29 July 2025

Seeing Beyond the Fur

 

Last week, I found myself in an unexpected predicament. Strike that. Last week, I got myself into a bit of a mess with the final stages of a cat portrait as I’d left a challenging decision to the end (likely telling myself I needed more context when the reality probably was that I was so excited to start I didn’t think it all the way through). Anyway…  I was finishing a commission - a gorgeous cat portrait - but the reference photo cut off at an awkward spot. 'No problem,' I thought, 'I know enough about cats to just... make up the rest.'

 

Yes and no.

 

I tried. Something felt fundamentally off. The proportions looked wrong, but I couldn't pinpoint why. Where exactly would the elbow joint sit? How do the shoulder blades connect? Down the rabbit hole I went (typical academic tendency!), sketching cat skeletons to find answers.

 

Plot twist: Sometimes anatomy knowledge doesn't solve everything. The angle of this particular cat was always going to look awkward. We went with a tighter crop. But here's what I gained - a much deeper understanding of the framework that sits beneath every cat I'll ever draw.

 

There's a part of me that still longs to capture essence quickly, to freehand sketch like I dreamed of as a child (when I saw those artists on TV make it look so effortless!). And another part that craves the detail and realism that coloured pencils offer. I'm discovering I can have both… in my own form of sketchy realism… 

 

Build Your Skills

 

There are many anatomical features that affect how we draw cats, but if you're new to thinking in this way, let's start with just one game-changer.

 

Another worth noting? Nasal bones create those subtle profile changes that distinguish breeds - some cats have prominent bumps along the nose bridge, others are flat-faced. Start with the cheekbones above and you’ll start to see more.

 

Why This Matters: When you understand what's beneath, you make better choices about what's visible on top. This foundation knowledge helps you fix those "something feels off" moments (with a bit of glazing) helping you place shadows and highlights more convincingly.

 

Drawing progression becomes this: skeletal observations help us understand form, then we add texture, then we master values. Want to get better at realistic animal artwork? Consider remembering a few key bones and muscles. Then you’ll understand the play of light across the face better. 

 

Creative Task

 

Meet Neo - he's going to be your anatomy teacher this week.

 

Your 5-minute challenge: Look at Neo's profile and focus on just one thing - his zygomatic arch (cheekbones). Notice how this bony structure creates that width and depth under his eye area? See how the fur flows over it?

 

 

Bonus observation: This is what Oriental breeding looks like - that prominent, defined bone structure. Compare this mental image to a British Shorthair's soft, rounded face if you know one (my own cat Monty, for example).

 

No drawing required - just training your eye to see this one crucial landmark. Once you start noticing this feature, you'll see it everywhere, and your cat portraits will feel more structurally sound and it will ultimately help with checking facial proportions and values.