This tutorial shows how to draw and shade a realistic looking hawk's caput stride by pace from the side view.

Hawk head drawing step by step side view
Hawk's head drawing step past stride – side view

Before starting this tutorial please note that some of the structure lines have been made darker but and so that they are easier to run into.

If you are going to be following the tutorial using pencil and paper you should make very light lines for the initial parts of the drawing. Especially the construction lines from the beginning step which you will want to erase later on.

Step 1 – Sketch the Major Proportions of the Caput

Hawk head proportions drawing
Hawk's head proportions drawing

Commencement the cartoon by establishing a the proportions of the hawk's head. Do this by doing a crude overall drawing of the major shapes without whatever of the smaller details.

The goal is to brand certain that everything is in the right identify and of the right size.

Get-go the drawing from the top of the head. In the above case you tin meet that it is pretty much established with merely four lines One going from the bend of the pecker to the finish of the forehead, 1 for the top of the head (angled forward toward the beak) and two for the dorsum of the head. Depict these lines as in the example and later on add together the lines that stand for the bottom of the pecker followed by the line that establishes the bottom of the caput (transitioning into the cervix)

Adjacent add the line for the back of the neck and the curves of the shoulder.

Finally add the outer bend of the bill to finish the outer shape.

For the inner shape of the caput start by drawing the outer shape of the eye surface area followed by the inner curve of the beak and the countenance area above.

After add together some lines to stand for the more obvious feather formations around the head (to help with the shading later on on).

Footstep two – Draw the Smaller Details

Hawk head shape drawing
Militarist'due south caput shape drawing

Within the proportions sketch create a smoother line drawing of the hawks head including the smaller  inner details of the heart and the nib.

Step 3 – Finalize the Line Drawing

Hawk head details drawing and shading
Militarist's head details drawing & shading

Clean up the shape structure lines and add some of the very small details similar hints of the feathers in the areas where the feathers tend to stick out. In this instance it's at the bottom part of the caput and along the neck likewise as the bottom of the back of the head and back of the neck.

Step 4 – Apply Basic Shading

Hawk head basic shading
Hawk'due south head bones shading

Earlier applying shading decide your low-cal and dark areas. In this example the light is coming from the upper left area of the drawing which means that the shadows will be towards the back.

The overall darkest areas volition be the bill and parts of the eye (simply due to their color). You tin can shade in the night areas of the eye with a solid fill without showing any strokes.

For the rest of the head try and apply the strokes in a directions that menstruation along it'southward shape (equally shown in the above case).

For a detailed explanation of different kinds of shading techniques and examples of shading various objects see:

  • Shading Techniques and Stroke Types Drawing Tutorial
  • How to Shade Basic 3D Shapes Tutorial

Stride 5 – Refine the Shading

Hawk head refined shading
Hawk'south head refined shading

Refine the shading by applying another a set up of strokes in a lightly different directions to create a cross hatch.

Use darker strokes to the "in shadow" areas such as the back of the head.

Step 6 – End the Cartoon

Hawk head drawing side view
Hawk'due south caput drawing side view

Finally add some hints of the feathers. Generally these will be darker towards the ends and lighter towards the base of operations. Be sure that the feathers are also shaded according to the overall light and shadow on the hawk'south head. This ways that the feathers in the back and other "in shadow" areas should be shaded darker than the feathers in the areas that are facing more towards the light.

Conclusion

This is a fairly advanced tutorial. If yous find the shading to be too difficult you can exercise by simply doing the line drawing of the hawk's head or but going as far every bit the basic shading footstep.

For more similar tutorials likewise encounter:

  • How to Draw an Eagle Head Step by Step
  • How to Draw Bird Footstep by Step – Side View
  • How to Draw a Dog Footstep by Step