How to Draw Cats- Faces / Heads

Now that I've got the dog site up and running, I thought it would be fun to cover something totally opposite to dogs: cats! This week is cat week. I'm going to cover how to draw cat heads/faces, paws, and bodies, then wrap the week up with a best of cat art post.

If you haven't taken a look at my "How to Draw Animals" post, you might want to. I also made some how to draw cats video tutorials. You may find some helpful tips in those that you can apply to your cat drawings.

How to Draw Cat Faces/Heads Tutorial

Art Type: Traditional or Digital
I'm Using: Photoshop CS4 and an Intuos 4

I used references to guide these drawings. I suggest using references as well, especially if you're drawing an animal that you haven't practiced with much, or if you want a realistic style.

You can click the images below to see them larger.


How to Draw a Cat Face/Head- Front View

1. Draw an oval (ovals are more accurate representations of cat skulls than circles).
2. Draw the guide lines. The inside edges of the eyes connect to the inside edges of the ears.
3. Either half erase your guide drawing, or draw on a new layer if working digitally. Add oval eyes with a bit of a slant near the inside corners. Don't forget the tear ducts.
4. Add the nose and muzzle. Lines on the side of the muzzle help keep it from looking flat.
5. Add the ears.
6. Add the fur and details like the brow ridges and shading on the eyes. Erase the guide drawing. You can add whiskers if you want, but they are not necessary and can make your drawing look more cluttered if done wrong.

How to Draw a Cat Face/Head- Side View

1. Draw an oval.
2. Add the guide lines. The inside edge of the eye connects to the inside edge of the ear. Don't make the muzzle too long or it will look like a dog.
3. Either half erase your guide drawing, or draw on a new layer if working digitally. Add the eye and tear duct.
4. Add the muzzle. Let it transition gracefully into the forehead, giving the cat a smooth profile.
5. Add the ears. Notice how the other ear is offset due to perspective.
6. Add the fur and details like the brow ridges and shading on the eyes.  Erase the guide drawing.

How to Draw a Cat Face/Head- 3/4 View

1. Draw an oval. 
2. Add the guide lines. At this angle, it is very important to get the horizontal and vertical guide lines right, or your cat may not wind up at the angle you want. The inside edges of the eyes connect to the inside edges of the ears.
3. Add the eyes and draw in the side of the face. You can't see the tear duct on the right eye due to the angle.
4. Add the muzzle. Keep a square shape in mind as you draw it. This will make it wind up looking properly 3-dimensional.
5. Add the ears. Notice the detail on the inner edge of the left ear (your right as you face it). This adds to the realism and is one of the cool shapes you can find in reference photos.
6. Add the fur and details like the brow ridges and shading on the eyes.  Erase the guide drawing.

I hope this was helpful! Tomorrow I'll cover how to draw cat paws.