Step One: Gather Art Supplies
Drawing an ocelot requires a bit of creative supplies. Before you begin, make sure you gather your supplies. This includes a pencil and several types of erasers, as well as a paper where you’ll draw the ocelot. If you want, you can also get some charcoal, colored pencils, or whatever else you need to bring your ocelot to life.
It’s helpful to look at plenty of pictures of ocelots before you begin, so you can get the details right. Look at pictures of ocelots in their natural environment, as well as pictures of domestic ocelots. Seeing them both will give you a great idea of the coloring and facial expressions to draw.
Step Two: Sketch Out the Ocelot
Now that you have your supplies and references, it’s time to get to work. Start by lightly sketching out the general shape of the ocelot on your paper. Keep your pencil strokes light, so you can erase them easily if you make a mistake.
Make sure you sketch out the essential elements of the ocelot, like the eyes, nose, and ears. If the ocelot you’re drawing is a domestic ocelot, the eyes won’t be as wild looking as the eyes of a wild ocelot. You’ll want to make sure you draw eyes that look natural for the species of ocelot you’re drawing.
Step Three: Start Shading
Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to start adding shading to your ocelot. Start with the eyes, then work your way around the rest of the body. Be sure to keep the colors subtle and realistic-looking.
If you’re using charcoal, make sure you use it lightly. Too much will make the ocelot look too dark, while too little will make it look too light. Take your time, blending as you go, until you’re happy with the shading.
Step Four: Add Details
Now it’s time to add the details that will set your ocelot apart. If the ocelot has spots, use a fine-tipped pencil to draw them in, erasing any mistakes you make. Then, add tiny details, like whiskers and fur texture, to really bring the ocelot to life.
If you want to get really fancy, you can use white charcoal to add small highlights and shadows to the fur. This will give the ocelot a really lifelike appearance.
Step Five: Final Touches
Now that your ocelot is all shaded and detailed, you can make some final adjustments to get the drawing just right. Tweak the eyes, ears, mouth and even the spots, if the ocelot has any. Erase any mistakes you make, and make small adjustments if needed.
Once you’re happy with the drawing, pat yourself on the back- you just drew an ocelot! Hopefully this tutorial has been helpful and you’ve enjoyed the process.
