How to Draw a Cute Animal
What is the cutest animal that comes to your mind? Cat or dog? In this lesson, I will show you how to draw a cute animal in both variations.
How to Draw a Cute Animal: Introduction
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to draw a cute animal. First, I’ll guide you through the process of creating a cute animal sketch using cat as an example, chosen for its affectionate and appealing qualities. Then, I’ll demonstrate a different technique using a dog as an example.
This tutorial is designed to help you draw a cute animal of any type or breed. It provides a basic guide that covers the key techniques for giving animals a suitable look.
To make your animal drawing appear cute, follow a few important guidelines. First, the head should be drawn disproportionately large. Second, a minimalist approach is recommended. Third, the eyes should be large and expressive.
I will describe and demonstrate these and other techniques in detail below. Thus, using the knowledge gained, you will be able to depict absolutely any animal so cute that it will win the heart of anyone you show it to.
Cute Animal Drawing Tutorial
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 35 minutes
How to Draw a Cute Animal
- Sketch the cute animal body shape.
Sketch two overlapping ovals to outline the body of your cute animal. The top oval represents the head, and the larger, slightly tilted oval below forms the body. This step helps set the proportion, with a larger head to body ratio for a cute effect. Rounded and soft shapes will make the animal appear more appealing.
- Draw the facial features.
In this step, add two large circles within the head oval to represent the eyes of the cute animal. Place these circles slightly closer to the center. Then, draw a small triangular shape for the nose and connect it with two short curved lines down to form the mouth of the cute animal.
- Sketch the ears.
Add two triangular shapes with rounded tips for each ear, positioned symmetrically on both sides of the head. The ears should be slightly larger than realistic proportions, contributing to the overall cute look. Make sure the lines are soft and rounded, to the the ears more cute appearance.
- Detail the face.
Draw tiny ovals above each eye to represent the eyebrows. Add a few lines around the outer edges of the ears to indicate fur. Next, draw small curved lines on the tops of the outer sides of the eyes to indicate eyelashes. This will give your animal’s face an especially cute look.
- Illustrate the front legs.
Sketch two simple geometric shapes down from the body for each leg, ending with rounded paw shapes at the bottom. Keep the legs relatively short and rounded for more cute look. The paws should be slightly larger than usual. Use short curved lines to indicate the toes.
- Add the hind leg and paw.
Sketch simple lines and the back of the body for the hind leg, curving it slightly to illustrate a seated position. The hind leg should be positioned behind the front legs, with the paws visible at the front. Keep the shapes rounded and soft. Use the same technique as in the previous step to depict the toed of the hind paw.
- Add the fluffy tail.
Start from the lower part of the body and extend the tail upwards, curving slightly to give it a natural look. The tail should be wide and soft, with a few gentle jagged lines to suggest fluffiness. A large, fluffy tail enhances the cute appearance. Next, draw the fur around the neck.
- Finalize the outlines of the sketch.
Refine the outline of the entire cute animal by tracing over your sketch with smoother, darker lines. Erase any extra or overlapping lines to clean up the drawing. This step gives the drawing of a cute animal its polished appearance, and prepares for coloring.
- Add color to the cute animal.
Use soft, warm tones that complement the animal’s cute look, like light browns or soft grays. Add a bit of blush on the cheeks for extra cuteness, and color the eyes a dark shade with highlights for a lively effect. Use a light pink color for the nose and inner parts of the ears.
Additional Tutorials
Alternative Cute Animal Drawing Technique
Let’s now learn how to draw a cute animal in the form of a small dog. In this version, the animal is drawn with a more fluffy body and even more compact appearance. Additionally, the tail and body details are slightly more simplified.
To draw a dog in this cute style, start by sketching the outline of the body using a rounded shape with soft, wavy lines for a fluffy look. Add small curves at the bottom to outline the feet. Next, draw the tail on one side, making it curved and bushy. Draw two triangular ears at the top of the head.
Place large, rounded eyes toward the center of the head, and add a small nose and mouth for a cute expression. Detail the inner shapes of the ears, then add fur details around the body, especially near the tail and chest areas. For final touches, add color, choosing soft, warm tones, and add highlights in the eyes to make them expressive.
How to Draw a Sleeping Cute Animal
I’m this tutorial, I will show you how to draw a cat in cute slipping position. The main difference between this tutorial and the first is the pose of the cute animal. While the first tutorial shows the animal sitting upright, this tutorial depicts the animal curled up in a resting position. The curled posture, closed eyes, and tucked tail create a really nice look, giving a different perspective on how to draw a cute animal.
To draw a cute animal in a slipping position, start by sketching an oval for the head, then add a smaller overlapping oval for the body. Draw two small triangular ears on top of the head. Sketch closed eyes by adding two curved lines on the face, and draw a tiny nose beneath them.
Draw the tail wrapped around the body, connecting it gently to the back. Add the whiskers and fur markings on the head and body for detail. Refine the lines, smoothing out the shapes. Finish by adding light colors and subtle shading to give the animal a soft appearance. This tutorial guides you through drawing a cute, sleeping animal with a calm, relaxed vibe.
Conclusion
You should now have a good understanding of how to draw animal that are cute and lovable. Apply the skills you’ve learned here to your future drawings and illustrate any animal in a similar cute style.
To further your skills and learn to create a range of animal images, visit my other lessons in this category. There, you’ll find tutorials on drawing a horse and other well-known animals in a distinct, impactful style.
