How do I draw a easy bird?

Drawing birds can seem intimidating for beginning artists, but with some simple steps and techniques, anyone can learn how to draw a basic bird shape. The key is to start with simple geometric shapes and build up the details from there. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through the process of drawing an easy, simple bird in just a few steps.

What You Need to Draw a Bird

To draw a simple bird, you just need a few basic art supplies:

• Paper – Blank white paper, sketchbook paper, or mixed media paper all work well.
• Pencil – Use a regular #2 pencil or a set of drawing pencils ranging from soft (6B-8B) to hard (6H-8H).
• Eraser – Both a pencil eraser and a large kneaded eraser can help you make changes and fix mistakes.
• Optional: Colored pencils, pens, or markers to add detail and color. Start with just a pencil for your first bird drawing.

Step 1: Draw a Basic Bird Body Shape

Let’s start by constructing a simple bird body shape to build the rest of the drawing on top of. Follow these steps:

1. Draw a circle near the middle of your paper. This will be the bird’s head.
2. Add an oval shape below the circle, overlapping slightly. This will be the body.
3. Draw a straight or slightly curved line from the body down to where you want the tail feathers to end.
4. On either side of this line, sketch two short, slightly curved lines that will be the tips of the folded wings.

After just these basic shapes, you should have a circular head, oval body, and guidelines for the tail and wing placement. Don’t worry about detail yet – just focus on the overall proportions and shapes.

Step 2: Refine the Shape

Now we can begin refining the basic bird structure and silhouette. Here’s how to add more detail to the body:

1. Erase stray sketch marks around the main body shapes.
2. Sketch an S-shaped curve from the chest down through the tail to refine the body contour.
3. Add two short lines protruding from the S-curve to indicate the feet.
4. Refine the wings with two long, slightly curved lines extending from the body. Add shorter lines for the feathers.
5. Adjust the proportions or placement of any part of the body as needed.

At this point, you should have a more developed bird outline with chest, tail, feet, and visible wing shapes. Don’t stress about anatomy perfection yet – simple and proportional is the goal.

Step 3: Add the Head and Beak

With the body mapped out, we can start personalizing the bird’s head:

1. To form the head, draw a short arc from the top of the head down to the beak area.
2. Add another curved line from the beak to the chin to complete the profile.
3. Sketch an oval nub near the bottom of the head for the beak.
4. Refine the beak shape by drawing two short lines to indicate the upper and lower mandibles.
5. You can erase some of the circle underneath to keep the focus on the head profile.

Check the angle and proportion of the beak – it should angle slightly downwards and match the size of the head. You can make adjustments to capture the type of bird you want to create.

Step 4: Draw the Tail and Feet

To give your bird more personality, let’s add the tail feathers and feet:

1. Start with the tail by sketching a grouping of roughly parallel curves fanning out from the end of the body.
2. Draw another layer of shorter curves underneath to create layered tail feathers.
3. Refine the s-shaped toes to give them more definition.
4. Add a few simple lines at the ankles to indicate the legs.

Keep the toes and legs simple – less is more. Focus on giving the tail some flow and movement with expressive, varying curves.

Step 5: Add the Finishing Details

Finally, we can finish up our simple bird drawing with some eye and feather textures:

1. Draw a small, dark circle in the middle of the head for the eye. Add a highlight curve.
2. Use short, overlapping curved lines to fill in the wings and add feather detail.
3. Do the same for the chest and taper the feathering at the edges.
4. Lightly shade the feet and tail to add dimension. Darken the outline.
5. Erase any guideline sketches remaining in the body and background.

Keep the feathering organic and suggestive – you don’t need to draw every feather. Add any other final touches to complete your bird artwork!

Tips for Drawing Simple Birds

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when drawing beginner birds:

• Start with basic shapes and build up details slowly.
• Pay attention to the overall body proportions as you work.
• Look at photo references of birds to help with anatomy and feathers.
• Light lines allow you to easily erase and make changes.
• Be Patient! Drawing takes time and practice to improve.

Common Bird Types to Draw

Once you get comfortable drawing basic bird shapes, you can start adding more identifiable features to draw different bird species. Some good starter birds include:

• Cardinal – Red body, pointed crest, thick beak
• Owl – Large rounded head, big eyes, small hooked beak
• Hummingbird – Tiny body, long narrow beak, rapid wings
• Bluebird – Round body, wings wider than tail, small straight beak
• Robin – Orange chest, thin pointed beak, dark head

Look at pictures of the birds you want to draw and break down their important identifying features. Focus on proportion, shape, color pattern, and details like beak shape.

Creative Bird Drawing Ideas

Once you’ve mastered some basic birds, here are some fun, creative directions to take your bird drawing skills:

• Draw a flock of birds silhouetted against a colorful sky.
• Create a nature journal page with realistic colored pencil or pen drawings of birds from life.
• Illustrate a whimsical bird character with accessories like hats, clothes, or tools.
• Design repeating bird patterns or prints using simple abstracted shapes.
• Use mixed media like watercolors, ink, or collage to add colorful, textured effects.

The possibilities are endless! Follow your imagination – there’s no wrong way to draw a bird when you’re creating art for your own enjoyment and creative growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions beginners have about drawing birds:

What are some basic bird body shapes I can start with?

Circles, ovals, teardrops, and bean shapes make great basic bird body shapes. Simple triangles or curved lines can represent beaks and tails.

How do I know what size to make the different body parts?

Look at photo references of birds to get a sense of the general proportions. Typically the body is the largest part, with the head about 1/3 the size. The beak and tail are smaller accents.

What should I do if my bird drawing looks wonky or weird?

Don’t worry about mistakes! Remind yourself you’re learning a new skill. Use light lines and be willing to erase and retry any part that looks off. Refining a drawing takes patience.

How can I make my birds look more realistic?

Pay close attention to feather patterns and textures in reference photos. Add gradients, overlapping lines, and details like feet and eyes. Referencing real birds helps infuse more realism into your drawings.

What drawing tools should I use besides pencils?

For traditional drawing, colored pencils, graphite sticks, pastels, and pens can all add new dimensions. Paint, inks, and mixed media offer more options for texture and color. Use what excites your creativity!

Conclusion

Learning to draw birds is a rewarding, relaxing hobby anyone can enjoy. Start simple with basic shapes, build up details slowly, and refer often to real bird reference photos. Remain patient with yourself as you practice this new drawing skill. Let the creative process be fun and meditative. Before you know it, you’ll be creating beautiful, lively birds in your own unique style!