Drawing a Cats Paw

Drawing a Cats Paw:

The cats paw is intricate and well designed for what it is used for. In fact, the cats paw is a masterpiece within itself. So how do we tackle such a piece of work.

The paw fulfills the cats needs, from being sure footed in the most delicate of positions, to becoming a sleek weapon, that we would even think twice, before going up to a wild cat.

So where do we start.... good question!

Knowing how the cats paw works is the best place to start. All cats have a mechanism claw like ability to retract their claws at the right time. And depending on what your cat subject is doing at the time of your art work, you need to concentrate on this with the utmost of care.

"To be an artist is to believe in life."~
Henry Moore

Every animal that has a soft foot, (including us) is subject to what surface they are walking over, or which position their feet are angled. This changes their structure, apart from needing to know when their paws are going to have their claws out. You need to know this when drawing a cats paw

Walking or running over a hard surface lends itself to the paw flattening at the base over rocks for example, flexing the upper paw. Now when drawing a cats paw, remember that it has toes in a sense - like ourselves, so these toes separate as well as bend. So this is where it makes drawing the paw a challenge.

Speed in movement will also bring about more pressure of the paw, as the cat pushes their muscles to the maximum, and therefore also pushing off their own weight so as to gain speed. The more the pressure on the paw again.

I could fill this page with different pictures of cats paws; but really... I am never going to get all the positions of the cats paw that I want on here. So its up to you to do your own study of different cats paws, and the different situations that the cat will be facing.

The artist must always take into account of the outside influences that their main subject will be prone to. Whether it be Inside the house or outside, what type of surface they are on. To the influences of the elements around them.

So in a structured form, you need to decide where your subject will be, to what sort of surface it will be walking or running on. It might seem far from the subject of drawing a cats paw. BUT IS IT ?

Not at all, all these factors need to be considered, as the paw is the main contact to the surface that the cat will be moving on. And to get this main consideration of your subject out the way. Then you are well on the way to  achieve the natural interpretation of the cat.

Back Paw of the Cat

Before we leave this lesson; I want to also bring to attention the cats hind leg. Being different to their front leg. Also brings about the difference when drawing a cats paw from the back leg. The pad of the back paw is more elongated than their front paw. You can see by these examples of these photos, how the back legs lower portion is longer. And the largest of the pad in the middle, is longer in distance compared to the pads of the cats front paw.

As I have said before, it depends just how detailed you want to go with your art work. But I need to cover all aspects with you, from the most detailed to the least detailed. So that you can keep a broad spectrum on your plans in the future as to just how detailed you want to go.

Also don't forget to the size aspect of the cat you are drawing, as with females and males. Usually the paws will be bigger in proportion on the male cat. Just like our own hands and feet, when it comes to the sexes.

Referring to these individual lessons again and again  is most important. Just don't read once and not come back. As you may miss some hidden aspect of what I am trying to convey to you, as art goes deeper than many realize. Treat these lessons as your reference and refer when needed.

The next time you see a cat type-roping on some ledge of your favorite furniture, rest assured that their keen, almost masterful sense of balance, and their flexible paws will make it look so easy. Leave them alone and all your fine porcelain will stay intact, interfere with what they do best, and you might be going out to replace that Ming vase you brought at the actions last month.

I never get tired at watching how a cat balances over almost all that stands in their way, without missing a beat. A very find cat indeed.....