How to Draw an Ocelot

1. Begin the cartoon ocelot outline by drawing its large eyes. Use two curved lines to enclose each of the almond shapes, noting that the lines don't meet at the corners.

Shade a large, round pupil inside each eye. Then, use two short lines to contour the sides of the nose.

2. Draw an inverted triangle with blunted corners for the nose, with two small rectangles for the nostrils. Outline the snout with a rounded "W" shaped line, and use a long curved line for the side of the head.

3. Use a series of long and short curved lines to sketch the head, ears, and contours within the ears. Notice how the short lines meet at jagged points to lend a furry appearance.

4. Use long, curved lines for the neck, chest, belly, and sides of the leg. Connect the leg lines at the bottom with short, overlapping lines to form the toes.

Give the shoulder a furry texture using short lines that meet at jagged points.

5. Use a long curved line to sketch the back. Use additional curved lines for the rear leg and remaining foreleg, noting the overlap of lines at the toes.

6. From the rear leg, extend a long curved line and double it back on itself to enclose the tail. Use a long line to complete the foreleg.

Then, shade pointed, curved shapes on the face and extend long lines from the nose to form the whiskers.

7. Begin drawing rosettes - incomplete circles made from one or two thick lines - in two rows down the ocelot's back.

8. Continue drawing rosettes and blotchy spots on the animal's side, legs, and tail. Make sure the tip of the tail is banded.

9. Shade smaller spots all over the ocelot's body, including the head and tail.

Your cartoon ocelot outline is now complete. Use shades of cream, beige, tan, brown, and orange to shade its spotted fur.