Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: July 22, 2023 by Crystal Uys
The beauty of cats has been captured by artists through the ages, and no wonder: cats make purrfect models. Their flowing, flexible grace, combined with fierce strength and unbearable cuteness, and the incredible variety of breeds and colors has captured artists’ imagination. In How to Draw Cats and Kittens, artist and illustrator J.C. Amberlyn offers step-by-step guidance so you, too, can indulge your artistic side.
Amberlyn not only offers detailed basic information on art materials and techniques, but she also explores the behavioral aspects that make cats so unique. “Knowing your subject,” she says, “gives you greater ability to depict it realistically.”
The book covers cat anatomy, kittens from birth to six months, cat expressions, cats in motion and at rest, and various cat patterns and breeds. She even has a section on how to draw the sheen of a black cat’s fur with pencil.
I loved the section on anatomy, because it shows how an understanding of the cat’s basic anatomy will help you draw a more realistic cat. By illustrating the structure of various parts of the cat’s body, and gradually filling in details, Amberlyn breaks the drawing process down to its most basic elements.
My dad loved to draw and was quite good at it. He taught me how to draw as a young child, and I have fond memories of afternoons spent drawing with him. I still have some of my “early works” that my parents saved, but once I started elementary school, any artistic talent was destroyed by an art teacher whose harsh words “you can’t draw” stuck with me for most of my life. This book is inspiring me to try again.
How to Draw Cats and Kittens is a joy just to browse through and admire the gorgeous illustrations. This is a wonderful book for children who are budding artists, and adults who are trying to rediscover their creative side.
How to Draw Cats is available from Amazon.
Interior images ©J.C. Amberlyn, used with permission
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
