Step 7: Darken the outer edge of the initial circle using short strokes to create the shape of the cheetah's head. Don't close off the shape on the right side to emphasize the connection of the head to the body. Draw a thin, curved shape from the eye on the right to the edge of the mouth for the tear-like marking. Shade in the marking. The bottom of the tear should be wider than the top. Add the tear on the left as well but make the shape thinner because the head is turned.

Step 8: Use the second line from the right that's under the body as a guide to draw the cheetah's front leg. First lightly sketch the shape of the leg around the guide. The overall shape of the leg should be thin but the top should be slightly wider. Use short strokes to create a furry texture. Inside each foot, draw a couple of short, curved lines to separate the toes. On the tip of each toe, draw a tiny, triangular shape for the claws.

Step 9: Use the line to the right as a guide to draw the cheetah's other front leg the same way. Draw the leg around the guide line and keep the shape thin. At the bottom, draw a curved line to separate the toes and add the claws at the tips of the tows. Draw the hind foot using the horizontal line to the left as a guide. The foot is resting, so it will be long. Draw a curved line above the foot for the folded leg. Add the toes and nails on the front of the foot.

Step 10: Darken the outer edges of the remaining guides to finalize the shape of the cheetah's body. Don't overlap the shapes of the legs as you darken the underside of the body. Draw the tail around the guide line on the bottom, left side. Use a series of short strokes as you darken the shapes to create a furry texture.

Step 11: 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 you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step: Add the distinctive spotted pattern all over the cheetah's body. Draw each spot as a circle and shade it in using a dark value. The spots don't have to be perfect circles. Make the spots thinner along the sides to conform the figure. Don't add spots to the muzzle, chest or underside. Shade the rest of the body using a light value. Don't worry about overlapping the spots as you add the coat's value. Add a very light value for the white fur on the under side of the body. Use a medium value all over the boy to create shadows. Pick a light source as you shade so that the shadows are consistent across the body. Here the light source is coming from the top so most of the shadows will be on the underside of the shapes. Shade lightly at first and gradually build up to darker values. For light values, push down very lightly on your pencil and push down harder for darker values. As you shade, use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Add a cast shadow at the bottom using a medium value. It's a good idea to use reference as you shade for a more accurate depiction of a sitting cheetah. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

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