Cat Sketches



Cat sketches capturing the character of the domestic cat in two drawing tutorials.

This is a free drawing lesson on how to draw a cat.

You can use any weight cartridge paper and a HB pencil.

1. Start with an oval.

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2. Draw in an eye line and a centre line. The centre line will show us where to site the nose and the middle of the mouth.

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3. The eyes are two ovals. They are set at different angles. Getting this right is essential so always take your time over this.

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4. Nose, mouth and indicate the shoulders. Sketch in the ears which are quite large as this is a young animal.

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5. Draw in the eyes over the ovals. They are circles within circles. Also show the lids arching over the eyes.

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6. Define the eyes more if necessary. Add to the nose and mouth. Use lines down the shoulder to give an impression of fur.

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7. Add lines to the face and ears. The lines must follow the natural direction of the fur.

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8. Blunt the tip of your pencil by rubbing it on scrap paper. Add tone with it. Build up with short gentle lines and then go over in a circular motion filling the paper grain.

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9. Use overlapping lines to add tone to the face.

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10. Continue until happy.

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Cat Sketches 2

Here we will try to capture a playful moment when a cat reaches up to take hold of its owner's foot.

1. A quick oval for the head.

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2. These two curving lines are almost vase shaped. We will place the body here.

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3. Two visible legs.

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4. Start to sketch in features. Here we have the ears and eyes and folds of fur on the body.

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5. Begin the foot.

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6. The curve of the heel.

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7. Trousers.

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8. Use parallel lines to add tone to the cat.

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9. Now we can add detail to the cat. I use loose lines to sketch in the ears, eyes and so on. I show the other paw reaching up to the foot.

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10. I continue down the body sketching in markings and folds, all very simple.

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11. I go over the same ground, strengthening the markings and features.

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12. I add shading to the foot and trouser leg. All very loose. Note the folds in the cloth.

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A simple but effective little sketch taking a very short time.

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