Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Leopard" 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 leopard's body. The circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. Don't place the circles too far apart, otherwise your leopard will end up too long.
Step 2: Draw another circle on the right side as a guide for the leopard's head. The circle should be about half the size of the first.
Step 3: Draw two curved, intersecting lines inside the head to help you draw the leopard's facial features later on.
Step 4: Draw a circle on the lower half of the leopard's head as a guide for the muzzle.
Step 5: Draw two small arcs on top of the head as guides for the leopard's ears.
Step 6: Draw a series of curved lines that connect the major shapes to form the leopard's body.
Step 7: Draw four lines under the leopard's body as guides for the legs. Don't draw the lines too long, and bend them to indicate where this big cat's leg joints will be.
Step 8: Draw a long, curved line on the left side as a guide for the leopard's tail.
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 9: Lightly sketch the leopard's eyes inside the head using the lines as guides for placement. Darken the outline for the eyes once you get the placement and shape right. The shape of the eyes should be similar to little footballs. Add a couple of small lines inside the shapes for the actual eyeballs. Draw a tiny dot in the middle of each eye for the leopard's pupils. Shade in the rest of the eyes or the irises. Leave a tiny circle unshaded to represent the glare in the eyes. When shading, use a value that's lighter than the pupils. Add some detail by drawing some quick, short strokes around the leopard's eyes for a furry look.
Step 10: Draw the leopard's nose inside the muzzle by first lightly drawing a triangle. Follow the basic path of the triangle as you darken the lines and make them curvier. Draw a curved line on the left side for the nostril and a small line at the bottom of the nose. Shade in the nostril and the side of the nose.
Step 11: Use the small circle as a guide to draw the rest of the leopard's muzzle. Draw a line under the nose that splits into two and curves up for the mouth. Darken the line and make it thicker for the lower lip. Follow the basic path of the initial circle as you darken the line and create the side of the leopard's muzzle. Draw the chin under the mouth, and use quick, short strokes to get a fuzzy look.
Step 12: Use the arcs on the head as guides to draw the leopard's ears. Darken the lines of the arc but make them a bit thinner. Add a few quick, short strokes for the fur inside the leopard's ears.
Step 13: Use the original circle as a guide to draw the rest of the leopard's head. Follow the basic path of the circle as you darken the lines and shape the head. On the right side, draw the line closer to the eye and nose to create the side of the face. Add a few small lines using quick, short strokes within this big cat's face for a furry texture. Add the powerful jaw by drawing a curved line on the lower left side using quick, short strokes.
Step 14: Use the lines on the right side as guides to draw the leopard's front legs and feet. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg on the left as you follow the basic path of the line. Bend the shape a little for the joints. When you get the structure right, darken the lines. Add a couple of curved lines at the bottom for the toes. Use the other line as a guide to draw the leg on the other side stepping forward. Follow the path of the guide as you lightly sketch the shape of the leopard's leg. Darken the lines when you get the structure right. Draw a couple of curved lines at the tip for the toes. Bend the foot down to show that the big cat is stepping forward.
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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