Here’s a complete guide on how to draw a tiger full body side view in 18 steps. The tiger’s shape may look complex at first, but the step-by-step process makes it easy to follow. I’d call this a medium difficulty drawing since it combines basic animal anatomy, balance, and details like stripes.
About the Tiger’s Appearance
Before starting, it’s useful to observe what makes a tiger’s structure distinct. This will help you shape the body correctly and place the stripes naturally.
- Body: Long, muscular, and slightly curved when walking.
- Head: Large with a broad muzzle.
- Ears: Small, rounded, set far back on the head.
- Legs: Strong and straight with clear joints and big paws.
- Tail: Long, slightly curved upward, ending with a dark tip.
- Fur Pattern: Orange base with black stripes that vary in width and direction.
Once you complete this tiger, you can move on to drawing other big cats like a lion, a female lioness, a cheetah or a jaguar for comparison. Their body structure shares similarities but each species has distinct proportions.
How to Follow This Tiger Drawing Tutorial
The 18 steps are color-coded to make it easier to follow the drawing process from base sketch to details:
- Red Color: new lines added in the current step
- Black Color: lines drawn in previous steps
- Grey Color: the basic sketch used to build proportions
Once you’ve finished your tiger drawing, share it in the comments under the pinned Pinterest post. Many artists post their versions there, and it’s always interesting to see how others approach the same subject.
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