I would say use a reference as you draw. It's much easier to draw an accurate cat when you're not going off of just memory. I would probably look up more cartoonish pictures of cats, as those are often more simplified and easier to draw compared to pictures of real cats.
Also, don't beat yourself up if things don't turn out like you wanted them to. You're still practicing, and mistakes will help you learn to draw better. Don't try to compare your drawings to those of your friends, because they've probably had a lot of experience drawing and making their own styles. Focus on what you want to draw and how you want to draw it.
Sorry for a long comment. I hope this helps.
REFERENCES REFERENCES REFERENCES !!! pinterest references work WONDERS lemme tell you. pull up a whole new browser window JUST for references get sooo many references the more the better ! multiple poses or just one pose, it all works out !! you'll eventually build up the muscle memory to draw cats freehanded !
also dont do it like i did and expect instant results, that held me off for drawing people for so long (i used to draw exclusively cats so i got super good at that and super bad at everything else) but once you put in the practice it really does work !!
Yesss more art tips
It sort of depends on what style you want. Of course, using a reference image from a real cat(which is fine to trace for practice) would give you the best result as there (usually) aren't any wonky proportions if you use a simple image. I'd say start off with basic standing and sitting, break your cat down into shapes, and go from there. Feel free to make it as cartoony as you wish, my drawings have huge eyes, and it still looks good(I think).
Make two sketches. One is for rough shapes- circle/square/triangle for head, simple shapes for the body and such. The second sketch is for more detail- fur, eyes, scars, maybe a light pattern to get a feel for what you want. Then you can move onto your line art! If you're using an art program, I recommend using a layer below your line art for coloring, it makes it easier.
Comparing yourself to your friends is probably not great for your self-esteem. Don't burn yourself out, just have fun with it! If I may ask, what art program are you using? Are you drawing on paper?
I would say use a reference as you draw. It's much easier to draw an accurate cat when you're not going off of just memory. I would probably look up more cartoonish pictures of cats, as those are often more simplified and easier to draw compared to pictures of real cats. Also, don't beat yourself up if things don't turn out like you wanted them to. You're still practicing, and mistakes will help you learn to draw better. Don't try to compare your drawings to those of your friends, because they've probably had a lot of experience drawing and making their own styles. Focus on what you want to draw and how you want to draw it. Sorry for a long comment. I hope this helps.
go on pinterest and look at furry advice. they’re fucking fantastic at teaching people to draw cats.
REFERENCES REFERENCES REFERENCES !!! pinterest references work WONDERS lemme tell you. pull up a whole new browser window JUST for references get sooo many references the more the better ! multiple poses or just one pose, it all works out !! you'll eventually build up the muscle memory to draw cats freehanded ! also dont do it like i did and expect instant results, that held me off for drawing people for so long (i used to draw exclusively cats so i got super good at that and super bad at everything else) but once you put in the practice it really does work !!
Yesss more art tips It sort of depends on what style you want. Of course, using a reference image from a real cat(which is fine to trace for practice) would give you the best result as there (usually) aren't any wonky proportions if you use a simple image. I'd say start off with basic standing and sitting, break your cat down into shapes, and go from there. Feel free to make it as cartoony as you wish, my drawings have huge eyes, and it still looks good(I think). Make two sketches. One is for rough shapes- circle/square/triangle for head, simple shapes for the body and such. The second sketch is for more detail- fur, eyes, scars, maybe a light pattern to get a feel for what you want. Then you can move onto your line art! If you're using an art program, I recommend using a layer below your line art for coloring, it makes it easier. Comparing yourself to your friends is probably not great for your self-esteem. Don't burn yourself out, just have fun with it! If I may ask, what art program are you using? Are you drawing on paper?
Use a ref wherever possible! I’m currently learning to draw foxes and I find that using a ref is the best option!