The Simple Guide to Drawing Realistic Cat Optics

colored pencil cat eyes

Permit's exist real: you can brand the most gorgeous kitty drawing, but if you don't go the eyes simply right, the whole thing tin await a bit off. Don't be a scaredy cat — perfecting feline eyes is easy if yous know how to tackle the task.

Cat Optics

Level: Like shooting fish in a barrel

What You Demand

  • Paper
  • 2B pencil
  • 4B pencil
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Reference photo

    • Instructions

    ane. Know the Anatomy

    Essentially, a cat's centre has the same anatomy as a man's: each eyeball sits back in the skull and is partially covered by the eyelids. So, just as you would when cartoon a human head, sketch out the placement of features using guidelines kickoff.

    To place the eyes, split up the face up in half vertically and horizontally. The eyes should proceed a horizontal line halfway between the peak of the caput and the center horizontal guide. Use the center vertical line to space the eyes apart. Usually, the altitude between the cat's eyes is the equivalent of ane eye — again, simply like a human.

    2. Sketch the Basic Shape

    sketch of cat eyes

    Now start cartoon the eyes. Call back to utilise light pencil strokes; you'll erase some of these marks equally your drawing progresses.

    Begin with a circle, then turn your attention to the shape of the eyelids and how each covers the eyeball. The upper eyelid considerably covers the eye, while the lower hat curves around it (refer to the left eye in the paradigm in a higher place).

    The inside corner of the eye is normally lower than the outside corner. You lot can depict more horizontal guidelines to brand sure these corners are aligned. When your lids are sketched, erase the excess circles to a higher place the top eyelids.

    3. Draw the Details

    Start blocking in the details — this is when it'south super important to pay shut attention to your reference photograph. Draw the cat's pupils (these tin range from skinny capsule-shaped lines to big, round, black circles) and lightly sketch in any highlights.

    Pro Tip: When the bones features are in identify, rotate your drawing upside down to cheque for mistakes. Bad-mannered or uneven shapes get much more than noticeable from this POV. Prepare them earlier you starting time shading.

    four. Shade the Eyes

    shading cat eyes

    When yous're happy with the bones sketch, begin shading with a 4B graphite pencil and a kneaded eraser. Start by shading the pupil, and then add together a shadow many get-go-time cat eye artistes might not think about: a cast shadow from the upper eyelid. It may exist subtle, but this detail adds so much realism to your drawing. Information technology's really the key to making the staring cat eyes expect lifelike and appealing and not like a zombie cat staring into your soul.

    When you're done with the heart itself, shade in the tones along the lesser lid using dark, soft strokes. Make sure to shade forth the curvature of the hat then you don't lose the roundness of the eye. Shade around the top eyelid equally well. Then apply your kneaded eraser to lift areas of the within corners to add details with soft light. Don't forget to define the highlights and reflections in your cat's eye with the eraser as well!

    Check your drawing against the reference photograph and make whatsoever necessary adjustments earlier moving on.

    five. Shade the Surrounding Fur

    shading fur around cat eyes

    Successfully shading the eyes is just the kickoff! You need that soft, fuzzy surrounding fur to consummate the upshot. Work with these special strokes to get the well-nigh realistic depiction.

    Pay attention to the length, color and direction of the fur. Work slowly and keep the management of your strokes consistent with what you see in your reference photo. Alternate between using your pencil and kneaded eraser to reach the values and details. When you're satisfied with your progress, keep building and sketch in the unabridged face up. Purrrfect!

    Expert to Know: The rules for sketching true cat eyes are the same, no matter your medium. Things only differ when it comes to shading or adding color. Watch the our class Pet Portraits in Colored Pencil for a detailed footstep-by-step!