How to Draw Birds
Birds are very rewarding to draw, there is such variety in shape and size from the tiny
wren to a magnificent golden eagle. Can you think of any other group of creatures that
has such contrast, on the one hand you have the small plain and humble warbler and
on the other a strutting glorious peacock!
There is so much to draw here so much to observe and capture.
What's different about birds?
Birds are different from other animals because there body and limbs are covered
by feathers. So when you come to draw them it will help to understand what's
under those feathers, to be blunt its quite a scrawny odd looking creature!
They have a thin usually bent back necks and under those wing feathers are folded
arms, if you hold your arms out to the side then this is just how a bird does it when
flying, and when at rest its arms are folded back. Its legs are mostly under feathers,
the part you see is actually the toes with the rest of the foot going up to the heel,
the calf, knee and thigh are normally under the feathers. If you crouch with your
legs bent and just the balls of your feet on the ground and your arms folded back
by your sides that is how a bird normally stands.
All this will help you to know what's happening when you see birds moving about
and flying.
Whatever you attempt to draw the principles are the same and it definitely applies
to the subject of how to draw birds.
Before you start drawing just relax and have a good look at it, if you have enough
time before it flies off ! Its challenging but once you know how to draw birds there's
nothing like it.
Familiarizing yourself with the subject
Familiarize yourself with it, follow the outlines, see where they meet each other.
Look at the size of each part in relation to other parts, then if necessary use your
pencil to measure proportions, comparing them to each other. Look at it and try to
understand the perspective and foreshortening if it is at an angle to you.
All this will save a lot of time when you commence drawing.
How much to draw?
You need to decide at the start how much of the subject you are going to draw.
Do you want to draw all of it or part of it? Best not to just start drawing and manage
to only get part of what you want to draw on the paper! Measure the height against
the width and mark these extremities on your paper.
Very lightly sketch in the over all shape, in this instance a bird or the part of
the bird you are interested in.
Putting pencil to paper is nothing to be afraid of, just enjoy your self at this stage because
your not produce a master piece to hang in a gallery! And like I said keep your drawing light, very light at this stage so as you can easily remove any lines you don't want.
When you are happy with how it looks on the paper you can relax knowing that the
work you put in from now on will not be a waste of time.
Starting the drawing.
For a bird first sketch out the overall body shape, then the head, tail and wings and
then follow up with the legs, beak, eyes and main feather areas like on the wings.
Choose one part of the bird as a measure to help you get every thing in proportion.
Remember to keep drawing lightly at this stage so that you can easily remove unwanted lines.
Draw through one part in order to see why another is coming out in that place.
What I mean is that if a leg is passing behind another then draw how you imagine
the leg looks behind the other in this way you will get it emerging in the right place.
Also look at negative spaces, these are the spaces between say the legs and the
legs and the body. Make sure they look right in your drawing as these help in
getting the position of legs etc in the right place.
Quick sketches.
If it's on the move its best to do lots of quick sketches, don't worry about detail just get down its shape and posture and don't think about it just be spontaneous. This will go a long way to helping you to get to know its character, the way it moves and stands.
This is were a sketch book comes in, fill it up with these sketches so that you have
a valuable source of reference for later drawings. Make sure it is easy to hold, not
too big but at the same time not too small. If it is small it will cramp your drawing
and will get in the way of capturing the subject.
When you are drawing try and draw with your whole arm, this will go a long way
to producing a better result.
I hope you have benefited and enjoyed this article.
wren to a magnificent golden eagle. Can you think of any other group of creatures that
has such contrast, on the one hand you have the small plain and humble warbler and
on the other a strutting glorious peacock!
There is so much to draw here so much to observe and capture.
What's different about birds?
Birds are different from other animals because there body and limbs are covered
by feathers. So when you come to draw them it will help to understand what's
under those feathers, to be blunt its quite a scrawny odd looking creature!
They have a thin usually bent back necks and under those wing feathers are folded
arms, if you hold your arms out to the side then this is just how a bird does it when
flying, and when at rest its arms are folded back. Its legs are mostly under feathers,
the part you see is actually the toes with the rest of the foot going up to the heel,
the calf, knee and thigh are normally under the feathers. If you crouch with your
legs bent and just the balls of your feet on the ground and your arms folded back
by your sides that is how a bird normally stands.
All this will help you to know what's happening when you see birds moving about
and flying.
Whatever you attempt to draw the principles are the same and it definitely applies
to the subject of how to draw birds.
Before you start drawing just relax and have a good look at it, if you have enough
time before it flies off ! Its challenging but once you know how to draw birds there's
nothing like it.
Familiarizing yourself with the subject
Familiarize yourself with it, follow the outlines, see where they meet each other.
Look at the size of each part in relation to other parts, then if necessary use your
pencil to measure proportions, comparing them to each other. Look at it and try to
understand the perspective and foreshortening if it is at an angle to you.
All this will save a lot of time when you commence drawing.
How much to draw?
You need to decide at the start how much of the subject you are going to draw.
Do you want to draw all of it or part of it? Best not to just start drawing and manage
to only get part of what you want to draw on the paper! Measure the height against
the width and mark these extremities on your paper.
Very lightly sketch in the over all shape, in this instance a bird or the part of
the bird you are interested in.
Putting pencil to paper is nothing to be afraid of, just enjoy your self at this stage because
your not produce a master piece to hang in a gallery! And like I said keep your drawing light, very light at this stage so as you can easily remove any lines you don't want.
When you are happy with how it looks on the paper you can relax knowing that the
work you put in from now on will not be a waste of time.
Starting the drawing.
For a bird first sketch out the overall body shape, then the head, tail and wings and
then follow up with the legs, beak, eyes and main feather areas like on the wings.
Choose one part of the bird as a measure to help you get every thing in proportion.
Remember to keep drawing lightly at this stage so that you can easily remove unwanted lines.
Draw through one part in order to see why another is coming out in that place.
What I mean is that if a leg is passing behind another then draw how you imagine
the leg looks behind the other in this way you will get it emerging in the right place.
Also look at negative spaces, these are the spaces between say the legs and the
legs and the body. Make sure they look right in your drawing as these help in
getting the position of legs etc in the right place.
Quick sketches.
If it's on the move its best to do lots of quick sketches, don't worry about detail just get down its shape and posture and don't think about it just be spontaneous. This will go a long way to helping you to get to know its character, the way it moves and stands.
This is were a sketch book comes in, fill it up with these sketches so that you have
a valuable source of reference for later drawings. Make sure it is easy to hold, not
too big but at the same time not too small. If it is small it will cramp your drawing
and will get in the way of capturing the subject.
When you are drawing try and draw with your whole arm, this will go a long way
to producing a better result.
I hope you have benefited and enjoyed this article.
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