Drawing Birds

This book is an expert guide to producing beautiful lifelike drawings of birds in their natural habitat. Artists of all interests will find a lot to inspire them in this detailed, practical and beautiful guide on drawing birds. The book includes sections on materials, basic techniques and reference gathering, as well as how to draw the key features of birds such as beaks, eyes, claws, wings and feathers. A special section focuses on birds in flight, and this is followed by chapters on the main bird groups including: Waders and water birds, Wildfowl, Birds of prey, Owls, Garden and woodland birds, Seabirds and Game birds.

Each chapter covers the techniques specific to the group as well as numerous examples and a full step-by-step demonstration. The absence of colour means that Andrew uses other aspects such as pattern, shading and shape to give his paintings life and interest. Written for artists who wish to apply their skills to drawing birds, as well as experienced artists who want to improve their drawing skills, this is an expert guide to producing exquisitely rendered, lifelike drawings of birds in their natural habitats and nothing could be more inspirational than Andrew’s accurately observed and truly beautiful drawings.

Book Contents

Introduction6
The history of
drawing birds8
Materials12
How to start18
BIRD FEATURES24
Wings24
Feathers26
Eyes28
Beaks and bills30
Feet32
BIRDS IN FLIGHT34
Bird groups40
Waders and waterbirds42
Common moorhen step
by step 44
Wildfowl50
Canada geese step by step52
Seabirds58
Atlantic puffin step by step60
Birds of prey64
Lanner falcon step by step66
Owls72
Snowy owl step by step74
Garden and woodland birds80
European goldfinch step by step82
Game birds88
Red-legged partridge step jby step90
Index96