How to Draw an Animal

Finished cat drawing with clean outlines, fur details, and pencil shading

In this step-by-step tutorial, we will show you how to draw an animal. Here we’ve combined all aspects of drawing animals in a cat style, but all the skills learned can be applied to a completely different animal.

This is a simple tutorial that will help you draw this beautiful animal.

How to draw an animal step by step

Step 1: Sketch the basic shapes

First, draw the outlines of the head and torso. Pay attention to the sizes of these two shapes and their placement on the paper.

Sketching the cat’s head and torso with simple rounded outlines

Step 2: Draw the neck and legs

Connect the outlines of the head and torso by drawing the neck. After that, sketch small triangular ears and long, flowing front legs.

Drawing the cat’s neck, ears, and front legs

Step 3: Add the tail

Refine the back of the torso, then add a long, flowing tail and graceful curved hind legs. Avoid making the shapes too large.

Adding the cat’s long tail and hind legs

Step 4: Refine the cat’s face

The drawing already looks like a cat, right? Continue by drawing the cat’s face. Add the inner parts of the ears and outline the nose and mouth.

Refining the cat’s ears, nose, and mouth

Step 5: Add facial details

Draw the nose and mouth using simple triangular shapes. Finish the face by adding the whiskers and a small patch of fur in front of the ear.

Adding the cat’s whiskers and facial details

Step 6: Refine the front legs

Now refine the area below the head. Draw smooth outlines of the front legs. One line continues the neck, while the other crosses the outline of the torso.

Refining the cat’s front legs with smooth contours

Step 7: Refine the hind legs

Repeat the previous process for the cat’s hind legs. Refine the smooth contours of the back and abdomen.

Refining the cat’s hind legs, back, and abdomen

Step 8: Refine the tail

We are almost finished. Add a few smooth lines to refine the outline of the cat’s tail.

Refining the cat’s long curved tail with smooth lines

Step 9: Add light shading

Determine the location of the light source and add shadows using light, single-layer hatching.

Adding light pencil shading across the cat’s body

Step 10: Finish the cat drawing

If you followed the steps correctly, your cat should look similar to this. If you notice any major differences, go back to the necessary step and correct them.

Completed cat drawing with refined outlines and realistic shading

This drawing tutorial is complete. If you have any suggestions or requests, be sure to leave them in the comments below. Your feedback helps us choose the best topics for future drawing tutorials.

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