Drawing a realistic hummingbird with just a pencil may seem daunting, but with some basic drawing techniques and an understanding of hummingbird anatomy, it can be done. In this step-by-step guide, we will cover everything you need to know to draw a beautiful, lifelike hummingbird.
Gather Your Materials
To draw a hummingbird, you will need:
- Drawing paper – Use thicker paper like watercolor paper that can handle layering graphite and blending. Avoid thin copy paper.
- Pencil – Use a set of pencils ranging from 6B (softest) to 4H (hardest). Good options are 2B, HB, and 2H pencils.
- Blending stump or tissue – For smoothing and blending graphite
- Kneaded eraser – For lifting graphite to create highlights
- Ruler – For measuring proportions
Optional but helpful materials include:
- Tracing paper – For transferring an initial sketch onto drawing paper
- Color pencils – For adding color after completing the graphite drawing
- Craft knife – For sharpening pencils and cleaning up edges
- Tortillon – For blending in small, tight areas
Understand Hummingbird Anatomy
Hummingbirds have unique anatomy that distinguishes them from other birds. Here are some key features to note when drawing them:
- Long, slender beak for reaching nectar in flowers
- Small, compact bodies with short tails and wings
- Wings that can beat up to 80 times per second, making them appear blurred
- Short legs and small feet
- Bright, iridescent plumage, often with metallic green, blue, or red coloring
- Males may have flashy plumage, while females are more camouflaged
Study photos and illustrations of hummingbirds to understand their proportions before starting your drawing. Pay special attention to the size and shape of the beak, wings, and tail.
Start with a Light Sketch
First lightly sketch the basic shape of the hummingbird with an HB pencil. Since details will be added later, focus on getting the overall proportions correct:
- Draw a circle for the head and curved lines for the body
- Add an oval overlapping the body for the chest
- Extend curved lines from the bottom of the chest for the belly and tail
- Sketch long, pointed beak extending from the head circle
- Add almond shapes for the wings attached to the body
Use photo references to help place elements like the beak, wings, and feet in the right spots. Lightly mark the joints between body parts as guides.
Refine the Body Shape
Once you have the basic shape, start refining the outlines of the body. Use swooping lines to delineate the contours of the head, chest, belly, and tail. Develop the beak shape and add a circle for the eye. Add dashed lines across the body for the wing joints. Keep your lines very light in this stage so they can easily be erased later.
As you work, use a ruler or proportional dividers to ensure you are keeping the same proportions from your initial sketch. For example, the beak length may be one third the head size. Regularly step back from your drawing to check that the shapes look accurate.
Detail the Wings
Hummingbirds have unique wing shapes that are important in capturing their likeness. The wings have pointed tips and curved, tapered outlines. Detail the wings as follows:
- Start with the basic almond wing shape
- Use swooping lines to delineate the top and bottom edges of each wing
- Add shorter lines within for the primary and secondary wing feathers
- Draw the tip of each wing with angular lines to form a point
- Add some faint lines between feathers to show definition
Make sure to vary the feather detailing on each wing so they don’t look exactly identical and flat. Keep lightly sketching until you are happy with the shape and flow of the wings.
Add the Tail and Feet
Hummingbirds have small, forked tails. To draw the tail:
- Extend two curved lines from the end of the body toward the tail tip
- Draw forked angled lines at the end for the forked shape
- Add a third line between the forks for definition
For the feet, sketch inverted U shapes for the upper legs. Add small ovals for the feet with three tiny lines extending out for the toes.
Refine Details with Darker Lines
Once the body dimensions and proportions are correct, start drawing over the major lines with heavier, darker strokes. Use smooth, fluid lines to capture the grace and delicacy of a hummingbird.
Here are some tips for adding details in this stage:
- Darken the outlines of the wings, head, beak, chest, and tail
- Add a dark dot for the eye and curve for the crown
- Define the beak with darker tip and upper and lower mandible lines
- Draw out the forked shape of the tail in darker lines
- Add scapulars and coverts on the upper wing with parallel strokes
Work slowly and methodically to get clean, accurate lines. Allow your pencil lines to cross and layer naturally to achieve a smooth, blended look.
Erase and Refine Lines
Once you have established the details, carefully erase any sketch lines that are no longer needed:
- Gently erase guidelines and early sketches
- Lift graphite to soften or modify lines, using a kneaded eraser
- Refine outlines and sharpen edges with your eraser as needed
Correct any small errors in your outlines or add finer details like feather textures. Don’t press too hard as you erase or you may damage the drawing surface. Work slowly and clean small areas at a time.
Start Adding Shading
Building up the shading is what transforms your sketch into a realistic, finished hummingbird drawing. Begin shading lightly in these areas:
- Add light gray shading to the underside of the bird
- Fill in the pupils of the eyes
- Lightly shade the inside of the beak and crown
- Add diagonal hatching to create texture on the feet
Use a very sharp 2B pencil and light touch. Leave lots of white space for highlights to be added later. Blend with tissue or a stump as needed for smoothness.
Deepen the Tones
Once you have established the preliminary values, start building up the darks. Increase pressure and focus shading on these key areas:
- Add heavier shading underneath the head, chest, and belly
- Darken the eye pupils and fill in the irises
- Deepen the shadows inside the beak, wings, and tail feathers
Use your full range of pencils from 2B to 6B to create rich darks. Blend with a tortillon in circular motions to smooth the gradients. Leave some areas, like the face and breast, lighter.
Refine the Feathers
To make the feathers appear iridescent and lifelike:
- Leave feather tips and edges white to show shine and luster
- Create thin, overlapping strokes following the curves of the feathers
- Cross hatch layers of graphite to build up iridescence
- Vary pressure for depth and tonal contrast
Take your time in this step to make sure each feather has its own shape. Work from the top overlapping layers downwards. Leave gaps between the feathers to show fluffiness.
Add Accent Details
Finalize your hummingbird drawing by accentuating these fine details:
- Develop the catch lights in the eyes with bright white highlights
- Use a sharp pencil to add texture to the feet
- Create some small, delicate feathers around the face
- Add a cast shadow on the lower body
- Lightly draw in some background elements like leaves
Keep your pencil strokes very fine and subtle. Lift out highlights on the beak, head, and breast with a kneaded eraser. Sign your name and date your artwork in the corner!
Add Color (Optional)
For extra realism, consider adding color with colored pencils. Glaze light layers over your graphite foundation:
- Apply light greens, blues and violets over the body
- Blend with white to create iridescent mixes
- Deepen the eye color and beak tip
- Add warmth to the feet and tail
Avoid pressing hard or you may disturb the graphite underneath. Let your drawing shine through as you build transparent washes of color.
Conclusion
With some patience and practice, you can create beautiful, realistic hummingbird drawings using just graphite and colored pencils. The keys are understanding anatomy, starting with light sketches, and slowly building up detail and tone. Refine your shading, add iridescence to the feathers, and put in finishing accents. Soon you will be able to capture the grace, dynamism, and jewel-like colors of hummingbirds in your own pencil drawings.
