How to Draw a Parrot - Palm Cockatoo

Post by Madeleine Dube

How to Draw Birds

1. Draw a rough outline with 4H pencil

You can start from a reference picture. Start by tracing a rough outline of the main shape, work at it until you get the proportions right and the main elements where you want them to be. Use a pale pencil, such as 4H. It is normal for this phase of the drawing to take a lot of time and to be revised multiple times.

2. Draw the beak main contours and edges with 2H pencil

Start with the part of the drawing that mostly draw your attention and that will be the main focus point. For me, it was the beak.

3. Draw the crest contours and edges

Follow with the crest. For this palm cockatoo, the feathers in the crest are numerous and superimposed on each other. Drawing the crest main contours will require patience as you will need to understand the feathers' position and movement from the reference image.

4. Draw the neck's feathers contours and edges

Work the feathers neck.

5. Draw the wings and body contours and edges

Work the main bodily lines contours adding in the texture of the feathers. For the wings, study your reference image for the presence of different kinds of feathers. For this palm cockatoo, there were three different kinds of feathers representing three superimposed layers.

6. Add in details and shadows with HB pencil

Add in more details and shadows. The crest will once again require more detailed work.

7. Add in details of feathers on body

Add feathers details and shadows on body.

8. Add in details of feathers on wings

The wings will have three different feathers textures to reproduce.

9. Add in darker contours and edges with 2B pencil

Add an extra layer of darker contours to give more precision and depth to your drawing.

10. Add in final shadows with 4B pencil

Work on finishing shadows touches to model further your drawing and make it more dimensional. Use a paler pencil if you need some final light texture. Know when to stop adding in details to keep your drawing balanced.