Contents
1. Gather Your Drawing Tools
- Choose a Sketchbook
- Pick Your Pencils
- Select an Eraser
2. Understand Basic Cat Anatomy
- Study Cat Shapes
- Learn Cat Facial Features
- Observe Cat Body Structure
3. Start with Simple Shapes
- Draw the Head
- Sketch the Body
- Outline the Tail
4. Add Details to Your Cat
- Draw the Eyes
- Sketch the Nose and Mouth
- Add the Ears and Whiskers
5. Finalize Your Drawing
- Erase Guide Lines
- Add Texture and Shading
- Sign and Date Your Work
Creating easy drawings of cats can be a fun, relaxing, and fulfilling pastime. It all begins with a few basic tools, a bit of understanding of feline anatomy, and the willingness to let creativity flow. This easy step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of creating your own cute cat drawings, perfect for both beginners and those looking to refine their skills.
Before diving into the world of cat illustrations, you'll need to gather a few essential tools. Having the right equipment at your disposal will make the drawing process smoother and more enjoyable.
Choose a Sketchbook
First things first: your canvas. A sketchbook is a personal choice and largely depends on your preferred drawing style. If you're a fan of detailed penciling, consider a sketchbook with medium to heavy-weight paper. This will withstand erasing and shading without tearing. Brands like Moleskine, Strathmore, and Canson offer sketchbooks of varying sizes and paper weights.
Pick Your Pencils
Next, you'll need pencils. For easy drawings of cats, a range of graphite pencils would be ideal. Soft graphite (like B or 2B) is great for sketching and creating shadows, while harder graphite (like H or 2H) is perfect for fine details. Brands such as Faber-Castell and Staedtler provide quality graphite pencils.
Select an Eraser
Lastly, don't forget an eraser. It's a handy tool for correcting mistakes and creating highlights in your drawing. A kneaded eraser is a versatile choice as it can be shaped to erase small areas without affecting the rest of the drawing. Prismacolor and Faber-Castell are known for their high-quality kneaded erasers.
With your sketchbook, pencils, and eraser in hand, you're ready to start exploring the art of easy drawings of cats. The next step? Understanding basic feline anatomy. But we'll save that for the next section.
2. Understand Basic Cat Anatomy
Before you begin your cat sketch, it's important to understand the basic anatomy of a cat. This will help you create more accurate and realistic drawings. Don't worry, you don't need a biology degree for this, just a few pointers to get you started.
Study Cat Shapes
Cats, in essence, are a series of interconnected shapes. The head is typically oval, the body is a larger oval, and the tail can be represented by a long, thin rectangle. Begin by observing photos of cats or your own pet if you have one. Notice how these shapes come together to form a cat. It's like a real-life jigsaw puzzle, isn't it?
Learn Cat Facial Features
Now, let's move on to the face. Cat eyes are almond-shaped and slightly tilted. The nose is a small, inverted triangle, while the mouth is a smaller triangle below the nose. Ears are triangular too, but with a slight curve on one side. And don't forget those cute whiskers! They're just straight lines extending from either side of the mouth. Remember, it's these features that give a cat its distinct and lovable look.
Observe Cat Body Structure
Lastly, pay attention to the cat's body structure. Cats have a flexible spine, so their bodies can arch or curve depending on their mood or posture. Their legs are slender, and their paws are small and round. Their tails are long and can either be straight or curled depending on the breed. Observing these details will help you capture the grace and agility of a cat in your drawings.
Alright, now that you've got a basic understanding of cat anatomy, you're ready to start sketching. This is where the real fun begins — creating your own easy drawings of cats!
3. Start with Simple Shapes
Now that we've explored the basic anatomy, let's start creating your own easy drawings of cats. We begin with simple shapes, breaking down the complex form of a cat into basic geometric figures.
Draw the Head
Start by drawing an oval for the head. It doesn't have to be perfect — remember, this is just a guide. The beauty of drawing is that you can always adjust as you progress. The top of the oval will be where the ears will be placed, while the bottom will serve as the chin of our feline friend.
Sketch the Body
Next, draw a larger oval connected to the head. This will represent the cat's body. Think of it as a bean shape or a potato. The size and shape of this oval will determine whether your cat is chubby, slim, long, or short. Don't be afraid to experiment with different shapes until you find the one that fits your vision of a cute cat.
Outline the Tail
Finally, draw a long, thin rectangle starting from the back of the oval. This is the tail. Depending on the pose you want for your cat, the tail can be straight, curved, or even coiled! Remember, the tail is an important part of a cat's body language, so think about what you want your drawing to express.
And there you have it — the basic outline of your cat is done! See, easy drawings of cats aren't that hard, right? Now, let's add some details to bring our sketch to life.
4. Add Details to Your Cat
Now that we have the basic shape of the cat, it's time to make it look more cat-like. This is where we add the special details that transform our simple shapes into a recognizable kitty. In this part of our easy drawings of cats guide, we'll focus on the face and the ears.
Draw the Eyes
To draw the eyes, think of two ovals slightly tilted inwards. Cats have unique eyes that are larger and more almond-shaped compared to other animals. Don't forget to add the pupils — small circles that you can fill in with your pencil. The position of the pupils can change the expression of your cat. Experiment with different positions to see what you like best.
Sketch the Nose and Mouth
The nose of a cat is a small, inverted triangle placed in the middle of the face, just below the eyes. From the corners of the triangle, draw two curved lines meeting in a point below the nose — this forms the cat's mouth. Cats often have a serene expression, but feel free to play with the shape of the mouth to give your cat a smile or a smirk.
Add the Ears and Whiskers
The ears are two triangles sitting on top of the head. Remember to add a smaller triangle inside each ear to represent the inner ear. And of course, no cat drawing would be complete without whiskers. Draw three or four straight lines on each side of the face, and voila — your cat now has whiskers!
With these details, our simple shapes start to look a lot like a cute cat. But we're not done yet! Next, we'll finalize the drawing and add the finishing touches.
5. Finalize Your Drawing
It's time to put the finishing touches on our easy drawings of cats. This is where our cute cat really comes to life. We'll add texture, erase any extra lines, and finally, sign our masterpiece.
Erase Guide Lines
The first step in finalizing your drawing is to erase the guide lines. These are the initial shapes we sketched to help form the cat. Now that we have the actual shape and details of the cat, we no longer need these guides. So, grab your eraser and gently remove these lines, being careful not to erase any parts of your cat.
Add Texture and Shading
Now let's add some depth to our drawing. Adding texture and shading can make your cat look more realistic. Texture can be added to the fur by drawing small, quick strokes that mimic the direction of the fur growth. Shading can be achieved by lightly filling in areas where shadows would naturally fall, such as under the chin and inside the ears. Remember, less is more when it comes to shading — you don't want to overdo it.
Sign and Date Your Work
Finally, don't forget to sign your work. This is your masterpiece, after all! In the bottom right corner, you can put your initials and the date. This way, as you continue to practice and improve, you'll be able to see how much you've progressed over time.
And there you have it — an easy step-by-step guide to drawing cute cats! Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be discouraged if your first few drawings don't turn out exactly how you want them to. Keep trying, and soon you'll be creating all kinds of easy drawings of cats. Happy drawing!
If you enjoyed learning how to draw cute cats, take your skills to the next level by exploring the workshop 'Basic Animal Anatomy for Artists' by Viktoria. This workshop will provide you with a strong foundation in animal anatomy, helping you create even more realistic and captivating drawings of your favorite furry friends.
