✨Drawing a cat✍🏼

I was scrolling through TikTok the other day when I saw this absolutely hilarious cat sitting in such a peculiar way—legs dangling, just looking completely 'over it.' I instantly knew I had to try drawing it! It got me thinking about how much fun it is to capture a cat's unique personality in a sketch, especially for beginners like me who are always looking for new drawing inspo. So, how do you capture that elusive feline essence in a drawing? For me, it starts with observation. Before I even put pen to paper, I spend some time just watching the cat (or the photo/video, in this case!). Notice their typical poses, their expressions, and what makes them unique. For this particular cat, it was all about that upright sitting posture and the direct, almost judgmental gaze. Exaggerating these tiny quirks can really bring out the humor and personality in your funny sketches. If you're a beginner wondering how to draw a sitting cat, don't worry, it's simpler than you think! I usually start with basic shapes. Think of the cat's body as a couple of connected ovals or circles for the torso and head. For a cat sitting upright, like mine, focus on creating a good base for the hindquarters, then build the spine up. The front legs can be tricky; for this cat, I loved how its legs were just casually dangling, so I tried to keep that relaxed, almost human-like posture. Don't be afraid to use light, sketchy lines at first to get the proportions right. You can always refine them later! One of the things I love about pen drawing is how you can create so much texture with just lines. To get that fur texture, especially for a black and white drawing, I played around with different line weights and hatching. For fluffier areas, I use shorter, lighter strokes in the direction the fur grows. For smoother parts, longer, more continuous lines. And for areas like the eyes or nose, I focus on building up darker tones with cross-hatching to make them pop. The 'direct gaze' of my cat drawing really came to life when I added those darker, more defined lines around its eyes. Finding cat drawing inspo is everywhere! Besides TikTok, I love looking through Instagram for cute cat pictures, or even just observing my friends' cats. Every cat has a story, and trying to tell that story through your art is so rewarding. Whether it’s a mischievous look, a sleepy yawn, or a funny pose, there are endless cats to draw. And don't be afraid to make your sketches funny! Sometimes, the slightly imperfect, exaggerated drawings are the ones that truly capture the heart and personality of our furry friends. Keep practicing, and you'll be amazed at what you can create!