a tavern, where he bought cabbage soup with meat for his pet and fed her before carrying out the order of the mistress.

How to draw such an illustration:

1. Using a hard pencil, mark 4 points. These will be the corners of the table where Gerasim sits.
2. Connect the dots with straight lines.
3. Finish drawing the tablecloth and table legs.
4. Draw a chair standing in the background.
5. Add a chair for Gerasim to sit on.
6. Outline the position of the man's torso. In order to avoid drawing the exact anatomical proportions of the body, you can depict Gerasim dressed in a voluminous cloak.
7. Finish drawing the head.
8. Add sleeves, draw legs and shoes.
9. Draw the hands.
10. Draw a silhouette of a dog in front of the table.
11. Draw the bowl.
12. In the background, mark the corner of the wall with a thin vertical line. Schematically draw the tile on the right side of the wall.
13. Draw the shape of the man's hairstyle.
14. Highlight facial features.
15. Draw a headdress on the table.
16. Use a hard-soft pencil to draw Mumu's fur.
17. Highlight the shadows on Gerasim's hands. Draw his beard.
18. Draw a belt on the cloak and shade it.
19. Paint the hair on a man's head.
20. Shade the wall behind Gerasim. The strokes should be applied diagonally. Slightly shade the lines.
21. Without pressing down on the pencil, shade the remaining part of the wall using diagonal strokes.
22. Shade the floor of the tavern.
23. Highlight the shadows on the tablecloth. Mark the folds of the fabric.
24. Use a soft pencil to mark the corner of the wall. Draw the tile.
25. Shade the chairs.
26. Highlight the shadow on Gerasim's hair.
27. Shade his clothes and shoes.
28. Draw dark spots on the dog's body. Draw its eyes and nose. Make the tail a little more voluminous by adding a few smooth lines.
29. Highlight the shadow under the table. Blend the lines.
30. Draw Gerasim's facial features.
31. Without pressing down on the pencil, shade the contents of the bowl.
32. Use a very soft pencil to highlight the shadows on the chairs.
33. Draw the folds of fabric on the man's clothes.
34. Paint the headdress.
35. Highlight the shadow under the beard and hair.
36. Draw a shadow under the dog.
37. Paint the far legs of the table.
38. Highlight the shadow under the man's hand, as well as the shadow falling on his clothes from the table.

Use an eraser to lighten the upper parts of Gerasim's sleeves, as well as highlights on his hair, headdress, and the edge of the dog bowl.

Gerasim says goodbye to Mumu

A drawing on the theme of Mumu and Gerasim can illustrate the farewell of the owner and pet. Gerasim decided to fulfill the order of the lady, so he took 2 heavy bricks and headed to the Crimean ford, got into a boat with Mumu and sailed far from the shore. Before tying the stones to the dog, he said goodbye to her.

How to draw an illustration of this scene:

1. Using a hard pencil, sketch out the sides of the boat.
2. Draw the crossbars inside the boat.
3. Draw boards and the top edge on the sides.
4. Draw Gerasim's oval head.
5. Use thin lines to outline the position of the man's body. Mark the position of the arms and legs.
6. Schematically depict voluminous clothing.
7. Draw large folds of fabric on the clothes.
8. Draw the hands.
9. Draw a silhouette of a dog between Gerasim's hands. Draw the tail and ears.
10. Depict the shape of a man's hairstyle.
11. Finish drawing the beard.
12. Outline the facial features.
13. Finish drawing the oar handles and the grooves into which they are inserted.
14. Draw a smooth horizon line in the background.
15. In the upper right corner of the picture, draw a dry tree.
16. Draw clouds in the sky.
17. Shade the boat and oars. Blend the strokes.
18. Use a hard-soft pencil to outline the drawing.
19. Draw strands of hair on Gerasim's head.
20. Shade Mumu's body and head. Blend the strokes.
21. Paint over the water. Blend the strokes.
22. Highlight the shadows on Gerasim's clothes.
23. Show the shadow on the end of the board where Mumu sits. Highlight the shadow from Gerasim's hands.
24. Finish drawing the bricks lying on the board.
25. Use an eraser to erase extra lines.
26. Show shadow on bricks.
27. Shade the sky. Blend the strokes.
28. Use a soft pencil to draw Mumu's fur.
29. Shade the tree trunk and branches. Blend the strokes.
30. On the water, highlight the shadow from the tree. Blend the strokes.
31. Shade the large folds of fabric on Gerasim's clothes.
32. Darken his pants.
33. Draw the rope that ties the bricks.
34. Draw stubble on the man's face.
35. Highlight the shadow under the eyebrows.
36. Clearly draw facial features.
37. Paint the lower part of the cloud. Carefully shade the strokes.
38. Pressing the pencil a little harder, draw silhouettes of birds in the sky. Color them completely.
39. Use a very soft pencil to draw the tree bark and small branches.
40. Highlight the shadow on the side of the boat.
41. Show the shadow on the dog's fur.
42. Darken the area where Gerasim's jacket covers his pants.
43. Draw ripples on the water.
44. Select the horizon line. Feather the strokes.

Sharpen the pencil. Use very thin lines to outline the boat, Gerasim's clothes, and his hair. Draw Mumu's large tufts of fur more clearly.

Tips for Beginning Artists

To make a drawing done with simple pencils look beautiful, you need to know a few secrets:

• In order not to rub the graphite with your hand, you need to protect the already drawn part of the picture with a clean sheet of paper. The sheet under your hand should not move while drawing, otherwise the drawing will still smear. Only your hand should move.
• If the sketch does not work out after 2-3 attempts, it is better to take a new sheet. Strong abrasions from the eraser will be visible after shading the pencil. As a result, the drawing will be dirty.
• Pencil drawings should be stored in file folders. Without protection, the graphite from the picture can crumble and stain other works.
• To prevent the finished drawing from getting your hands dirty, you need to spray it with hairspray with a strong hold. Hold the spray can at a distance of about 30 cm from the sheet. Do not wet the drawing, otherwise the paper will deform. It is enough to spray it lightly and leave until completely dry.

Even beginning artists can draw an illustration based on Turgenev's story about Gerasim and Mumu. The main thing is to have all the necessary tools at hand, as well as choose a plot for the future drawing that can reflect one of the key moments of the work.

Video about the drawing on the theme of Mumu and Gerasim

How to draw Gerasim: