Learning to draw birds can seem daunting at first, but with some practice and patience, anyone can become a skilled bird artist. Birds have unique shapes and feather patterns that require careful observation to accurately portray. However, there are some basic techniques you can use to help you get started.
Why Draw Birds?
There are many great reasons to learn bird drawing:
- Drawing birds helps train your brain to notice shapes, patterns, textures, and lighting in nature.
- Capturing a bird’s essence in art is very rewarding and can boost creativity.
- Bird drawing is relaxing. The repetitive motions are almost meditative.
- Drawing your observations of birds deepens your appreciation and connection with them.
- Bird art makes great gifts and home décor.
- You can try selling your bird drawings online or at local art fairs.
With practice, you’ll find bird drawing to be an enjoyable and fulfilling hobby. The birding and art communities are very welcoming, so don’t be shy about sharing your work!
How to Get Started Drawing Birds
Here are some tips for learning to draw birds as a beginner:
Study Bird Anatomy and Feathers
Before drawing whole birds, spend time studying bird anatomy. Diagrams of bird skeletons and musculature are helpful for learning how joints and underlying structures affect a bird’s pose. Pay special attention to the shapes of beaks, eyes, and feet which give personality to your drawings.
It’s also important to learn about feather groups and how they lay on a bird’s body. Feathers take many forms from contour feathers to downy feathers. Their arrangement creates unique textures that bring your drawings to life. Look at photos and drawings of different feather groups like the crown, nape, scapulars, and primaries.
Practice Simple Bird Shapes
One way to get comfortable drawing birds is starting with basic shapes. You can break down a bird’s form into simple shapes like ovals, spheres, rectangles, and triangles. Lightly sketch the major shapes of the bird before adding detail.
For example, draw a large oval for the body and a triangular shape for the beak. Use cylinders for the legs and small ovals for the feet. Circle shapes can represent the eyes. This establishes the bird’s proportions before drawing exact outlines and feathers.
Work From Photos and Field Guides
When first learning to draw a specific bird, it’s best to work from a quality reference photo. Field guides and bird identification books also provide excellent reference images. Pay attention to the bird’s proportions, beak shape, feather patterns, and any distinctive markings. Aim to capture these details in your sketch.
Once you become more skilled, you can draw from memory or use your own photos as references. But when starting out, quality references are ideal for accuracy.
Try Quick Sketches
Quick rough sketches are great practice when beginning bird drawing. Set a timer for 1-5 minutes and sketch a bird as fast as you can. Don’t worry about perfection. Focus on capturing the essence with simple lines and basic shapes.
Aim to convey the overall proportions, pose, and major features. You can always refine the sketch later. Quick sketches help train your brain and hand to work together to draw birds confidently.
Invest in Quality Supplies
Good drawing tools make the process more enjoyable. Here are some recommended supplies for bird drawing:
- Drawing pencils – 2B, 4B, 6B
- Kneaded eraser
- Sketchbook or drawing pad
- Blending stump
- Ruler
Heavy drawing paper works best for practicing bird drawing. It takes graphite well and enables good blending and shading.
Learn Basic Shading Techniques
Shading is important for conveying a bird’s form and showing the texture of feathers. Start lightly and gradually blend and deepen tones. Leaving some areas white suggests feathers and brings light to your drawing.
Use an eraser to lift and shape highlights. Play around with directional hatching, crosshatching, stippling, and blending to achieve different textures and values.
Consider Taking Classes
Taking art classes can accelerate your skills. Online tutorials and demonstrations are very helpful for learning techniques. But an in-person drawing class allows you to ask questions as you practice. Having an expert critique your work gives insight on improving.
Look for bird drawing classes at local art centers, museums, or colleges. A class provides structured lessons for mastering fundamentals like proportion, shading, and texture. This kickstarts your learning before practicing more independently.
Join Community Groups
Getting involved in birding and art communities provides education, inspiration, and support. Here are some groups worth checking out:
- Audubon Society chapters
- Birdwatcher groups on Facebook
- Subreddits like r/birding and r/birds
- Ornithology clubs at nearby colleges
- Local drawing groups
- Nature journaling communities
Connecting with other bird lovers and artists provides feedback on your work, advice, and the motivation to keep drawing.
Start a Nature Journal
Nature journaling is a great way to improve your bird drawing skills while also connecting with nature. Get a small notebook to take with you outdoors. Make quick field sketches of birds you observe, noting colors and behaviors. Draw landscapes and plants too. Add written notes and reflections.
