Percy, Faber-Castell Polychromos coloured pencils on Strathmore Bristol Vellum 270gsm, (43x35.5cm)

Rosalind Jelbert-Ingram shows us how to draw a cat using coloured pencils, in this step-by-step tutorial

Learn how to draw a cat using Polychromos pencils, with this easy tutorial.

Coloured pencil is a great medium as the pencils lend themselves to precise work and allow all those fine details on the fur – and you can maintain full control over the medium, unlike some paints!

Demonstration: Percy

Your reference photograph

You will need:

• Strathmore Bristol Vellum 270gsm (43x35.5cm)
• HB pencil
• Rubber
• Pencil sharpener
• Clean piece of paper for resting your hand on
• Faber-Castell Polycrhomos pencils: Purple violet 136, walnut brown 177, earth green yellowish 168, cadmium yellow 107, warm grey V 274, ultramarine 120, cobalt turquoise 155, venetian red, sanguine 188, warm grey II 271, black 199, dark cadmium orange 115, dark Naples ochre 184, raw umber 180, medium flesh 131

Step 1

Drawing the outline

Copy the outline of the photograph onto the paper with an HB pencil using a light stroke so these guidelines can easily be softened or erased.

Top tips

• Remember to use a blank sheet of paper to rest on so you don’t smudge as you go.
• Keep your pencils nice and sharp for the fine fur detail.

Step 2

Applying the base tones

Purple violet 136 is often a lovely soft base to use. Apply this lightly so the base tone isn't too dark and appears smooth. Where it calls for softer edges – such as around the whiskers or rear body (which are slightly blurry in the photo) – gently rub away the graphite pencil edge with the eraser.

Leave the highlighted areas clear to build on later.

If you're new to drawing, don't stop here! Explore our other beginner-friendly guides to learn all you need to progress and develop your drawing skills.

Step 3

Continuing the darker areas

Revisit all the darker areas with warm grey 274. Use short strokes for the fur detail and increase the pressure of the strokes to add intensity to the shadow areas along the left-hand side.

Add more detail into the front paw and supporting fabric.

Step 4

Creating the eyes

1. Using sanguine 188 add the first pop of colour and iris details to the eyes, being careful to leave the highlights clear. Increase pressure on the left eye strokes to add intensity to the tone as this is in shadow.

2. Using walnut brown 177 add more fur texture with short strokes and deepen the shadows along the left-hand side.

3. Very lightly add subtle suggestions of the right-hand side whiskers which are white out of the background colour – and the background colour is next to be drawn.

Step 5

Starting the background

1. Apply dark Naples ochre 184 lightly to add the initial yellow tone to the eyes.

2. Then start to add background colour with ultramarine 120, using soft strokes, in order to keep the background quite subtle. As the colour is added in on the right-hand side, the highlighted face will really start to stand out.

3. Add more detail to the front fabric.

Step 6

Creating the highlights

1. Using warm grey 271 add a light cover to all the fur. Then use the rubber to add back in any white highlights around the face.

2. Add raw umber 180 to details on the face and body, including the eyes, ears and nose, and small touches of earth green yellowish 168 around the face – just a light suggestion – to knock back the blue tones slightly.

Step 7

Adding the fine details

1. Using cobalt turquoise 155 add more dark tones particularly on the left-hand side, and add more detail to the fabric at the forefront.

2. Rub out the colour in the right-hand eye slightly to knock it back – as the left eye needs to be darker than the right.

Step 8

Percy, Faber-Castell Polychromos coloured pencils on Strathmore Bristol Vellum 270gsm, (43x35.5cm)

Finishing touches

1. Finally, add the finishing touches. This is the point where it all comes together. Try turning the drawing and the source photo upside down to check all the shapes are correct.

2. Narrow the left eye’s curve slightly with a line of black 199. Using the black, add further darker lines around the eyes, the nose, whisker roots, ears, front foot and generally along the left-hand side shadows.

3. Add medium flesh 131 to the ears and a soft covering to the back body to warm the tone. And add a little of this pink to the nose.

4. Apply a final pop of cadmium yellow 107 to the stunning yellow eyes and a light covering to the fur – again just to knock back the blue tone slightly.

5. Use Venetian red 190 and dark cadmium orange 115 to add more depth to the left-hand eye and important iris details on the right.

6. Apply a last light covering of dark Naples ochre to the body and face.

7. Use warm grey 274 to do one last check over and deepen the shadows.

8. Finally use the rubber to reintroduce any highlights that have smudged, and to clean up the outer area.

If you liked this little project, don't stop here! Murray Ince shows us how to draw a cat with pencils.

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Find out more about Rosalind and her work at www.rosingram.co.uk