Drawing Birds With Coloured Pencils

How to Draw Birds with Coloured Pencils

Drawing birds can be a difficult task for beginners, but with the right tools and techniques you can soon get the hang of it. Coloured pencils are an excellent medium for creating detailed and vibrant bird drawings. Whether you’re a skilled artist or just starting out, these tips and tricks will help you to create beautiful bird drawings in no time.

Choose Your Pencils

Coloured pencils come in a range of types, so it’s important to select the right ones for your bird drawing. For detailed work, you’ll want to use a quality range of pencils and look out for ones that are soft and highly pigmented. If you’re a beginner, you may want to opt for a set of pre-sharpened pencils as these will make the drawing process easier.

When choosing pencils for your bird drawing, it’s important to select a range of colours. For feathers, you’ll want to pick a variety of blues, greens, browns, and whites. For beaks, eyes, and claws you’ll want to choose yellow, orange, and black pencils.

Find a Reference Image

Once you’ve picked your pencils, it’s time to find a reference image. This will help you to draw the bird accurately and in proportion. Having a reference image to hand will also help you to capture the nuances of the bird’s feathers and facial features.

When choosing a reference image, it’s important to pick one that is in focus and shows a good range of detail. If you’re drawing from a photograph, it’s also worth considering the angle and position of the bird, as this will help you to create a balanced drawing.

Plan Your Drawing

Before you start drawing, it’s essential that you plan the layout of the bird. Use your reference image to measure the size and shape of the bird, and draw a light outline on your paper. This will help you to create a balanced drawing and ensure that all of the elements fit together correctly.

Once you have your outline, you can begin to add details. Start by drawing the feathers and beak, then move on to the eyes, claws, and legs. Finally, you can use your pencils to add shading and texture.

Add Shading and Texture

Shading and texture will help to bring your bird drawing to life, so it’s important to add these details carefully. Start by adding an even layer of light shading to the bird’s body and face, then use a combination of pencil strokes to create the feathers. For a realistic look, you can add dark and light patches to the feathers to create a range of tones.

To make the bird’s eyes stand out, you can also use a white pencil to highlight the area around the eyes. This will give the drawing a three-dimensional look and will help to create a striking effect.

Finish Your Drawing

Once you’ve completed the drawing, it’s important to check it over and make sure that all of the details are correct. If you’re happy with the outcome, you can then add any finishing touches such as a background.

For a vibrant look, try adding a range of colours and patterns to the background. This will help to create an eye-catching effect and will draw attention to your bird drawing.

Drawing birds with coloured pencils can be a rewarding experience. With a little practice, you’ll soon be able to create beautiful and vibrant drawings that you can be proud of. By following the tips outlined above, you’ll be able to achieve professional-looking results in no time.