Regular nature journaling lets you practice drawing birds from life frequently. Over time you will gain skills and deepen your knowledge of birds.
How to Draw Specific Bird Features
Here are some tips for tackling unique aspects of birds:
Beaks
A bird’s beak shape is extremely important for identifying species. Study the size, proportions, curvature, and detailing of different beak shapes. Use quick strokes and basic shapes to capture the form. Add shading to show texture and highlights for sheen.
Feet
Bird feet range from delicate songbird feet to the massive talons of raptors. Draw basic oval or rectangular shapes for the legs attached to circle/oval shapes for feet. Add details like scales and wrinkles lightly.
Wings
Look at bird anatomy diagrams to understand the bone and feather structure of wings. Consider the perspective to determine how much of the wing is visible. Use overlapping curved shapes and organic lines to convey wings at various angles.
Feathers
Practice drawing individual feathers before tackling entire feather groups. Pay attention to the shaft and vane patterns. Use different shading techniques to capture barbs and other textures. Layer feathers overlapping closely for a natural look.
Eyes
Bird eyes have a large round iris and elliptical black pupil. Lightly draw the eye shape before adding the iris and pupil. Add small shadows and white highlights to make the eyes realistic. Subtle details give birds great expression.
Improve Your Bird Drawings
Here are tips for taking your bird drawing skills to the next level:
Focus on Accuracy
Precision is important for bird art. Measure proportions and observe closely to capture shapes, feather patterns, and other details accurately. Use grids to check sizes and alignment. Fix any errors as you progress.
Practice Smooth Shading
Build your value range from light to dark. Strive for smooth gradients instead of harsh lines when shading. Master blending techniques like crosshatching and stippling for realistic effects.
Develop Your Own Style
As you gain skills, start incorporating your own style. Emphasize aspects you enjoy most like dramatic lighting, vivid colors, or delicate details. Let your unique vision shine through.
Draw Birds in Different Poses
Challenge yourself to draw birds from various perspectives like side profiles, birds in flight, close-ups, etc. Observing how a pose affects proportions and foreshortening will strengthen your drawing skills.
Use Color Purposefully
Color can bring drawings to life but also distract from form if overdone. Use muted colors in shadowed areas and allow light to reflect off the breast and other raised feathers. Capture the billowy, translucent quality of feathers.
Keep a Sketchbook
Filling a sketchbook helps you see progress over time. Draw birds from life, memory, photos, and your imagination. Experiment with mediums like pen and watercolor too. A sketchbook provides room to freely grow artistically.
Study Masters
Looking at art by acclaimed bird painters like David Sibley, Lars Jonsson, and Bruno Liljefors provides inspiration. Analyze what makes their techniques so effective. Strive to infuse your own work with a similar level of artistry and observation.
Helpful Resources for Learning to Draw Birds
Here are some resources to provide extra guidance on your bird drawing journey:
Books
- “The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds” by John Muir Laws
- “Drawing Birds” by Bill Thomson
- “The Art of Drawing Birds” by Tim Wootton
- “Bird Watching for Dummies” by Bill Thompson III
These books offer step-by-step tutorials, tips, and beautiful illustrations to inspire your bird artwork.
YouTube Tutorials
Many talented artists share bird drawing demos on YouTube. Some recommended channels include:
- Draw Like a Boss
- Irina Vinnik
- Makoccino
- FineArt-Tips
Watching tutorials lets you learn techniques at your own pace. Seeing methods illustrated is very helpful.
Online Classes
If you prefer structured learning, online bird drawing classes are full of great lessons. Sites like Skillshare, CreativeLive, and Udemy offer classes for all levels covering tools, techniques, textures, realism, and more.
Field Guides
Peterson Field Guides and National Geographic Field Guides offer detailed descriptions and illustrations of birds to aid identification in the field. These make excellent drawing references for accuracy.
Subreddits
Reddit communities like r/Birding, r/Ornithology, r/birdwatching and r/BirdDrawings provide support and feedback for aspiring bird artists. You can share your work and progress.
Conclusion
Learning to draw birds is very rewarding, but requires patience and consistent practice. Start with bird anatomy basics, drawings from photos, quick sketches, and shading techniques. Use quality supplies and resources to improve realism and detail. Join communities for support and inspiration.
Immerse yourself in observing birds from life and celebrate small successes. Before you know it, you’ll have the skills to capture birds’ beauty, diversity, and lively essence in your artwork.