How to Draw Cats: A Step-by-Step Guide for Complete Beginners
How to Draw Cats: A Beginner's Guide
Have you ever wanted to draw a cat that looks just like your favorite feline friend? Drawing cats can be super fun and easy, even if you've never drawn before! In this guide, we'll show you how to start with simple shapes, use pictures to help you get it just right, and practice drawing cats from different angles. By the end of this, you'll be a cat-drawing master!
Having fun with simple shapes
We want to start this journey with some simple shapes. So first up is we will be drawing a simple box and once you have it down draw another but make it look a bit like a loaf of bread with the top curving!
Nice! Let's try it with some simple cylinders next! We can draw the simple cylinder but give it a bend somewhere! Imagine you are playing with play-doh!
Let's continue exploring shapes by really pushing the box-like shape into something unique! You can add lines across the shape to begin to give it a sense of form!
Notice when we add those lines across the form it begins to look 3D! For those with a keen eye you will notice this is called contour manipulation!
Tracing with Simple Form!
Okay okay, you are really ready to jump into drawing cats! You got some shapes under your belt. Now it's time to find a cat reference that you really like! Drop the opacity down and we are gonna trace simple shapes on top of it!
Whoah! It's coming together! Now we have what we call a mannequin of a cat. That is a cat that is simplified down to its basic structure!
Challenge! Flex your Imagination!
Now that you have an idea how a cat is broken down into its simplest form, it's time to practice drawing it again but from imagination! We practice this by rotating it in a different angle than our tracing!
If it's helpful you can keep the previous drawing in front of you as you begin to rotate! This can be challenging so you should take your time! There is no need to rush. Remember to enjoy the process!
Gesture! Let's Loosen up Again!
I know, you think I am crazy! You added all that structure into your drawings only to throw it out again! Well this is part of the process! We have to get that gesture back into the drawing which brings it to life.
Very loose! Follow the flow of the cat! Use a few different references. Loosen up, set a timer! No more than 3 minutes. Capture the flow!
Gesture + Structure! Let's bring it together.
Now that we have the shapes and simple form in mind and the general flow and gesture of a cat we can bring these two together! Using a reference you will draw the loose gesture then add the general structure on top! Keep it loose. Remember if it's a struggle then you are learning!
For an added challenge you should rotate the cat and redraw it in the same manner! Now you have 2 cats! Repeat this process again and again to develop those Feline skills!
Wrapping Up
Wow! You've learned so much about drawing cats! Remember, it all starts with simple shapes like boxes and cylinders. Then, you traced a cat to get the basic form. After that, you used your imagination to draw cats from different angles. Finally, you learned about gesture drawing to make your cats look alive and full of energy.
Keep practicing these steps, and soon you'll be drawing amazing cats in no time! Don't forget to have fun and be proud of your progress. Your cat drawings will get better and better with each try! If you want to gain experience and complete fun and challenging puzzles click the button below to
