Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Cougar" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.
Step 1: Draw two circles as guides for the cougar's body. The circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. The circles should be around the same size. Don't place them too far apart or the cougar will end up too long.
Step 2: Draw another circle on the upper left side as a guide for the cougar's head. The circle should be about one-third the size of the first one. The edges of the circles should touch each other.
Step 3: Draw two intersecting lines inside the cougar's head to place the facial features later on.
Step 4: Draw two arcs on top of the head as guides for the cougar's ears.
Step 5: Draw a small circle on the lower half of the cougar's head as a guide for the muzzle.
Step 6: Draw a series of lines that connect the major shapes to form the cougar's body.
Step 7: Draw four lines under the body (two below each circle) as guides for the cougar's legs. Bend the lines near the middle as guides for the joints. The tips of the lines should point to the left for the paws.
Step 8: Draw a long curved line on the right side as a guide for the cougar's tail.
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 9: Draw the eyes inside the cougar's head using the lines as guides for placement. The shape of the eyes are similar to footballs that tilt down toward the middle. Darken the outline and add a point at the ends of the shape that point toward the muzzle. Draw a couple of lines inside as the actual eyeball and draw a tiny circle inside each eye to represent glare. Draw a small, dark dot inside each eye, near the top, for the cougar's pupil. Shade in the rest of the eye except for the tiny circle that represents glare. Use a lighter value than the pupils when you shade. Draw a few quick, short strokes around the cougar's eye for extra detail.
Step 10: Add the nose inside the cougar's muzzle by first lightly drawing a small triangle. Bend the top of the nose as you darken the line and draw a small arc on each side for the nostrils. Shade in the nostrils and draw two lines on top of the nose that point toward the eyes.
Step 11: Draw the cougar's mouth below the nose as a line that splits into two. Draw the sides of the muzzle by using the small circle as a guide. Draw the chin at the bottom by using the lower portion of the small circle as a guide. Draw a few whiskers using quick strokes.
Step 12: Use the arcs on the head as guides to draw the cougar's ears. Darken the lines and make them curvier. Draw quick, short strokes inside to indicate the fur.
Step 13: Use the original circle as a guide to draw the rest of the cougar's head. Draw the left side of the face closer to the eye and the muzzle. Draw the jaw on the lower right side as you follow the path of the circle. Draw a few quick, short strokes inside the cougar's head to represent the detail on the fur.
Step 14: Using the lines on the left as guides, draw the cougar's front legs. Lightly sketch out the shape of the first leg as you follow the path of the line. When you get the structure right, darken the lines. Bend the lines forward where the joints are. Draw the paws at the bottom by adding a couple of curved lines for the toes. Draw the leg on the other side by using the other line as a guide. Sketch lightly at first and darken the lines when you get the shape right. Draw the cougar's toes at the bottom.
Step 15: Now use the other lines as guides to draw the cougar's hind legs. Remember to sketch lightly at first as you follow the path of the line to get the structure right. The top of the hind leg should be thicker than the top of the front leg. Use the other line as a guide to draw the hind leg on the other side using the same technique.
Step 16: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the cougar's body and tail. Follow the path of the guide line as you make the tail thicker.
Step 17 (optional): For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Also re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your cougar drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.
Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the cougar so it doesn't appear to be floating.
You can add more value throughout your cougar drawing for extra detail. Add an extra dark value on the sides of the muzzle to give it the distinct cougar look. Try to shade the body using a single value to get an even-looking coat. It's always a good idea to use reference for accuracy. Remember to pause the video any time you need help.
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