| Whatever you attempt to draw the principles are the | | | | you come to draw them it will help to understand |
| same and it definitely applies to the subject of how to | | | | what's under those feathers, to be blunt its quite a |
| draw wildlife, be it birds, mammals or wild flowers. | | | | scrawny odd looking creature! They have a thin usually |
| Before you start drawing just relax and have a good | | | | bent back necks and under those wing feathers are |
| look at it, if you have enough time before it moves off! | | | | folded arms, if you hold your arms out to the side then |
| Its challenging but once you know how to draw wildlife | | | | this is just how a bird does it when flying, and when at |
| there's nothing like it. | | | | rest its arms are folded back. Its legs are mostly under |
| Familiarize yourself with the subject | | | | feathers, the part you see is actually the toes with the |
| Familiarize yourself with it, follow the outlines, see | | | | rest of the foot going up to the heel, the calf, knee and |
| where they meet each other. Look at the size of each | | | | thigh are normally under the feathers. If you crouch |
| part in relation to other parts, then if necessary use | | | | with your legs bent and just the balls of your feet on |
| your pencil to measure proportions, comparing them to | | | | the ground and your arms folded back by your sides |
| each other. Look at it and try to understand the | | | | that is how a bird normally stands. All this will help you |
| perspective and foreshortening if it is at an angle to | | | | to know what's happening when you see birds moving |
| you. All this will save a lot of time when you | | | | about and flying. |
| commence drawing. | | | | Quick sketches. |
| How much to draw? | | | | If it is a bird or mammal or anything else on the move |
| You need to decide at the start how much of the | | | | its best to do lots of quick sketches, don't worry about |
| subject you are going to draw. Do you want to draw | | | | detail just get down its shape and posture and don't |
| all of it or part of it? Best not to just start drawing and | | | | think about it just be spontaneous. This will go a long |
| manage to only get part of what you want to draw | | | | way to getting to know its character, the way it |
| on the paper! Measure the height against the width and | | | | moves and stands. |
| mark these extremities on your paper. | | | | This is were a sketch book comes in, fill it up with |
| Very lightly sketch in the over all shape, in this instance | | | | these sketches so that you have a valuable source of |
| a bird or the part of the bird you are interested in. | | | | reference for later drawings. Make sure it is easy to |
| Putting pencil to paper is nothing to be afraid of, just | | | | hold, not too big but at the same time not too small. If it |
| enjoy your self at this stage your not needing to | | | | is small it will cramp your drawing and will get in the |
| produce a master piece to hang in a gallery! And like I | | | | way of capturing the subject. |
| said keep your drawing light, very light at this stage so | | | | When you are drawing try and draw with your whole |
| as you can easily remove any lines you don't want. | | | | arm, this will go a long way to producing a better result. |
| When you are happy with how it looks on the paper | | | | Which pencils to use? |
| you can relax knowing that the work you put in from | | | | Now for what you are going to draw with, I am just |
| now on will not be a waste of time. | | | | going to cover pencils here. Charcoal, pastels, coloured |
| Starting the drawing. | | | | pencils and pen and ink are for more advanced work, |
| For a bird first sketch out the overall body shape, then | | | | perhaps not so much for charcoal but certainly for pen |
| the head, tail and wings and then follow up with the | | | | and ink. |
| legs, beak, eyes and main feather areas like on the | | | | To start with I would recommend only using pencils |
| wings. For a mammal first the body then the neck, | | | | from 'B' upwards, anything below that like 'HB' or the 'H' |
| head, legs and then tail. | | | | range will be too hard for sketching. You could |
| Choose one part of the animal as a measure to help | | | | experiment with these at a later date and see what |
| you get every thing in proportion. For say a wolf, use | | | | you can achieve but they are not suitable for drawing |
| the head, see how many times its length goes into the | | | | as discussed above. Try out the 'B' range, the higher |
| body, legs, neck and tail. Remember to keep drawing | | | | the number the softer they get so see what you are |
| lightly at this stage so that you can easily remove | | | | most happy with. |
| unwanted lines. | | | | Eraser and paper. |
| Draw through one part in order to see why another is | | | | As for an eraser then definitely use a 'Soft Putty |
| coming out in that place. What I mean is that if a leg is | | | | Eraser', you can mould these into points for detailed |
| passing behind another then draw how you imagine | | | | work and they remove pencil more successfully also |
| the leg looks behind the other in this way you will get it | | | | there good for cleaning the paper around your |
| emerging in the right place. Also look at negative | | | | drawing. |
| spaces, these are the spaces between say the legs | | | | For the paper you are going to use then use a good |
| and the legs and the body. Make sure they look right in | | | | quality with a slightly rough surface, don't use a very |
| your drawing as these help in getting the position of | | | | smooth surface but again you can experiment later. Its |
| legs etc in the right place. | | | | all ways good to try different things because you |
| What's different about birds? | | | | never know what you will find out. |
| Birds are different from other animals because there | | | | Following these guide lines will go a long way to helping |
| body and limbs are covered by feathers. So when | | | | you produce the sort of wildlife drawings you aspire to! |