How to Draw an Owl

Drawing an owl can be both challenging and rewarding. It can be difficult and satisfying to draw an owl. Because of the fine details in their feathers and eyes, these majestic animals create captivating subjects for artists. In this video on how to draw an easy owl, we’ll show you step-by-step how to sketch an owl using colored pencils and charcoal, paying special attention to the realism of its feathers and eyes. You can follow along and improve your drawing abilities whether you’re a beginner or an advanced artist.

Learn how to sketch an owl with just a pencil and paper, concentrating on the intricate details of owl anatomy and how to draw owl feathers. This step-by-step lesson will show you how to draw an owl using colored pencils or graphite, both of which will result in a beautiful image with realistic feathers. You’ll learn the techniques needed to master the art of drawing birds as we lead you through the process of making a realistic owl drawing with pencil shading.

In this owl drawing tutorial, we’re going to go into the fascinating realm of drawing realistic feathers and fur so that even complete beginners may master it.

This narrated step-by-step instruction will give you the confidence you need to realize your artistic ambitions, whether you want to draw an owl picture that is incredibly realistic or choose a more approachable method to show a baby owl with ease.

✅ MATERIALS Used :

□ Tombow Mono Graph 2H Pencil (For Sketch)

□ Generals Charcoal Pencil 2B & 6B

□ General Charcoal Stick 4B

□ Mechanical Pencil 2.0mm by Faber-Castell

□ Tombow Mono Zero Eraser

□ Blending stump/ Tissue paper / Beauty Blender

□ Posca Uni-Ball Pen

□ General’s Carbon Sketch Pencil

□ Electric Eraser by Tenwin

□ Fabercastle Polychromos Coloured pencils

• Black 199***
• Cobalt Turquoise 153***
• Cadmium yellow 107***
• Middle Cadmium red 217***
• Dark yellow Chrom 109***
• Walnut Brown 177***

□ Indenting tool ( Nailart tool, the wooden embossing tool can be used)

□ Kneaded Eraser

□ Staedtler Lumograph black pencil

□ Bristol Paper 220gsm A4

The Colour Swateches I’ve used are given below:

Introduction: The Art of Sketching Owls

It Takes time and careful attention to draw an owl.

It’s essential to understand the composition of owl feathers and wings before beginning the drawing process.

This article will help you make a lifelike depiction of a realistic snowy owl using graphite and colored pencils by breaking down the process into simple phases

TRACING

Tracing Method: A Good Place to Start

To begin, we recommend using the tracing method, especially if you’re new to drawing or want to capture accurate proportions. Here’s how you can start:

1. Gather Your Materials: You will need a reference image of an owl and a blank drawing paper. Hold a 2H pencil at an angle and hatch the back of the printout with narrow lines horizontally and vertically.
2. Transfer the Image: Place the reference printout over the blank paper and trace the owl’s details using a sharp pencil. The graphite on the back will transfer the outline to your drawing paper.

The tracing method helps you focus on the physical demands of drawing, hand-eye coordination, and muscle memory—essential skills for controlling drawing materials.

What’s the Point of TRACING?

Templates, sketches, and photographs can be transferred to paper with the use of the tracing method. If you want to start drawing or painting from scratch but are having trouble getting the results you want, this may assist.

Learning to trace a drawing is a great way to get a feel for shapes and proportions as you follow and grasp the contours. If you want to get better at drawing, this can help you do that, too. If you’re in a pinch and need to whip up a quick drawing, this is a great tool to have.

Which surface you choose to transfer your drawing on is also affected by the tracing process. Canvas is not transparent, hence special techniques are needed in order to trace onto the fabric. Here is a quick rundown of some of the advantages of drawing by hand

INDENTING:

Indenting: Adding Tiny Details

After tracing, you’ll have a basic sketch of the owl. Now, use an indenting or embossing tool to add intricate details that should be emphasized before shading.

CREATE BLACK BACKGROUND with CHARCOAL:

Create an outline division for the background using a 2B charcoal pencil.

Then, fill in the background evenly using a 4B charcoal stick and blend it with a blending tool. Use a kneaded eraser to selectively remove charcoal to match your reference image.

Sketching the Owl

Enhance your sketch with an HB pencil by drawing the eyes, pupils (incomplete circles), and the owl’s beak.

Owl Eyes Drawing

For the Owl Eye drawing. Here’s how to make them come to life:

1. Start with the Eyes: Use a Steadler lumograph black pencil to draw the eyes. Begin with circles and fill in the really dark areas. Blend using a blending stump for a smudged look.
2. Adding Color: Apply Cadmium Orange, Dark Yellow Chrome, and a touch of Cadmium Red to the eyes. Use a blending stump to blend these colors evenly. Leave some areas unsaturated for a natural look.
3. Fine-Tuning: Use Walnut Brown for shadowed areas in the iris and Cobalt Turquoise for added depth. Repeat these swatches until you achieve the desired results. Add Cadmium Yellow and Black as needed.
4. Highlight: Use a Posca Uni-Ball white pen to add bright highlights to the eyes, making them stand out.

Owl Feathers: Adding Texture

For the Owl Feather; I’m going to add the details along with the Fur/Feather’s texture. So Follow these steps:

Step 1 : Apply BASE Layer

Use a Carbon Sketch pencil to draw the basic shapes of the owl’s feathers. Blend the sketch as a base layer using a blending brush or a beauty blender or Apply the base layer of charcoal as a Base layer.

Step 2: Use Subtractive Method

Apply Tombow Mono Zero eraser to add feather texture using the Subtractive Method following the reference image.

To draw the owl feathers you must be aware of the variety of sizes and shapes, the color and pattern can help identify the species of owl and its velvety texture.

Step 3: Add DEPTH underneath the Highlights

Use a General 6B pencil to add shadowed details beneath the feathers. Blend with a Charcoal 6B pencil or a Black Polychromos pencil as needed. Refine with a Tombow Mono Zero eraser.

Repeat these steps for the other side of the owl’s face, paying attention to feather directions and textures.

Owl Beak: Detail and Depth

Give the owl’s beak depth and texture with these steps:

1. Guidelines: Use a Tombow HB pencil to sketch basic guidelines on the beak.
2. Layering: Apply the first layer of beak texture with a 2B charcoal pencil and blend using a blending brush. Build layers with a 6B charcoal pencil.
3. Highlights: Use a Tombow eraser to add highlights. Overlay with a Faber-Castell Black pencil for a glaze.

Continuing with Feather Hatchings

Keep hatching the feathers on the owl’s wings using pencils of varying softness and lines of different lengths to convey texture. Pay attention to light areas at the tips of individual feathers.

Conclusion

Drawing an owl requires patience, attention to detail, and a methodical approach. By following these step-by-step instructions and techniques, you can create a stunning and realistic owl sketch using charcoal and colored pencils. Remember to reference your image closely and practice to refine your skills.

Happy drawing!

REFERENCE IMAGE OWL: