Paws & Poses – The Complete Stylized Cat Illustration Course by Tessa Nelissen (Jessali_TN)

You don’t have to be a “natural” to draw. Drawing is a skill — one you can learn, slowly and beautifully. Paws & Poses is a gentle, complete course on creating stylized cat illustrations, taught by Tessa Nelissen (Jessali_TN). Whether you have never drawn before or you want to develop a more consistent personal style, this course walks you through everything: from simple strokes to a full scenic cat illustration.

With 33 video lessons across 5 modules (over 6 hours of content), you will learn to observe shapes, simplify anatomy, play with poses and expressions, and bring your cats to life with personality, warmth, and charm. Tessa draws digitally, but most of the theory applies to traditional drawing as well.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Sketch Confidently — create art inspired by your beloved cats, capturing what you see with ease
• Observe Fresh — let shapes, colours, and textures become your guide as you translate them onto the canvas
• Playfully Explore — experiment, explore, and develop a personal way of drawing that is uniquely yours
• Understand cat anatomy — skeleton, soft tissue, and gesture drawing
• Simplify and stylize cat features into your own signature style
• Apply colour theory, light, shadow, and texture to your illustrations
• Complete a full scenic cat illustration from moodboard to final art

:inbox_tray: What’s included

• 30+ video lessons with full art process demonstrations — pause and replay as much as you want
• Practical exercises — theory is important, but practice makes you a true artist
• Lifetime access — watch whenever you want, even just 5 minutes a day, with no deadline
• Flexibility — available from any device, at home or on the go
• Community of artists — join a group of fellow students to exchange ideas, tips, and encouragement

✅ Requirements

• Skills: No prior drawing experience required. This course is designed for absolute beginners, casual doodlers, and intermediate artists alike.
• Tools: A digital drawing device (iPad with Procreate, tablet with Photoshop, or similar). The theory also applies to traditional drawing with pens, pencils, or markers.
• Hardware: Any device capable of running your preferred drawing software. A stylus or drawing tablet is recommended for digital work.

📝 Description

Paws & Poses is built on a simple belief: drawing is a skill, not a gift. Tessa Nelissen guides you through the entire process of creating stylized cat illustrations with patience, warmth, and clear instruction — no “natural talent” required.

The course is structured progressively. Module 1 lays the foundation with cat anatomy and gesture drawing. Module 2 teaches you to simplify what you see into your own stylized language — shapes, proportions, and fur patterns. Module 3 brings your cats to life through expressive poses and faces, including how to turn your own cat into a character. Module 4 introduces colour theory, light and shadow, and texture effects. Finally, Module 5 guides you through a complete scenic illustration project from moodboard to final art.

Tessa’s teaching style is encouraging and pressure-free. Her goal is not to teach one “perfect” cat, but to give you the tools to explore and develop your own style — so every cat you draw feels uniquely yours. You will learn to draw with curiosity instead of pressure, notice what makes your cats yours, and enjoy the process one playful pose at a time.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Absolute beginners who want to learn drawing through creating cute, cozy cat characters
• Casual doodlers who want to develop a more consistent, stylized approach
• Cat lovers who want to capture the charm and personality of their feline companions in art
• Intermediate artists looking to improve their character design and stylisation skills

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Tessa Nelissen, also known as Jessali_TN, is a Dutch artist living in Norway. Though she holds a master’s degree in Dentistry, her true passion has always been art. Her drawings can be described as cute, colourful, and most likely containing cats — she draws what puts a smile on her face and lightens her heart. In addition to this course, Tessa is working on a personal graphic novel series. Her teaching approach is gentle, encouraging, and focused on helping students find their own artistic voice.

🏁 Final Result

• A complete scenic cat illustration from concept to finished artwork
• A reliable, repeatable workflow for drawing stylized cats in any pose or setting
• The confidence to sketch from observation and imagination
• A portfolio-ready piece and the skills to keep creating