Once the nose is drawn, shade it to look entirely black. Shade with cross-hatch marks, or turn your pencil on its side to get a more uniform shading. [3] X Expert Source Kelly MedfordProfessional Artist Expert Interview. 10 March 2021.

You can change the placement of the pupils to make the jaguar look in different directions. To make it look straight ahead, place them in the center and high enough to touch the top of the eye.

Remember that you won’t have to define most of the body while drawing this position—just the legs.

Once the spots are in place, fill them in (if applicable) to make them look dark.

If you need some extra guidance in drawing the jaguar’s limbs accurately, draw small circles where each joint would be in the jaguar’s legs—one over each knee and one where the leg meets the paw.

The far right side of the circle will become the muzzle of the jaguar. The left end will merge into the jaguar’s neck.

When drawing the body outline, remember that jaguars generally have a sloping back and round body. Use a reference photo of a real jaguar for accuracy. There’s no shame in studying a reference as you work—it helps you improve, and Da Vinci himself recommended the practice![16] X Expert Source Kelly MedfordProfessional Artist Expert Interview. 10 March 2021.

Use short, jagged strokes on the jaguar’s chin and muzzle to make them appear fuzzy.

Refer again to a reference photo to ensure the jaguar’s neck is the right thickness. Overall, this big cat is stocky and muscular; its head and neck may seem a bit big, but this is because it has such powerful jaws.

Make sure the jaguar’s belly separates each set of legs, so your drawing looks realistic. When detailing the legs, keep in mind that a jaguar’s legs are usually short and muscular in appearance.

A jaguar’s tail is short compared to other big cats. Make sure the tail is no longer than the cat’s back legs.

Rosettes don’t usually have sharp angles or points. Leave the jaguar’s nose and muzzle free of rosettes. If you look at a jaguar picture, you’ll notice that its snout is usually not spotted.

Colored pencils are a great way to give your drawing color and add careful details like shading the fur and a blended gradient from the tawny yellow base coast into the white lower body. [24] X Expert Source Kelly MedfordProfessional Artist Expert Interview. 10 March 2021. Once the color is added, your jaguar is all done and ready to show off!