How to Draw a Snow Leopard (Easy Step by Step)
A snow leopard is a fun one to draw because it is built from simple shapes: a wide round head, a bell-shaped body, and a long, flat tail. The little ring spots give it its look, and they are easy to make. Anyone can do it, even on a first try.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a snow leopard step by step
How to Draw a Snow Leopard · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: Head and ears
Draw a big, wide rounded shape for the head. Add two round bumps on top for the ears, with a little dip between them.
Step 3: Inner ears
Inside each ear, near the top, draw a small curved line like a little hook.
Step 4: Body sides
Under the head, draw two curved lines for the sides of the body. Start each one at the bottom of the cheek and curve it down and out.
Step 5: Legs and paws
Draw two long, skinny U shapes in the middle of the body for the front legs. Finish the bottom curve of the body on the right so it meets the paw.
Step 6: The tail
Draw a long, flat tail loop along the bottom, starting at the left paw. Let it curve up on the right side and end with a little curl behind the body.
Step 7: Nose
In the middle of the face, draw a small rounded triangle for the nose, pointing down.
Step 8: Forehead dots
Add three tiny dots in a row on the forehead, with the middle one a bit higher.
Step 9: Face, spots and stripes
Draw two round dot eyes, a little smiling mouth below the nose, and short whiskers on each cheek. Then add small ring spots on the body, curved toe lines on the paws, and short stripes across the tail.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your snow leopard? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a hummingbird or how to draw a chipmunk next.
Tips for drawing a snow leopard
- Sketch the head as a light circle first, so both ears end up the same size and sit evenly on each side.
- The two front legs are the trickiest part. Draw them as two long U shapes side by side, and keep the gap between them about the same on both sides.
- Make each spot a small ring, like a doughnut. Draw a tiny circle and keep the rings different sizes so the coat looks natural.
Free snow leopard coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this snow leopard coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your snow leopard drawing
Try soft gray and white fur with dark gray rings for the spots, and pale gray-green for the eyes. For a creative twist, color the background like a snowy mountain at night, with a purple sky.
Snow leopard fun fact for kids
Snow leopards live in the cold mountains of Central Asia, and they have long, thick tails. They can wrap their tails around their bodies and faces to stay warm while they rest.
Questions about drawing a snow leopard
What shapes do I need to draw a snow leopard?
You need a wide round shape for the head, two round bumps for the ears, and a bell shape for the body. Add two skinny U shapes for the legs and a long, flat loop for the tail.
How do I make my snow leopard look cuter?
Draw the dot eyes wide apart and give it a small smile. A big round head and a little pink nose also make it look sweet.
How do I draw snow leopard spots?
Snow leopard spots look like rings. Draw a small circle for each one and scatter a few over the body. Make them different sizes.
