How to Draw a Cheetah
Draw a cheetah step by step using simple shapes, add facial details, spots, and shading to make a realistic animal picture.
About this tutorial
Draw a cheetah step by step using simple shapes, add facial details, spots, and shading to make a realistic animal picture.
What you need
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Gather your materials and find a comfy flat place to draw.
- 2
Step 2
Lightly draw a medium circle for the head and a long oval for the cheetah body.
- 3
Step 3
Draw a smooth curved line along the top of the body from the head to the back to show the cheetah’s spine.
- 4
Step 4
Draw a long thin curved line extending from the back for the tail.
- 5
Step 5
Add four long thin ovals under the body to mark where each leg will go.
- 6
Step 6
Add small rounded ovals at the ends of the leg shapes to mark the paws.
- 7
Step 7
Draw a short curved line connecting the head circle to the body to make the neck.
- 8
Step 8
Add two small rounded triangle ears on top of the head and a small oval at the front of the head for the muzzle.
- 9
Step 9
Draw the face: two almond eyes with small tear lines toward the nose a small triangle nose and a simple mouth with whisker dots.
- 10
Step 10
Smooth and connect your shapes into a cheetah outline by drawing curved lines around the body head neck legs and tail.
- 11
Step 11
Add spots across the body and smaller spots on the face and tail tip using different sizes and shapes.
- 12
Step 12
Lightly erase the original guide shapes and stray pencil lines to clean up your drawing.
- 13
Step 13
Trace the final clean outline with a black marker if you like and let the ink dry.
- 14
Step 14
Colour the cheetah with golden yellow or tan and use darker brown or black for the spots and tear lines.
- 15
Step 15
Share your finished cheetah drawing on DIY.org.
Get inspired
Fun facts
How do you draw a cheetah step by step?
Start with simple shapes: draw a rounded oval for the head and a larger oval for the body, connected by a gentle curved line for the neck. Sketch guide lines for the spine and leg positions, then add basic leg shapes and a long tapered tail. Refine the head with ears, eye placement, tear lines, and a muzzle. Add spots, define muscle lines, erase guides, and finish with light shading following a single light source to create realistic form.
What materials do I need to draw a cheetah?
Use plain drawing paper, a light sketching pencil (HB), a softer pencil (2B or 4B) for darker lines, and a good eraser. Add a sharpener and blending tool (tortillon or tissue) for smooth shading. Optional: colored pencils, markers, or watercolor for color, and a black fineliner to outline. Keep a reference photo of a cheetah handy and a clipboard or firm surface to work on for best results.
What ages is this cheetah drawing activity suitable for?
This activity adapts well by age: preschoolers (4–6) can trace and assemble simple shapes with adult help; early elementary kids (7–9) can follow step-by-step instructions to draw and add spots; older children (10–14) can focus on realistic proportions and shading. Adjust complexity, offer tracing templates for younger kids, and supervise materials like sharp pencils or markers as needed.
What are the benefits of drawing a cheetah and how can we vary the activity?
Drawing a cheetah builds observation, proportion sense, and fine motor skills while encouraging patience and creativity. It teaches pattern recognition (spots) and light/shadow basics. Variations include making a cartoon cheetah, using watercolor or pastels for softer textures, creating a collage of spotted paper, or drawing a running pose to study motion. Use non-toxic art supplies and supervise children using sharp tools or wet media.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of a black marker or special colouring pencils if we don't have them?
If you don't have a black marker to trace the final outline (step 13), use a dark pencil, gel pen, or fine-tip brown marker and let any ink dry before erasing pencil lines.
My cheetah looks awkward when I connect the shapes — how can I fix that?
If the cheetah looks stiff when you smooth and connect your shapes into a cheetah outline (step 9), redraw the curves with light, continuous strokes and use a kneaded eraser to gently lift guide lines so the final outline stays flowing.
How can I change the activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, simplify by using pre-drawn circle and oval templates for the head and body (steps 2–3) and sticker spots for step 11, while older kids can add detailed tear lines, varied spot sizes (step 11), shading, and ink textures during tracing and colouring (steps 13–15).
What are fun ways to improve or personalize our cheetah drawing?
To extend the activity, after tracing the final clean outline with a black marker and letting it dry (steps 13–14), add a painted savannah background, collage fur textures, name or collar details, then colour (step 15) and share the finished cheetah on DIY.org (final step).