Drawing easy tigers is a fun pastime
Tigers are always a fascinating subject to draw, but they can sometimes overwhelm a beginning artist with their detail. Luckily, it isn't necessary to draw a tiger in complex, realistic form. Using the basic principles of figure and cartoon drawing, an artist can take the body structure of a tiger and break it down. By simplifying the tiger's form and using basic drawing steps, an aspiring artist can create eye-catching and unique tiger drawings with ease.
Instructions
1. Review your reference picture of a tiger. You can find a reference picture by following the link in the resource section below. Observe the shape and structure of the tiger and draw its outline quickly with a pencil. Do not try to create a finished drawing, focus on becoming familiar with the anatomy of a tiger. Focus on simplifying difficult areas to draw such as the snout, whiskers and large paws. Continue to sketch until you feel comfortable enough to create your drawing.
2. Sketch the rough draft of your tiger. Draw a circle to map out its head. Pencil a smaller circle onto the front end of the head to map out the tiger's snout. Sketch a line extending from the back of the tiger's head to map out the spine. Create the torso and hindquarters by drawing two circles along the spine. Map out the legs of the tiger by drawing two lines extending from the torso and two lines extending from the hindquarters.
3. Draw the outline of your tiger using your rough draft as a guide. Start with the head and draw the basic shape of the tiger's snout and sides of its face. Draw ears onto the top of its head and follow the spine to create the neck, torso and tail of the tiger. Add a bend in the tiger's back and sketch the legs, starting from the shoulders and working downwards. Do not add too much detail to the outline; keep the shape body parts smooth and simple. Add a cartoon feel to the tiger by making its paws smaller than normal and enlarging its ears.
4. Look over your outline and correct any mistakes you find. Draw the facial details of your tiger. Pencil the nose of the tiger onto the tips of its snout using a large triangle shape. Draw the tiger's eyes large and round. Give the tiger whiskers by drawing three lines extending from either side of the tiger's snout. Create fur by drawing zigzag lines along the tiger's outline.
5. Erase the markings of your rough draft. Draw the stripes of the tiger along its body, legs, tail and face. Review your reference picture of a tiger to see how the stripes fall. Keep your tiger simple by making the stripes thick and drawing fewer stripes than seen on a real tiger. Draw the stripes so they follow the form of the tiger's body. Shade your stripes using your pencil.
6. Review your drawing and make adjustments wherever necessary. Ink your tiger by tracing over your lines with a black pen. Work slowly and make the outline of your tiger thicker than the lines of the inner details. Blacken the tiger's stripes with your pen. Erase all your pencil markings to complete your drawing.
