how to draw a realistic owl

This tutorial explains how to depict an owl's face and head footstep by step from the front view and provides pencil cartoon examples for each step.

Owl face drawing step by step — Owl face drawing pace by step

Delight notation that some of the construction lines in this tutorial have been fabricated darker so that they are easier to see. If you are drawing using pencil and newspaper you should brand very calorie-free strokes for the line portion of the cartoon.

Step i – Draw the Construction Lines for the Owl'due south Head

Owl face construction lines — Owl confront construction lines

Draw several guide/structure lines to help you establish the basic shape and major proportions of the owl's head.

The first thing yous want to draw is a straight vertical line. This line will assistance you determine the middle of your drawing area and insure that both halves of the face/head are relatively fifty-fifty in width.

Next draw the outer shape of the head followed by the two angled lines that will found the "horns" (its a horned owl) and "eyebrow" feathers.

Finally draw the shape of the face up which in this example is basically a prepare of three curves.

Step 2 – Draw the Basic Shapes of the Head

Owl face line drawing with construction lines — Owl confront line drawing with construction lines

Based on the guides from the previous step draw the various features of the owl'southward head and face such as the eyes, beak, "horns" and diverse patterns of it's face as well as the smaller curves of the outline of information technology's caput. Go on in heed that the owl'south optics are basically circular merely their peak portion will be slightly covered by the feathers.

Step 3 – Clean Line Drawing

Erase the construction lines, fill up in the dark areas of the optics (leave the highlights white) and add some small hints of the diverse patters of the feathers.

Step 4 – Begin Shading

Begin shading by calculation strokes that become forth the shape of the owl'due south head/face. You can use one directional strokes or a light crosshatch where appropriate (in this case the top of the head).

Leave the lighter plume areas such as those above the optics, around the pecker and forth the cervix white (for this stride).

For an explanation of different stroke types see:

Shading Techniques and Stroke Types Drawing Tutorial

Footstep five – Refine the Shading

Owl face drawing shading — Owl confront drawing shading

Add some more crosshatch strokes around the eye areas and darken some areas to create the individual feathers along the top of and beneath the head. Owls of this type also tend to have a sort of night outline are effectually the sides of their confront so darken that as well.

Draw the darker feathers around the neck area (between the two sets of light feathers) with short strokes darker at the base of operations and lighter toward their outer ends.

Step half dozen – Finish the Drawing

Finish the shading by adding more than overlapping strokes to reinforce the darker areas of the owl. Make the feathers more than pronounced but don't completely blend the strokes. Having visible strokes will give a more feather similar texture to the owl making information technology look more than realistic.

Finally add some lighter strokes (curving in slightly dissimilar directions) to the white feather areas of the owl's feathers to create a sort of "fluff" of feathers effect.

Once you are done refining the shading you should have a finished cartoon of the owl.

Conclusion

This is a adequately challenging tutorial as the owl drawing is very detailed and consists of and then many variation of strokes. If you would like an easier bones line drawing tutorial of a bird y'all can check out:

How to Draw Bird Stride past Step – Side View

If you are fine with the difficult and would similar some other like tutorial and then see:

How to Draw a Realistic Hawk's Caput Step by Step