Similarities between fairy tales and legends. What is the difference between a tale and a fairy tale?

Profile siamese cat, 9B pencil (super soft), on Robert A. Sloan paper.
Completed demo drawing.
Model – Siamese cat Aristophanes Mrs. Sloan.

Drawing a Siamese cat in profile. General instructions.

When you draw a cat from life, it is very important to choose a moment when the cat is sitting still and relaxed. Try not to do it yourself sudden movements. Look at the cat carefully, make a sketch, look at the cat again, try to remember everything in detail, because the cat may move and you will not have such a chance.

That's why it's so important to get your first draft done. Those few moments before the sketch may be your only chance to catch the cat in the desired pose. Cats are very cunning creatures: they will lie or sit still until you look at them, and then immediately begin to wash themselves, yawn or roll over. Your cat is laughing, laughing at you.

Ari (Aristophanes) is a very bad model. If he notices that I am drawing him, he immediately begins to make faces. So if you notice your cat staring at something interesting, like children playing, quickly sketch it out before she realizes what you're doing. This time Ari was very well behaved and posed the whole time while I was drawing.

And I want to thank him for this rare opportunity.

If your cat is not willing to sit still for long enough, photograph quickly and suddenly before she starts to move. You can even use a phone camera. A whole series of pictures will make your task easier. However, it is still better to draw from life. To do this, you need to train your memory in order to remember the cat and its pose within 30 seconds, and then be able to reproduce it on paper. Although sometimes - by chance - you come across masterpiece photographs where the cat turns out to be surprisingly elegant and graceful.

So let's start with the first step - sketching. Don't waste a lot of time. Look at the cat as a collection of geometric shapes, draw a sketch. My cat is a Siamese, so I will teach you how to draw the profile of a Siamese cat.

1. Sketch.

First stage. Sketch.
Please note that the head is not a perfect circle.

Most likely, you are already familiar with this method. It is described in almost all the drawing books that I have. Its essence is to, at the beginning of the work, reduce all the variety of shapes of your model to the simplest shapes (circle, oval, triangle), avoiding details for now. It is important to maintain the proportions of these simple shapes in relation to each other.

There are many reasons why this method is the most successful.

One of these reasons: if you draw something wrong, it is easier to correct it. Well, imagine you drew an ear, drew all the details, spent time, and then discovered that it was too big or too small, or just in the wrong place. It is much easier and faster to erase the triangle of the ear. It will take you a few seconds to make a sketch if you don't think or hesitate. You can try several times.

Try to make such sketches of your cat from nature, from a photograph. Try copying my sketch.

The ears are on the top rather than on the sides of the head. The muzzle is short and clear. A cat's eyes are much larger in relation to the face than human eyes are in relation to the face. Remember this.

I even suggest that you don’t erase the excess, but place another piece of paper under your drawing. And then draw along the lines pressed from the first drawing.

The more often you practice sketching, the better your drawings will become.

2. Drawing a sketch

Second phase. Drawing contour lines.

At this stage, our drawing already looks a little like the profile of a cat.

While I was drawing the details, Ari sat motionless the entire time. And I am very grateful to my grandchildren, who played loudly in the hallway and captured his attention.

Draw visible eye on the face. Please note that this is not an oval. The profile of a cat's eye is very similar to that of human eye, except that there is no visible squirrel. Siamese cats have blue eyes and black and white drawing they are white and only the pupil is shaded.

The profile is very clear, drawn with a soft convex line. Cats do not have a forehead compared to a human face. The profile has a slight bend, which should preferably be at eye level, not lower than the lower eyelids. The tips of the nose and chin form a straight line.

The ears are practically cones, not triangles. It is important to correctly draw the lines where the ear connects to the head, otherwise the ear will look glued on, unrealistic. If you have a photo, carefully study how exactly the ear connects to the head.

In my drawing, the ears and eyes are turned in the same direction.

I used a 9B super soft graphite pencil, you can use any. But remember that it is easier to shade with a softer pencil.

Copy this sketch several times, try to draw the details in different ways. Don't forget to look at the cat.

3. Hatching the mask and ears of the Siamese cat

Third stage. Hatching of the mask and ears of a Siamese cat.

