How to Draw a Cat (Bengal)
Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Cat (Bengal)" 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 circle as a guide for the front part of the Bengal cat's body. First draw four small marks to indicate the height and width of the circle, then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make mistake. But the circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. If you're having a hard time drawing the circle, trace the outer rim of a coin, a lid or any other object with a circular edge.
Step 2: Draw another circle to the right as a guide for the second half of the Bengal cat's body. Draw this circle the same way. Mark the height and the width, then connect the marks using curved lines. Leave a space between the circles. The circle on the right should be a bit smaller than the one on the left.
Step 3: Draw another circle on the top, left side as a guide for the head. Bengals have small heads in relation to their bodies, so don't draw this circle too big. The edges of the two circles should almost touch. If you draw the head too high up, the cat's neck will be too long.
Step 4: Draw a curved, horizontal line across the head to help you add the Bengal cat's facial features later. Add a curved vertical line on the top, left side of the head for another construction line.
Step 5: Draw a small circle on the lower left side of the head as a guide for the muzzle. Pay attention to the size and placement of this small circle in relation to the rest of the Bengal's head.
Step 6: On top of the cat's head, draw two small, triangle-like shapes as guides for the ears. Bengals have pretty big ears, so don't draw these guides too small.
Step 7: Under the big circle on the left, draw two long, vertical lines as guides for the Bengal's front legs. Bend the lines at the tip to indicate where the cat's feet will be.
Step 8: Under the circle on the right, draw two angled lines as guides for the Bengal cat's hind legs. Bend the lines near the middle to indicate the joints and at the bottom for the feet.
Step 9: Draw two lines that connect the head to the body to create the guide for the cat's neck. Draw two longer lines that connect the bigger circles to complete the guide for the body. Draw a long, curved line on the top, right side of the body as a guide for the Bengal's tail.
That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.
Step 10: Lightly sketch the eyeballs inside the head as two small circles. Use the initial lines as guides for size and placement of the eyes. When you get the size and placement right, darken the lines. The eye on the right should be a bit bigger because of the perspective of the turned head. Make the edges darker and add a pointy tip at the bottom of each eye to create the corners of the eyes. The corners of the Bengal cat's eyes should point down toward the muzzle.
Step 11: Inside each eye, off to the side, draw a tiny circle to represent glare. In the middle of each eye, draw a thin slit for the pupils. You can also draw a big circle if you want your cat's pupils to be dilated. Shade in the rest of the eyeballs to give the irises some value. As you shade, use a value that's lighter than the pupils. Be careful when you shade so that you don't overlap the small glare circle. You can make the top part slightly darker for a gradual transition of the value of the Bengal's irises.
Step 12: Inside the muzzle, near the top, lightly sketch a triangle for the Bengal cat's nose. Pay attention to the size and placement of the nose in relation to the eyes. When you get the size and shape right, darken the lines. Use a wavy line for the top part. As you darken the sides, curve them inward a bit to create the nostrils. Add a short line at the top of the nose on either side for extra detail. Draw a small line near the eye on the left for the bridge of the cat's nose.
Step 13: Add the cat's muzzle by first drawing a small line under the nose. Now continue drawing the line toward the right to create the right side of the mouth. Add the other side of the mouth by drawing a line toward the left. Curve the line upward along the edge of the initial circle to form the side of the Bengal's muzzle. Draw the lines using a series of quick, short strokes for a fur-like texture. Draw a curved line made up of short strokes under the mouth for the chin. Use the initial circle as a guide for the curvature of the chin.
Step 14: Darken the triangle-like shape on the right to create the Bengal cat's first ear. Add a few curved shapes to give the ear structure. Use long strokes inside too for the fur found there.
Step 15: Use the shape on the left as a guide to draw the cat's other ear the same way. First darken the initial shape but make it a bit thinner. Then add longer lines inside the ear for structure and fur.
Step 16: Use the initial circles as guides to draw the rest of the cat's head. Use quick, short strokes for the fur as you follow the path of the initial circle. Bengal cats have short fur, so don't draw these strokes too long. When you add the bottom edge of the head, draw it higher up than the initial circle. Add some strokes below the ear as well for the side of the head.
Step 17: Use the second line from the left as a guide to draw the first front leg. Follow the guide and lightly sketch the shape of the leg around it. When you get the shape of the leg right, darken the lines. Use quick, short strokes mainly along the right edge of the leg for the fur. Use a couple of curved lines at the tips of the Bengal cat's paws for the individual toes.
Step 18: Use the line on the far left side as a guide to draw the second front leg the same way. First sketch the shape of the leg lightly around the guide. Then, when you get the shape right, darken the lines. Don't forget the Bengal's toes at the bottom.
Step 19: Use the line on the far right side as a guide to draw the Bengal cat's hind leg that's on this side of the body. Sketch lightly at first. When you get the structure right, darken the lines. Notice how much wider the top of the hind leg is compared to the front leg. Also make sure you bend the leg near the middle for the joint.
Step 20: Use the last line under the body as a guide to draw the other hind leg the same way. This leg should bend farther forward than the other hind leg. The top part of this leg will be behind the Bengal's body and other leg, so don't worry about drawing it.
Step 21: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the cat's body. Simply darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the body. Bengal cats' backs dip down a bit, so make sure you curve the line at the top. Use quick, short strokes along the underside and back portion of the body for the fur.
Step 22: Use the curved line on the top, right side as a guide to draw the Bengal cat's tail. Follow the path of the guide as you draw the shape of the tail around it. Use short strokes along the path to create a fur-like texture.
Step 23: 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 Bengal cat drawing to give it the distinctive Bengal coat pattern. Using a dark value, add some thin stripes on the forehead and on the cheeks. You can also skip this step entirely if you simply want a plain white cat. Continue drawing the thin stripes along the body using a dark value. The stripes near the middle of the body come together to form oval-like rosettes. The feet are covered in smaller spots.
As you draw the rosettes, use strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. The rosettes shouldn't be perfect; use distorted shapes. Add a few small spots inside them too. Gradually turn the rosettes into thick stripes toward the Bengal's tail and into spots toward the feet. Now use a medium value to shade the inside section of the rosettes. If your values are too similar, go back and darken the outside section of the rosettes.
Now use a light value on the rest of the Bengal cat's body. Leave the muzzle, chest and section around the eyes blank. You should use a dark value for the rosettes, a medium value for the inside of the rosettes and a light value for the body. Shading can be very time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks.
Add a few shadows throughout the cat's body to give the cat more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.
Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the cat so it doesn't appear to be floating.
If you have a pet Bengal or a similar cat breed, try to duplicate its coat pattern on your drawing. Add some whiskers to the muzzle. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace.
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