Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Kitten (Head Detail)" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

 

Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

 

Written step-by-step video tutorial:

 

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

 

Step 1: Draw a big circle in the middle of the paper as a guide for the kitten's head. To draw the circle, first make four small marks to indicate the height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. The farther apart the marks are, the bigger the circle will be. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make mistake. If you're having a hard time drawing the circle, trace the outer rim of a bowl, a lid or any other object with a circular edge.

 

Step 2: Draw a long, curved horizontal line across the circle to help you place the kitten's facial features later. The line should be lower than the middle. Draw a long vertical construction line too. The vertical line should be closer to the right edge of the circle.

 

Step 3: Draw a smaller circle on the lower half of the head as a guide for the muzzle. Use the same technique as before. Use four marks for the height and width, and curved lines to connect the marks. Pay attention to this circle's size and placement in relation to the rest of the kitten's head.

 

Step 4: Draw two big triangle-like shapes on the head as a guide for the kitten's ears. Each ear guide is basically made up of two slightly curved lines that meet at a point at the tip. Pay attention to the size and placement of these guides on the head.

 

That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.

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Step 5: Draw two small circles inside the head for the eyes. Place the kitten's eyes on top of the horizontal line and on either side of the vertical line. If you're having trouble drawing these smaller circles, trace the edge of a coin. Sketch lightly at first, and then darken the lines when you get the shapes right. Pay attention to the distance between the eyes and the construction lines, head and muzzle. Add a dark pointy tip on either side of each circle for the corners of the eyes.

 

Step 6: Draw a curved line around each eye for extra detail on the fur. These curved lines should be made up of short strokes for a fur- like texture. Don't draw these lines too far away from the eyes; they should be close to the edges. On the inner edge of each eye, draw a couple of lines that slope down toward the kitten's muzzle.

 

Step 7: Draw a small oval inside each eye for the kitten's pupils. You can also draw thin slits for the pupils or a big circle for dilated pupils. Shade in the pupils using a dark value. On the side of each pupil, draw a tiny circle to represent glare.

 

Step 8: Lightly sketch a small triangle inside the muzzle for the kitten's nose. Draw the triangle right on top of the vertical construction line, close to the top of the muzzle. When you get the shape and placement of the nose right, darken the lines. Darken the sides of the triangle but make the lines thicker and curve them inward to create the nostrils. Darken the bottom of the triangle and add a short vertical line at the tip. Use a series of tiny strokes to darken the furry top part of the nose. Draw a series of short strokes above the nose that lead up to the eyes.

 

Step 9: Draw the kitten's mouth under the nose using a series of lines. Draw a series of short strokes under the nose that curve to the left to form the first part of the mouth. Now draw the other half of the mouth using short strokes that curve to the right. Now use the initial circle as a guide to draw the rest of the muzzle. Draw short strokes along the bottom and sides of the circle to form the chin and sides of the muzzle. The sides of the kitten's muzzle should be on the outside of the initial circle. Draw a series of dashes and dots above the mouth for the base of the whiskers.

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Step 10: Use the triangle-like shape on the top, left side of the head as a guide to draw the kitten's first ear. Darken the initial guide but make the lines curvier and the top more round. The bottom of the ear should stretch inside the head. Add a few lines on the left for structure. Add a series of strokes along the bottom and right side of the ear for fur. The fur inside the ears is long, so make these strokes long.

 

Step 11: Use the triangle on the top, right side of the head as a guide to draw the other ear the same way. Darken the path of the guide but make the shape curvier and more round. Draw a series of long strokes within the shape for a fur- like texture. Add a few curved lines on the right side of the kitten's ear for structure.

 

Step 12: Use the main circle as a guide to draw the rest of the kitten's head. Draw a series of short strokes along the top edge of the circle to create the furry head. Draw short strokes along the sides of the initial circle to create the sides of the head. Draw the strokes farther out from the circle to make the shape of the head wider. The longer you make these strokes, the shaggier the fur will be. Draw the right side of the face the same way. The bottom of the head should curve up toward the chin.

 

Step 13: 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 some shading to your kitten drawing for extra detail. Leave the tiny glare circles blank. As you shade the eyes, use strokes that radiate outward from the pupil to convey the irises. For the irises, use a value that's darker than the pupils at the top and a light value at the bottom. Add a medium value to a thin section surrounding the kitten's eyes. Use a dark value at the bottom of the nose and gradually make it lighter toward the top. Use a dark value inside the ears. Use long strokes to represent the fur in front of the shadow.

You can stop here for a white kitten or continue adding value for a tabby kitten. A tabby pattern consists of stripes of different sizes and values. Use four values for a tabby pattern: light, medium, dark, and white (or blank/no value). Use a medium value for the bridge of the nose. Most of the head will also use a medium value. Don't add the value too smoothly. Use many individual strokes to cover the entire head.

Separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more fur-like texture. This process is slow and will take a very long time. Be patient and take breaks. The strokes on the kitten's head should be a medium value except for a darker M-shaped set of stripes in the middle. Notice that there's also a blank area around the eyes for the white fur.

The strokes on the head should radiate outward from the middle. That means the strokes will have a vertical orientation at the top and gradually turn horizontal on the sides. The darker value on the head goes down to the eyes, and everything below that is lighter. Throughout the process of adding value, add it lightly at first, and then build up to the level of darkness you like. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. The value around the kitten's muzzle and cheeks should be very light.

Continue to add the value all over the head until you're happy with the result. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. If you have a pet kitten or cat, try to duplicate its fur pattern on your drawing. Add a few long strokes to the muzzle for whiskers. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace.

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To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

 

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