I carefully shaded the muzzle in the direction of the fur. It is very important to hatch exactly in the direction of the fur, otherwise you risk getting something ugly and shaggy.

On the cat's forehead, I made several layers using vertical short strokes to create a dark mask. I shaded the ears in the same way. On the muzzle I used shorter strokes going from the nose to the side and down.

Pay attention to the area between the cat's ears and eyebrows. This is where the mask ends and the hair is so sparse that you can easily see the skin. Capturing this feature emphasizes the realism of your drawing.

The size of the mask depends on the age and color of your Siamese cat. The shape of the mask may vary individually for each cat. Take a close look at your cat, or draw the same mask as my Ari.

4. The finishing touch

Siamese cat, profile.
Robert A. Sloan

Ari's whiskers (whiskers) are actually white, but if you are drawing on a white background, it is better to draw them black. It is very difficult to draw white vibrissae on a black background with a pencil.

The eyebrows of a cat are drawn in the same way. Draw curves springing from the muzzle. The same vibrissae are also found near the neck and ears: look at your cat in great detail.

I don’t know if other cats have it, but my Ari definitely has the same hairs on his paws and wrists. I think they help him get toys from under the sofa.

I shaded the front paw heavily, leaving some white between the toes. The thing is that Ari has white tufts of hair between her fingers. The fur on the cat's paws flows smoothly down, on the shoulders - at a slight angle, on the back of the head and neck - at an acute angle.

Always drawing an animal, hatch in the direction of the fur.

Draw the fur schematically, do not try to draw every hair. 3-4 vibrissae in the picture may well pass for one or two dozen in reality.

I hope you enjoyed my lesson. Be sure to try it with your cat. Ari sends you purr greetings and inspiration!

Along with dogs, cats are one of the most popular pets. Even a two-year-old child knows what a cat looks like and will probably want to draw it.

With simple step-by-step instructions this will be very easy to do. Any beginning artist can handle some of them.

You can draw a picture with your child in a realistic or cartoon style.

It all depends on your imagination and your baby’s ability to draw. Start with simple lessons, and then proceed to more complex ones.

For drawing, it is better to use a simple pencil so that you can later erase unnecessary auxiliary lines. This way your drawing will turn out neat.

If you want to create a girl cat, draw her long eyelashes. They will make your look more open.

The kitten's head is ready, all that remains is to modify the body a little. On each of the paws we draw fingers, erasing all the extra lines. Notice how the toes on the left paw overlap each other slightly. You can draw claws on each of your fingers.
We complete the picture by erasing unnecessary lines and drawing out the details more carefully. We color the kitten with colored pencils, felt-tip pens or paints.

Sitting cat in profile

Draw the line of the ear and the front of the head as shown in the figure.
Draw a smooth curved line at the back of the head.
Sketch the cat's back using two curved lines of different lengths. The small one will be the cat’s neck, and the large one will be the cat’s back. The line ends where the tail begins.

We draw the lower part of the animal’s muzzle, using a curved line to indicate the chest. Draw an arc - it will become the cat’s back paw.
We complete the outline of the front and rear legs.
Add a tail, draw a triangular eye and a second ear peeking out from behind the first.
Apply shadows with a simple pencil as shown in the picture. Adding shadows will give the painting a more realistic look.

Realistic cat

We mark the outline of the animal's body. Draw a circle for the head and divide it in half with a line. A little lower and a little to the left we draw a circle of larger diameter. Draw a curved line to it as shown in the figure.
We draw the outline of the cat’s face and add triangular ears to the head. Add two small ovals at the bottom of the head, connecting them below with a curved line. This way we will designate the cat's nose and mouth.
In the lower part of the body, draw two small ovals (front legs) and a long rectangle (tail).
We draw the details of the face: we make almond-shaped eyes, draw a nose and muzzle. Using small strokes we make the cat fluffy. Add eyebrows and mustache using longer strokes.
We draw the cat's front legs, her tail and claws. Don't forget to add small touches that will make the cat look fluffy.
Using strokes of various lengths we complete the picture. Erase the extra details and color the cat.

