Cats make perfect subjects for pencil art. They are expressive playful and full of character which makes them great fun to draw. This is a small selection of my favourite cat drawings all created using nothing more than pencils, and paper, oh and patience of course.
Every drawing is based on a real cat and every one has a story behind it. If you want to know I go about contructing and composing my drawings using my own photos, you’ll find this interesting.
I never get bored of drawing cats and I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed drawing them.
Let’s start with this one.
‘On The Prowl’ A Pencil Drawing of a White Kitten
The Story Behind This White Kitten Drawing
I am an opportunist when it comes to reference photos. You never know what might turn up. Even the most ordinary moments can suddenly become something worth capturing.
I was having lunch with a friend in a small restaurant in Thailand when this kitten and it’s siblings, started darting between the tables. I grabbed my camera and caught this onebehind the leg of a chair. I wiggled my fingers on the ground and I got this reaction.
Love it. It struck me as a fun and quirky composition and I knew right away it had potential.
I’m pleased with how this one turned out. Not just because the balance feels right but because I think I managed something close to impossible. I actually drew a kitten tastefully.
My Original (Appalling) Photo Reference of the Kitten
This is the original photo I took in Thailand years ago using an old film camera. It is not a great photo by any stretch. The exposure is patchy with harsh sunlight and deep shadows which blew out the whites and crushed the detail in the darks.
The composition is clumsy and unbalanced and the cat is dead centre with far too much space around the edges. To top it off the kitten is blurred.
Talk about making work for yourself.
That knew the moment itself had potential. I could see something in it and how I could work with it.
What I imagined was a tighter more dramatic composition with a much more detail in the shadows. I cropped right in and pulled the cat off centre to make a more interesting shape and used the lines of the chair to frame the scene.
I redrew the fur to give it clarity and sharpness and I brought out the whiskers and eyes to add a sense of focus and life.
And yes I added the tail. It looked odd without it and I figured no one would ever know. Well now you do.
‘Sitting Pretty’ A Pencil Drawing of a Siamese Cat
The Story Behind This Cat Looking Up Illustration
I met this cat in a beachside guesthouse on the island of Koh Si Chang in Thailand. She was the house cat and had the unmistakable look of a Siamese even if she wasn’t a purebred. A local cat through and through.
She was sitting patiently beside my chair, eyes locked on my dinner and making it very clear she expected her cut. To be fair, emotionally, she had me over a barrel. She was heavily pregnant and I caved in to the pressure. It’s the eyes.
My Cat Reference Photo Taken at the Table
This is the original photo I used for ‘Sitting Pretty‘. You can see the core of the drawing is already there but I made a few subtle changes to tighten things up.
The tail in the drawing has a nicer curve which flows better with the overall shape. I sharpened the eyes to make them more engaging and compensate for the lack of color. I also gave the whiskers more presence.
I thought the concrete floor was too distracting so I replaced it with a soft graphite texture that keeps the focus entirely on the cat. A hint of shadow grounds the drawing
These are the kinds of small adjustments that make a big difference. It is not about copying exactly it is about making the image work better on paper.
‘Cats Keeping Cool’ An Early Cat Drawing
The Background as Far as I Can Recall
This was one of my earlier works and the first cat drawing I ever published. I drew it sometime in the early to mid 90s back when I was still figuring things out.
I took the original reference photo with a cheap point and shoot Fuji camera and lost the original image years ago. I can’t even remember where I was when I took it, though I am pretty sure it was somewhere in Thailand.
Looking at it now the drawing feels very basic compared to what I do these days. The leaves are simplified and the shading on the pots is pretty flat. It is easy to see how far I have come since then.
That said I still really like this one. The composition works beautifully and the dappled shade gives it a lovely atmosphere. You can feel the heat. For all the things I would change now it remains one of my favourites.
‘Potted Palm and Puss’ Another Early Cat Drawing
Encouraged by my first drawing, this was my second attempt. It is the same ‘tabby’ cat under the same pot. It works, but nowhere near as successfully.
The shadows to the left were contrived and only included to fill the space. It shows. Plus the cat isn’t drawn that well. That said it sold well. People liked it.
It’s very hard to put aside your own prejudices and be objective when it comes to your own work.
Unfinished Kitten Drawing
This is my most recent drawing of a kitten. You can see how the drawing is more refined and how I’ve used my original reference photo.
The composition is fine but the background is a complete distraction. I’ve isolated the kitten and the plant pot. There is no need to include anything else.
I started this drawing a few years ago and for some reason never came back to it. It’s remained in my portfolio, waiting to be finished. Sometimes that happens.
Framed Cat Drawings Hanging on the Wall
It’s not easy to imagine how a finished drawing will look on the wall. I made these mockups to show you how presentation makes the world of difference with artwork.
I’ve hung these two in living room settings. Simple frames with wide mounts. You can’t go wrong with black and white prints.
There you have it, short and sweet. I have plenty more like this, mostly wildlife, why not check them out HERE – Wildlife Drawings 1 and HERE – Wildlife Drawings 2
If you like to draw, these are my essential drawing materials:
- Pentel Mechanical Pencils 0.3mm
- Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils
- Daler-Rowney Heavyweight Cartridge Paper
- Jakar Battery Eraser
- Tombo Mono Eraser Pen
- Faber Castell Putty Eraser
- Blu Tack
- French Box Easel (A good portable alternative)
To find out why I use these drawing tools, read this: The Best Drawing Supplies
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Hi, I’m Kevin Hayler
I’ve been selling my wildlife art and traveling the world for over 20 years, and if that sounds too good to be true, I’ve done it all without social media, art school, or galleries!
I can show you how to do it. You’ll find a wealth of info on my site, about selling art, drawing tips, lifestyle, reviews, travel, my portfolio, and more. Enjoy