#simplycreate a bird with sketching pencils

How to draw a bird with sketching pencils

Jennie Webber, artist and illustrator, finds all her inspiration in animals and nature. In this tutorial you will learn how to draw an owl using graphite sketching pencils and blending sticks!

How to draw a bird with sketching pencils

Jennie Webber, artist and illustrator, finds all her inspiration in animals and nature. In this tutorial you will learn how to draw an owl using graphite sketching pencils and blending sticks!

The materials in your kit

Simply Sketching Pencil Set
Simply Drawing Paper

Go To Materials Go To Steps

Your step by step guide

Pencils

The graphite sketching pencils are offered in different grades. The 2B and the B are the hardest of the soft category, whereas 8B is super soft. Ideal for shading, and dark tones. Jennie recommends paper above 100gsm for this tutorial.

Next step

Map out the areas of the bird

Start with a 4B pencil, to map out the areas of the bird.

Tip: to draw the wigs, imagine an upside-down egg shape.

Next step

Start with a 4B pencil, to map out the areas of the bird.

Tip: to draw the wigs, imagine an upside-down egg shape.

Make a stronger outline

Use a 6B to make the outline stronger. And with a B, using the pencil quite hard to make even stronger lines.

Tip: draw everything that is around the eyes and the beak for more consistency!

Next step

Use a 6B to make the outline stronger. And with a B, using the pencil quite hard to make even stronger lines.

Tip: draw everything that is around the eyes and the beak for more consistency!

Draw the feathers

Draw the feathers using an 8B pencil.

Tip: always keep some white in the eyes for more realistic results.

Next step

Draw the feathers using an 8B pencil.

Tip: always keep some white in the eyes for more realistic results.

Use the rubber

Use the rubber to tidy a bit your drawing.

Next step

Use the rubber to tidy a bit your drawing.

Add the feet

Go back to the B, the hardest pencil, and start to add the details of the feet of the bird.

Next step

Go back to the B, the hardest pencil, and start to add the details of the feet of the bird.

Add some shadows

Add some shadows to give gravity and weight to the bird.

Next step

Add some shadows to give gravity and weight to the bird.

Decide when it looks finished

Know when to stop, when it looks finished, do not do more. You can also use the pencils on the side for light effects.

Next step

Know when to stop, when it looks finished, do not do more. You can also use the pencils on the side for light effects.

Use the blending stick

Finally, use the blending stick to add some gradient on the edges of your bird.

Next step

Finally, use the blending stick to add some gradient on the edges of your bird.

Your step by step guide

Step 1

Pencils

Next step

Map out the areas of the bird

Start with a 4B pencil, to map out the areas of the bird.

Tip: to draw the wigs, imagine an upside-down egg shape.

Next step

Start with a 4B pencil, to map out the areas of the bird.

Tip: to draw the wigs, imagine an upside-down egg shape.

Make a stronger outline

Use a 6B to make the outline stronger. And with a B, using the pencil quite hard to make even stronger lines.

Tip: draw everything that is around the eyes and the beak for more consistency!

Next step

Use a 6B to make the outline stronger. And with a B, using the pencil quite hard to make even stronger lines.

Tip: draw everything that is around the eyes and the beak for more consistency!

Draw the feathers

Draw the feathers using an 8B pencil.

Tip: always keep some white in the eyes for more realistic results.

Next step

Draw the feathers using an 8B pencil.

Tip: always keep some white in the eyes for more realistic results.

Use the rubber

Use the rubber to tidy a bit your drawing.

Next step

Use the rubber to tidy a bit your drawing.

Add the feet

Go back to the B, the hardest pencil, and start to add the details of the feet of the bird.

Next step

Go back to the B, the hardest pencil, and start to add the details of the feet of the bird.

Add some shadows

Add some shadows to give gravity and weight to the bird.

Next step

Add some shadows to give gravity and weight to the bird.

Decide when it looks finished

Know when to stop, when it looks finished, do not do more. You can also use the pencils on the side for light effects.

Next step

Know when to stop, when it looks finished, do not do more. You can also use the pencils on the side for light effects.

Use the blending stick

Finally, use the blending stick to add some gradient on the edges of your bird.

Next step

Finally, use the blending stick to add some gradient on the edges of your bird.

What you’ll need

Simply Sketching Pencils

Daler-Rowney Simply offers a comprehensive range of Sketching Pencils sets. Each sets will provide professional or novice artists a variety of sketching pencils allowing them to achieve artistic depth to their sketches.

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Simply Drawing & Sketching Paper

Daler-Rowney Simply Drawing & Sketching Paper is a comprehensive range of pads with good quality papers supporting the most important dry techniques, from sketching and drawing to marker and pastel works.

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About the artist

Jennie Webber (Wickings) is an artist and freelance illustrator, specialising in animals and nature. Using inks, watercolour and printmaking, Jennie draws inspiration from the world’s more bizarre animals, colourful marine life and unique ecosystems.