We sketch the figure of a cat: draw a small circle and a large oval intersecting it. They will become the head and body of the animal.
We outline the main details of the face: the circle of the muzzle and the triangles of the ears. To make it easier to maintain proportions, we divide the circles in half with several lines.
Using several circles and ovals we outline the hips, tail and paws of the cat.
On the muzzle we draw two circles for the eyes and a triangle for the face.
The sketch is almost ready, let's start detailing it. Using strokes we create fluffy cat fur, erase extra lines and add color. Color the cat the way you like.

Standing cat in profile

Draw a circle for the animal’s head, a rectangle for the body. Inside the rectangle we place an oval extending beyond its borders. It will help us define the cat's hips. Draw an arc to the part of the rectangle that is located closer to the head.
To the animal’s head we add the main facial features: ears and muzzle. Draw a triangular eye and nose.
Using ovals different sizes create a sketch of the cat's front, hind legs and hips. At the back we draw a curved line indicating the tail.
We connect all these lines and apply strokes to create an imitation of the fluffy fur of a cat.
Erase the extra lines and add additional details. Our cat can be tabby or spotted. Using colored pencils, felt-tip pens or wax crayons, we add brightness and color to the drawing.

We have a graceful and beautiful cat!

Cats rule the Internet! I have no doubt that one day they will completely take control of our lives. To prepare for this day, you need to get to know the enemy better. By drawing a cat, you will understand what they are really made of. So take a pencil - I'll show you!

If you need samples, you can find a lot of cat photos on Envato Market. Make sure you don't get distracted by their excessive cuteness, come back to this guide!

1. Cat skeletal structure

Step 1

Studying the skeletal structure is the first step in creating a realistic pose. Bones support muscles, and the joints between them determine the range of motion.

Step 2

Luckily, you don't have to remember the exact shape of the bones. It is enough to know their length and how they connect to each other. The good news is that most four-legged animals have the same bone structure, with the only differences being the length and spacing between them. Remember this once and you can use this knowledge for the rest of your life!

Remember the skeleton as a group of ovals (joints, skull, rib cage, hips) and lines (bones, spine). If you remember this structure, you can easily draw each pose.

Step 3

Another thing to remember is that each joint has a certain range of motion. If you go beyond this limit, the animal will look "broken". For better understanding Take a close look at this running animation. When running, a cat uses its full range of motion, so you can see how natural it looks.

What to pay attention to:

The jump begins; the hind legs push off the ground.
While the hind legs move away, the front legs move forward.
When the legs push off the ground, the body part they are attached to remains at their default level. The other one can rise up.
Note that the hind leg bones never form a straight line, even when fully extended.
She's flying! The legs do not touch the ground, the body is completely stretched.
The front legs prepare to land as far as possible.
Now the legs are fully stretched and again - no straight line.
Again, notice the difference in levels.
Landing completed; the hind legs will now try to land at the same point.
Pay attention to this point; she always moves, pulling her chest along with her.
The direction of the tail tip depends on the position of the hips.
When all paws are on the ground, front and back are at the same level.

Step 4

You can say "I don't need this, I feel the desired pose." Yes, it is possible, but there are several mistakes that many people make out of ignorance.

This is a very popular interpretation of the animal skeleton. It comes from a confusion of hind and front legs. They are not the same! Compare your arms and legs.

This pose isn't completely wrong - it's perfect for cartoons where characters use their legs as propellers. But in the real world, the hind legs can bend almost 120 degrees (like cheetahs). Also, the cat will try to keep its head in one position when running, otherwise it's some kind of rabid zombie cat (look at the animation again).

This skeleton is interesting! His bones are adapted exclusively to the shape of his hips. The problem is that the shape of the hips is not only made by bones - it is mainly muscles, and this fact should not be overlooked. The first pose has the front leg bent and the back leg in a sitting position. Small cats eat in this position, but their chest does not touch the ground.

Another problem comes from the cat's strange habits. They walk with a “walking” gait - first they put two legs on one side, then two legs on the other. Many people won't notice this mistake, but it's still a mistake! Fortunately, cats adopt a "diagonal" stride when they accelerate.

Step 5

After you've learned everything about posing, make your sketch.