Drawing birds with colored pencils is an exciting way to express creativity, whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate artist, or even a pro artist
. It’s a fun and therapeutic activity that brings nature’s diversity right onto the page. The wings of birds, as they flap, sing, or dance, offer endless opportunities for sketching and drawing.
Through this tutorial, you’ll dive into the techniques that bring these creatures to life with realistic detail, no matter your skill level. It’s a brief yet rewarding guide to unlocking your creative juices.
General Bird Sketch
As a beginner, using a reference photo is crucial. Start by creating a light outline with 4H or HB pencils.
Focus on shaping the bird’s body, including the eyes, wings, and legs. Don’t rush the sketching process take your time to define the basic structure. As you sketch, remember to adjust the basin of the bird’s form and correct any mistakes by erasing and refining the details.
Shading will help bring depth to your bird’s shape as you move forward.
Basic Color Shading
Start by shading the bird’s head with a light blue colored pencil, then layer dark blue on the neck and blend black for depth.
For the breast, mix light yellow and blue, keeping the light consistent. Use Superfine 504 Color Pencils for the body, ensuring uniformity. The shading may vary depending on the bird’s species.
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Step Advanced Coloring
In advanced coloring, focusing on subtle strokes is crucial to achieve realistic results. Use sharpened pencils to apply darker strokes to the feathers, working carefully with patience.
Don’t rush the process; take time to layer and refine each detail, referring to your reference photo to stay true to the subject.
This attention to detail ensures you cover the whole drawing and achieve a closer likeness to your intended image.
Wrapping it up with more color
As you work with color pencils, focus on adding layers to enhance contrast and texture.
Lightly shade the feathers and breast, blending in darker hues towards the underbelly for definition. Pay special attention to the beak, eyes, and legs, using soft strokes for softness and sharper ones for the scaly texture of the legs.
Wrap up by adjusting the light and dark areas to bring out the full impression of the bird.
Challenges You’ll Likely Encounter
Drawing with colored pencils can be challenging, especially when layering and blending colors.
Using low-quality pencils often results in one color overpowering the others, preventing the creation of intermediate or secondary colors.
I found that starting with a light base layer and pressing hard as I went helped overcome this issue.
Don’t let materials hinder your artwork; find a workaround to express yourself.
Conclusion
Drawing birds with colored pencils is a fun way to capture their vibrant beauty. Start by sketching the basic shape of the bird, paying attention to the wings, beak, and feathers. Once the outline is complete, layer different colors to bring the bird to life, using light strokes to build up the color gradually.
Focus on shading and blending to create depth, especially in areas like the wings and tail feathers. With practice, you can create realistic and colorful bird drawings that showcase their stunning details. Enjoy experimenting with different colors and techniques to bring your birds to life!
