Step 15: Now use the lines on the left as guides to draw the hind legs using the same technique. Remember to sketch the leg lightly at first and only darken the lines when you get the structure right. The hind legs should bend more at the joints than the front legs. The legs should be far apart for a wide stride because the leopard is walking forward.

Step 16: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the big cat's body and tail. Follow the guides as you darken the lines. Add a few quick, short strokes near the bottom for a furry texture. Make the leopard's tail thicker as you follow the curved line on the left.

Step 17 (optional): For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step (optional): Something's missing. The spots! Add the distinct leopard pattern all over the body. The markings on the face are basically spots of different sizes. Add a big splotch around the mouth. The spots should get smaller the closer they are to the center of the face. The spots get bigger near the back. Near the middle of the body, the spots arrange into clumps that form pseudo circles called rosettes. Adding the rosettes can be VERY time-consuming. So be patient, take breaks and do small sections at a time. Melanistic leopards have a dark coat instead of rosettes and are called black panthers. Add a single dark value to the entire body for a blank panther and an easier drawing.

You can add more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. Use different values as you shade to give the drawing more dimension and volume. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Consider the light source as you shade so that the shadows remain consistent throughout the big cat's body.

And finally, add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the leopard so it doesn't appear to be floating. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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