When it comes to drawing birds and their nests, there’s no need to be intimidated. All that stands between you and an awesome birds nest drawing is a few easy steps. Whether you’re a professional artist or a beginner, these tips will get your bird nest drawing looking like the real thing.
Gather Reference Images of Birds Nests
The first and most important step in drawing a realistic bird nest is to take the time to observe your reference images. Don’t be afraid to get close up shots of nests to see the details and little intricacies in the construction of the structure. This will give you an understanding of the different elements that come together to make the nest and provide a blueprint for your drawing.
Collect Necessary Supplies
Once you’ve got your reference images, it’s time to gather your supplies. You’ll need some paper and your choice of pencils or drawing materials. Although a pencil might be enough to get you started, if you want to really capture the intricate details of a nest, adding colored materials like pens, markers or colored pencils can be the perfect touch.
Use the Right Shapes
When it comes to realistic bird nest drawing, shapes are incredibly important. When it comes to birds, you’ll be dealing with all kinds of shapes, from circles and ovals to triangles, squares and rectangles. Pay attention to the rounded edges of the nest and the tight, sharp points in the center. The placement of these shapes is essential to capture the nest’s structure.
Add Dimension with Shading
Just like shapes, the shading of the nest is key to making the drawing look more realistic. When you look at a real nest, the shadowing from the feathers, twigs and other materials contribute to the overall look and feel of the nest. Pay attention to the different levels of light and dark and incorporate them into your drawing.
Add Texture
A big part of drawing a realistic nest is getting the right textures. Make sure you use a variety of curved and straight lines to represent the feathers, twigs and other textures. If you want to make the material look more realistic, don’t be afraid to add some dots and lines to the surface. This will add depth and dimension to your drawing and make it look more lifelike.
Add Your Bird
Once you’ve got your nest looking realistic, you can move onto the final step–adding your bird. There are a few different ways you can do this. You can draw your bird directly in the nest, perching atop the materials or off to the side. Or you can draw it flying into the nest, adding a little bit of movement and action to your drawing.
Rework the Details of Your Drawing
It’s always a good idea to go back and take another look at your drawing. Make sure that the shadows and shapes you put in are as true to life as possible. At this point, you can decide to rework any sections that look too angular or don’t fit with the overall design of the nest.
Include the Finishing Touches
The final step in the process is to add the finishing touches. Add a few smaller elements to make your drawing more interesting, like tiny twigs, leaves or grass blades. You can also add some color to make the nest look more vibrant and bring out the details of your drawing.
