Drawing an owl can be a delightful and rewarding experience, whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you bring these wise and fascinating birds to life on paper.
Starting with Basic Shapes
To begin, it’s essential to use basic shapes to outline the owl’s form. For the body, draw a rounded square or an oblong shape, depending on the pose and type of owl you are drawing. The head should be a sideways oval that overlaps the body slightly. Divide the head into quarters by drawing a horizontal and a vertical line through its center. This will help you place the facial features accurately[1][2][4].
Sketching the Head and Facial Features
The head of an owl is its most distinctive feature. Refine the roundness of the head and ensure it is proportionate to the body. For the facial features, draw two large overlapping circles for the eyes, which should be close to the guidelines you drew earlier. The eyes are a crucial part of an owl’s appearance, so make sure they are large and expressive. Add a small triangle for the beak, positioned just below where the lines intersect on the head. For more detail, draw teardrop-shaped pupils and add crescent shapes above the eyes along with fine radial lines within them[2][4].
Adding the Body and Wings
Next, sketch the body and wings using flowing lines. The chest should be an oblong shape that overlaps the branch or platform the owl is sitting on. Add a curved line underneath for the belly. For the wings, use teardrop shapes that are larger at the top and taper off to a point at the bottom. Sketch the feet with long talons grasped around the branch, and outline the top curved shape of the open wings. Use reference images to capture the layered shapes of owl feathers and draw them using overlapping, flowing lines[1][2][5].
Detailing the Feathers and Texture
To give your owl a realistic and textured look, focus on the feathers. Use light sweeping strokes to draw body feathers, creating rows that overlap from the chest to the belly. Vary the sizes of the feathers for depth and interest. For the wings, use multiple levels of U-shaped lines to create layered sections of longer flight feathers. Don’t forget to add texture to the tree branch or platform the owl is sitting on[1][2].
Outlining and Final Details
Once you have the basic shapes and details in place, use a black pen or marker to outline your owl. You can make your lines thin, thick, or a combination of both, depending on the look you want to achieve. Add final details such as claw shapes, dark feather marks, and highlights in the eyes. Erase any working sketch lines to clean up your drawing and leave the completed body and features[1][2].
Adding Color and Final Touches
If you choose to color your owl, use markers or other coloring tools to bring it to life. Pay attention to the fur texture by making your lines less smooth and drawing them like little waves along the lines of your owl. Add highlights to the eyes and texture to the feathers to give your owl a more realistic appearance[1].
Most Important Facts About How to Draw an Owl
Use basic shapes: Start with a rounded square for the body and a sideways oval for the head.
Divide the head: Draw horizontal and vertical lines through the center of the head to place facial features.
Large expressive eyes: Draw overlapping circles for the eyes and add teardrop-shaped pupils.
Sketch the body and wings: Use flowing lines for the chest, belly, and wings, ensuring the wings are teardrop-shaped.
Detail the feathers: Use overlapping, flowing lines to capture the layered shapes of owl feathers.
Add texture: Use light sweeping strokes for body feathers and U-shaped lines for wing feathers.
Outline carefully: Use a black pen or marker to outline your owl, and erase any working sketch lines.
Final details: Add claw shapes, dark feather marks, and highlights in the eyes.
Color and texture: Use markers to color and add fur texture by drawing wavy lines along the outline.
