Turn Your Cat's Photo Into a Pencil Sketch

Getting a great sketch of your cat

Cats are harder to photograph than dogs and easier to sketch than people expect. What makes a cat sketch work is the whiskers, the eyes and the pattern of the coat, and one good photo is enough to capture all three.

Cat owners usually want something that looks like their cat, not a generic one. A photo taken in a moment of real character, curled on a favorite chair or staring out of a window, gives a far more personal result than a posed shot.

Choosing the photo

• Wait for the calm moments

  Cats rarely hold still on request. Keep your phone ready while they rest, groom or watch birds. A relaxed cat gives you open eyes and a natural posture.

• Find the catchlight

  A small reflection in the eyes makes a sketch look alive. Position yourself so a window is in front of the cat rather than behind it.

• Watch the whiskers against the background

  White whiskers vanish against a pale wall and dark ones against a dark sofa. A background that contrasts with the whiskers keeps them in the drawing.

• Mind the pattern

  Tabby stripes, tortoiseshell patches and tuxedo markings translate beautifully into line work, but only in even light. Avoid a stripe of hard sunlight across the body.

Styles that suit it

• Ink sketch. Short, scratchy fineliner strokes that suit fur texture and give the drawing energy.
• Pencil Sketch. Soft graphite and careful hatching. Best for long-haired cats and quiet, framed portraits.
• Colored Pencil. Keeps the real colors of the coat. A good pick for gingers, calicos and any cat whose coloring is the whole point.

Questions people ask

My cat is black. Will the sketch just be a dark shape?

Not if the photo is well lit. Black cats need more light than you would think. Near a bright window the fur shows texture and the eyes stand out. In a dim room they do turn into a silhouette.

Can I use a photo of my cat and me together?

Yes. Just make sure the cat's face is not tiny next to yours. If the cat should be the star, crop so it fills most of the picture.