Remember that frustrating feeling when you tried to draw something and it just didn’t look right? Learning how to draw an easy parrot can be surprisingly simple and rewarding! This guide provides a step-by-step approach, perfect for beginners, to create a charming parrot drawing. You’ll learn basic shapes, simple techniques, and color strategies, ultimately allowing you to create your very own colorful avian masterpiece. Let’s get started!
Drawing the Parrot’s Body
This section focuses on creating the foundational shapes of your parrot. We’ll start with the body, then move to the head and tail. Mastering these initial steps will give you a strong base for adding detail later.
Creating the Basic Body Shape
- Start with an oval: Draw a slightly elongated oval shape. This will form the main body of your parrot. Think of it as a slightly lopsided egg. The size of the oval determines the size of your parrot, so choose wisely! A larger oval means a larger parrot, and vice-versa.
- Adding the Tail: Extend the bottom of the oval with a short, curved line. This will be the base of your parrot’s tail. The curve should gently slope downwards, giving the tail a natural, feathery look. Experiment with different tail lengths and curves to achieve your desired style.
Defining the Head
- Attaching the Head: Draw a smaller circle slightly overlapping the top of the oval. This circle represents your parrot’s head. The degree of overlap dictates the neck length. A small overlap indicates a short neck, while a larger overlap leads to a longer neck.
- Refining the Head Shape: Once you have the basic circle, gently refine its shape. Parrots’ heads are not perfectly round; slightly flatten the bottom of the circle to create a more realistic head shape. You can add a small point or curve at the bottom to denote the beak’s starting point.
Adding the Parrot’s Features
Now that we have the basic form of the parrot, we can add in the defining features that will bring your drawing to life. We’ll focus on the beak, eyes, and feet in this section.
Drawing the Beak
- The Upper Beak: Draw a slightly curved, triangular shape starting from the point you defined earlier at the bottom of the parrot’s head. This will be the upper beak. The size and curvature of the beak determine the type of parrot you’re drawing. Larger, more hooked beaks are common in macaws, while smaller beaks might suit smaller parrot species.
- The Lower Beak: Below the upper beak, draw a smaller, slightly shorter triangle. This is the lower beak. Make sure there’s a small gap between the upper and lower beaks. The lower beak should generally be slightly less curved than the upper beak.
Adding Eyes and Feet
- Eyes: Add two small circles for the eyes. Place them on either side of the beak, slightly above its base. These circles represent the pupils. Consider adding a smaller, brighter circle within each pupil to give the eyes more life and shine. Experiment with positioning to create different expressions for your parrot.
- Feet: At the bottom of the oval body, draw two short, slightly curved lines to represent the parrot’s legs. Add small claws to the bottom of each leg. Parrot feet have zygodactyl arrangement (two toes pointing forward, two pointing backward). Try to capture this unique arrangement in your drawing.
Adding Feathers and Detail
This section introduces the details that will significantly enhance the realism of your parrot drawing. We’ll focus on adding feathers and refining the lines to create a more finished product.
Feathers
- Tail Feathers: Draw several slightly curved lines extending from the tail base, radiating outward to create a feathery look. Vary the lengths of these lines to add texture and dimension to the tail. You can also add smaller lines branching off from the main lines to simulate individual feathers.
- Body Feathers: Add short, curved lines along the body of the parrot, working your way from the tail towards the head. Remember to vary the lengths and angles to create a natural and textured appearance. Group the lines in short strokes to represent feather clumps for a more realistic effect.
Refining the Lines
- Smoothing Curves: Go over your initial lines to make them smoother and more refined. Avoid overly harsh or jagged lines. Use a gentle hand to create soft, flowing curves that represent the natural curves of a parrot’s body.
- Adding Texture: To give your drawing further detail, consider adding subtle lines and shading to suggest the texture of the parrot’s feathers. This can be done using light hatching or cross-hatching techniques. Experiment with different shading styles to find the one that works best for your drawing.
Coloring Your Parrot
This is the fun part! We’ll explore simple color techniques and color choices that will bring your parrot to life. Remember that even simple color choices can create a visually appealing result.
Choosing Colors
- Vibrant Hues: Parrots are known for their brilliant colors. Choose colors that are vibrant and rich. Consider using shades of green, blue, red, yellow, and orange. Explore different color combinations to see what appeals to your artistic sensibilities.
- Color Variety: Don’t be afraid to use a variety of shades and tints within your chosen colors. This will add depth and dimension to your drawing. Consider using darker shades to create shadows and lighter shades to emphasize highlights. A color wheel can be helpful in finding complementary colors.
Color Application Techniques
- Layering Colors: For a more realistic effect, consider layering colors. Start with a base color, and then add other colors on top to create depth and dimension. Experiment with how different colors interact to create new hues and shadows.
- Adding Highlights and Shadows: Add highlights with lighter shades of your chosen colors in areas where light might hit the parrot. Use darker shades to create shadows in areas that are less exposed to light. This will help give your parrot a three-dimensional appearance.
Common Myths About Drawing Parrots Debunked
Myth 1: You need to be a professional artist to draw a parrot.
False. This guide proves that anyone can draw a parrot with some basic shapes and simple techniques. The key is practice and patience.
Myth 2: It’s impossible to draw realistic feathers.
False. By using simple curved lines and variations in length, you can effectively create the look of feathers. Practice makes perfect, and even simple feather strokes can look realistic.
Myth 3: You need expensive art supplies.
False. A simple pencil, eraser, and colored pencils or crayons are all you need to start. More advanced supplies can enhance your work but aren’t essential for beginners.
FAQ
What supplies do I need to draw a parrot?
You’ll only need a pencil, eraser, paper, and colored pencils or crayons. More advanced tools are not necessary for this simple drawing method.
How long will it take to draw a parrot using this method?
The time will vary depending on your skill level and attention to detail. A beginner might spend 30-60 minutes, while someone more experienced might complete it faster.
Can I draw a different type of parrot using this technique?
Yes! This method provides a basic framework. You can adjust the beak size, feather patterns, and color choices to create various parrot species.
What if my parrot doesn’t look exactly like a real parrot?
That’s perfectly fine! Art is about expression and creativity. Even if it’s not photorealistic, your parrot is still a unique and beautiful creation.
Can I use this method for other birds?
Yes, the underlying principles – simple shapes and incremental detail – can be adapted to other birds as well.
What if I make a mistake?
Don’t worry! Simply erase and try again. Mistakes are part of the learning process.
Are there online resources to help me further?
Yes, there are many online tutorials and videos that show how to draw different types of parrots in more detail. Searching “parrot drawing tutorial” on YouTube or Google Images provides many helpful resources.
Final Thoughts
Drawing a parrot doesn’t have to be daunting! By breaking down the process into simple steps and focusing on basic shapes, anyone can achieve a satisfying result. Remember to practice regularly, experiment with different techniques, and most importantly, have fun! Now that you’ve learned how to draw an easy parrot, try it out! Show off your artwork and inspire others to pick up a pencil and unleash their inner artist. Remember, practice is key; the more you draw, the better you’ll become!