How to Draw a Cheetah Face: Easy 9-Step Guide

Bring the fastest cat in the savanna to life with this simple drawing guide, perfect for young artists ages 5 and up. You only need a pencil, an eraser, and some paper to get started. Follow these steps to build your confidence and learn how to capture the cheetah's unique facial features.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

Finished, colorful drawing of a friendly cheetah face.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Expressive Eyes

Close-up of two almond-shaped cheetah eyes with dark pupils and white highlights.

Draw two almond-shaped eyes using curved lines that meet at sharp points. Teacher's Tip: Keep the eyes level with each other to give your cheetah a balanced, friendly look. Shade in a dark circle for the pupil, leaving a tiny white dot for a 'sparkle' effect.

Step 2: Defining the Nose

Drawing the small, rounded nose of a cheetah centered below the eyes.

Draw a small, rounded 'V' shape between the eyes to form the nose bridge. Teacher's Tip: Think of the nose as a small triangle with soft, rounded corners. Add two small curves at the bottom for the nostrils.

Step 3: Creating the Muzzle

Adding the mouth and furry muzzle texture to the cheetah drawing.

Add an inverted 'Y' shape below the nose to create the mouth line. Use short, overlapping 'bumpy' lines around the snout to suggest soft fur. Teacher's Tip: Use a light touch here—the fur should look fluffy, not prickly.

Step 4: Adding Whiskers and Jaw

Adding long whisker lines and the lower jaw outline to the cheetah face.

Draw long, sweeping lines from the muzzle for whiskers. Add a series of connected curves below the mouth to define the lower jaw. Teacher's Tip: Whiskers are very thin, so try to use a sharp pencil for this step.

Step 5: Shaping the Cheeks

Drawing the outer cheek lines and adding jagged fur texture.

Outline the sides of the face using long, curved strokes. Add jagged, 'furry' lines near the cheeks to give the face volume. Teacher's Tip: Imagine the cheetah's face is shaped like a heart to help guide your hand.

Step 6: Drawing the Ears

Adding rounded ears to the top of the cheetah's head.

Draw two large 'C' shapes on top of the head. Connect them with jagged lines to show where the fur meets the ear. Teacher's Tip: Cheetah ears are smaller and more rounded than a cat's—keep them compact.

Step 7: The Top of the Head

Connecting the ears with fur tufts across the top of the head.

Connect the ears with a series of curved lines that meet in the middle to form a tuft of fur. Add a few more jagged lines on the forehead for texture. Teacher's Tip: Don't make the top of the head too flat; a slight curve makes it look more natural.

Step 8: Adding Characteristic Markings

Drawing the dark tear-mark lines from the eyes down to the mouth.

Draw the iconic 'tear marks'—the dark lines running from the inner corners of the eyes down to the mouth. Fun Fact: These lines act like natural sunglasses, helping cheetahs see clearly in the bright sun!

Step 9: Final Spots and Details

Adding small, irregular spots to the cheetah's face.

Add irregular, small spots across the cheeks and forehead. Teacher's Tip: Avoid making them perfect circles; cheetah spots are naturally messy and varied in size.

Step 10: Bringing it to Life with Color

A fully colored cheetah face with tan fur and black spots.

Use sandy beige or tan for the main fur and black for the spots and tear marks. Teacher's Tip: Use light pressure with your colored pencils to create a soft, blended look.