7/16/2020
How to draw a cat with graphite pencils - step by step tutorial
In this tutorial I will show you how to draw a cute kitten in 9 steps!
Media: I used Koh-I-Noor 1500 (yellow) pencils, 4B to 8B; kneaded rubber, pencil eraser (Koh-I-Noor Era)
Paper: white bristol, with slight texture, size A4 (approx. 8 x 10 in)
Optional: Daler Rowney Perfix Fixative spray - to protect the finished drawing Photo reference: Clipart Library, personal use
http://clipart-library.com/clip-art/persian-cat-silhouette-4.htm
Step 1: Sketching the shape
Let's define how much space will the drawing take, and make a sketch.
I took a pencil and measured the head on the photograph. I realised that it takes almost 3 heights of head to fill the sillhouette, just look at the scan.
Mark the fur - study the reference and look how it is arranged, it's curly and shorter closer to the head. In the middle of the photographed kitten it looks longer and fluffy.
When you draw eyes, ears - keep them in one line to avoid the situations like one eye is placed higher ;)
Step 2: Drawing an eye
Fill the eye with 4B pencil, do not press the pencil too much to the paper. Try to get a smooth and delicate look. Mark the iris and leave a white spot (the blink). You can use pencil eraser (or kneaded eraser) to make the bottom part of the pupil a little bit lighter. Darken the upper side of the pupil, you can use softer pencil like 6B - we want to achieve the shadow that comes from the eyelid. Take the 8B pencil and create a dark outline, just as shown in the scan. Start working on the short fur around the finished eye - notice that it is darker near the eye. You can use pencil eraser to create short white shiny hair.
Step 3: Creating the second eye and working on head fur
Follow the instruction from step 2 and draw the second eye the same way. Draw short hair on kitten's ear and head, using the pencil eraser from time to time. Mark the nose, draw light fur around it. Use softer pencil (7-8 B) to create darker parts, slightly increase pressing the lead to the paper.
Step 4: Drawing the second ear and the rest of the head
You can use softer pencil like 6B to fill the whole ear. Then create the darker outline. Draw the rest of the head, lighter parts first, then press the lead harder and create darker hair. Use pencil eraser to make white hair on the ear.
Step 5: Creating longer and fluffy hair
Use 4B pencil to make the first layer - apply the graphite in a delicate and steady way. Then mark darker wavy hair here and there. Use pencil (or kneaded) eraser to add some lighter fur and single hair. Now we have the impression that the fur shines in some parts :)
Step 6: Working on the fur
Let's continue and draw the back of the kitty using the same method as described above. First, a smooth and light layer, then darken groups of hair and finally adding some light by erasing.
Step 7: Drawing the paws
Start filling the front and back paw - look at the reference and observe how the fur waves. Use the same way to apply graphite as before in steps 5 and 6.
Step 8: Still working on the paws
Continue working on the paws. You can see this step looks a bit darker. I just applied more 8B graphite on the head, around it and at the back. I used a lot of the pencil eraser - to create long, white curly hair.
Step 9: Finishing the drawing
We are slowly finishing our kitten. All we have to do is to finish these lovely paws, with its wavy and soft fur. Mark the tail behind the cat and a delicate soft shadow under it. We must add some whiskers. That can be done by erasing the graphite with fine tip pencil eraser. Now when the drawing is finished you can spray it with a special fixative for pencils. That will protect the artwork from smudging.
* It is forbidden to copy this article (and drawings included in it) without the author's permission.
