Tiger Drawing Step by Step
Drawing a tiger requires a combination of basic knowledge of anatomy and animal structure, as well as artistic skill and patience. Start out with a few basic steps for the initial drawing, then refine the details as you go. By taking your time and practicing often, you will eventually be able to draw a realistic tiger. Before beginning, have a reference photo of a tiger to look at as you draw. This will help you to accurately capture the shape, size and features of the animal.
Step 1: Outline the Head and Body Shape
Using a pencil and paper, lightly sketch a circle for the head, and an oval for the body. These shapes don’t need to be exact, but they should be proportionate to each other. The head should be slightly larger than the body. Sketch lightly so that you can erase and adjust the shapes as you draw. Include a circle at the bottom of the body for the tiger’s hindquarters. Add a curved line from the head to the hindquarters to indicate the back.
Step 2: Outline the Legs and Tail
Draw four lines extending from the body for the legs. Make the lines a bit thicker at the ends, where the paws will be. Draw a long, curved line extending from the back of the body to create the tail. Leave some space between the legs, as tigers have long legs and short fur. At the end of the tail, draw a tuft of fur.
Step 3: Draw the Head Details
Draw two triangles near the top of the head for the ears, and two ovals at the sides of the head for the eyes. At the bottom of the head, draw a long curved line for the muzzle. Make the bottom of the muzzle wider than the top, as tigers have wide mouths. Include two small circles at the sides of the muzzle for the nostrils, and a small triangular shape for the nose. Draw a line beneath the eyes for the brow line, and a series of lines extending from the eyes to the muzzle for the whiskers.
Step 4: Draw the Stripes
Draw a series of curved lines over the head and body of the tiger, to indicate the stripes. Make sure the stripes are all different sizes and shapes, as no two tigers have the same stripe patterns. Draw the stripes over the legs and tail as well. Make sure not to draw the stripes too close together, as tigers have wide stripes.
Step 5: Add the Fur Details
Draw a series of curved lines around the eyes, muzzle and brow line to indicate the fur of the tiger. Draw curved lines around the ears, and a few lines around the legs to suggest fur. Draw some lines around the tail to indicate the tuft of fur at the end. Add a few lines to the body to suggest fur.
Step 6: Draw the Paws and Claws
Draw circles at the end of each leg for the paws. Make the circles a bit larger than the leg lines, as tigers have large paws. Draw curved lines at the end of each paw for the claws, and a few curved lines at the top of each paw for the pads. Make sure to draw the claws protruding from the pads to give the paws a more realistic look.
Step 7: Erase Lines and Color
Erase any extra lines or shapes that you drew while sketching the tiger. Use a pencil, marker or colored pencils to color in the tiger. Use black or various shades of brown to color in the stripes, and a light shade of brown for the fur. Add some shading to the tiger to give it more dimension and depth. You can also add details like the tiger’s eyes, tongue and whiskers to give it a more realistic look.
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