Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Tasmanian Tiger" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

 

 

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

 

Step 1: Draw two circles as guides for the Tasmanian tiger's body. The circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. The circles should be about the same size. Leave enough room on the sides for the head and tail. Tasmanian tigers have long torsos, so don't draw the two circles too close together.

 

Step 2: Draw another circle on the right side as a guide for the Tasmanian tiger's head. This circle should be about half the size of the first two and should be placed higher.

 

Step 3: Draw two intersecting lines inside the Tasmanian tiger's head. These lines will help you place the facial features later on.

 

Step 4: Draw a small arc on the lower right side of the head as a guide for the Tasmanian tiger's muzzle.

 

Step 5: Draw a smaller, narrower arc on the top of the head as guides for the Tasmanian tiger's ears.

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Step 6: Draw four lines under the Tasmanian tiger's body (two below each circle) as guides for the legs. Tasmanian tigers didn't have very long legs, so don't draw the lines too long. Bend the lines to indicate where the joints in the legs will be.

 

Step 7: Draw a series of lines that connect the major shapes as a guide for the rest of the Tasmanian tiger's body and tail. Tasmanian tigers had long tails, so draw a long line as a guide for the tail.

 

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.

 

Step 8: Draw the eye inside the Tasmanian tiger's head on the upper right side. The shape of the eye is similar to a less-than sign (<). Add a small circle inside for the eyeball and shade it in except for a tiny circle to represent glare. Shade the rest of the eye too. Add a few lines around the eye for extra detail.

 

Step 9: Draw the Tasmanian tiger's nose by darkening the tip of the initial arc shape. Add a few lines on the left side for the fur and a big dot for the nostril.

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Step 10: Darken the arc on the head but make the line curvier to create the shape of the Tasmanian tiger's ear. Add a few lines within the shape for the ear's inner structure and fur. Draw a smaller arc to the right for the ear on the other side.

 

Step 11: Use the initial arc as a guide to draw the Tasmanian tiger's muzzle. Darken the top edge of the arc and add a line near the middle for the mouth. Use quick, short strokes to represent fur. Darken the bottom edge of the arc for the Tasmanian tiger's lower jaw and chin.

 

Step 12: Use the initial circle as a guide to draw the rest of the Tasmanian tiger's head. Make the top part of the head a little more flat. Add a few quick, short strokes inside the head for a furry texture.

 

Step 13: Use the lines on the right as a guides to draw the front legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg as you follow the basic path of the guide. When you get the structure of the leg right, darken the lines. Use the line to the right as a guide to draw the front leg on the other side the same way. Sketch the shape of the leg lightly at first and only darken the lines when you have the structure right.

 

Step 14: Now use the lines on the left side as guides to draw the Tasmanian tiger's hind legs. Remember to follow the basic path of the guide as you lightly sketch the shape of the leg. Use a couple of the small curved lines at the bottom for the toes. Use the line to the right as a guide to draw the hind leg on the other side the same way. The hind legs should be a bit thicker at the top and should bend more than the front legs.

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Step 15: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the body. Simply follow the path of the guides and darken the lines to create the Tasmanian tiger's body.

 

Step 16: Use the line on the left as a guide to draw the Tasmanian tiger's tail. Follow the basic path of the guide but make the base of the tail thicker as you darken the lines.

 

Step 17 (optional): Erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines for a cleaner look. 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): Add some shading to your Tasmanian tiger drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Add the value lightly at first, then gradually build up to the level of darkness that you want. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get a different degrees of tonal value.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the Tasmanian tiger so it doesn't appear to be floating.

You can add even more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. Add the value by using strokes that go in the general direction of the Tasmanian tiger's fur. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Using a darker value, add the distinctive Thylacine stripes. The stripes are located mainly on the back, and they get smaller closer to the front. Don't forget to pause the "How to Draw a Tasmanian Tiger" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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