It’s not always easy mastering the art of drawing a penguin, but it’s an important skill to have! Penguins are so majestic and fun-loving that they’re practically begging to be drawn. Once you understand the basics of drawing them, you’ll find the whole process is a breeze. Here’s how you can draw a lively and realistic penguin in no time.
First, think of a circle and two ovals – you’ll be using them as a tool in order to draw your penguin. You can have fun decorating them, by making the head a little larger or the wings a bit longer. Once you’ve got your circles and ovals, it’s time to move on to the body. Starting from the top of the oval, take the pencil and draw a long line down to the mid-point of the circle, following the shape of the oval. Now draw another line from the mid-point of the circle in an arc shape that connects with the first line you drew from the oval.
Next, it’s time to move onto the head, wings and wingspan. Start by drawing two eyes in the mid-point of the circular shape. Then draw two more swooping lines next to it, signifying the wings of the penguin. Draw the rest of the wings in a half-moon shape and make sure to draw the wingspan at an equal height and width for a realistic look. Again, you can tweak the size and shape of the wingspan to your liking.
Now that you have some of the essential elements in place, it’s time to start drawing in the feet and the beak of your penguin. Start by drawing two feet in the mid-point of the oval, making sure it looks like the penguin is standing on two feet. For the beak, draw a V shape and make sure to keep the beak as sharp and pointed as possible, as this will add to the realistic look of your penguin.
Finally, give your penguin some extra details that will make it stand out. Give the feet two thin lines each, so they look like they’re standing in the water. Draw a few layers of feathers on the body, wings and wingspan. Give the eyes some individual highlights or play with the size and shape of the eyes to make the penguin look more animated. With a few tweaks here and there, you’ll have a lively, realistic penguin ready for a nature show!
With the basics of drawing a penguin laid out, you can now move onto more intricate details. Try playing with the positions of the wings, tail and head to make your penguin look like it’s swimming or walking through its habitat. You can also add water around the penguin, little fish swimming alongside themor even a snow-filled landscape with its habitat’s native vegetation.
If you want to make your penguin look livelier and more realistic, you’ll want to work with shading. It’s an easy and effective way to make your drawings look great. Start by shading the wings and body in a dark grey, then lighten the shade as you work your way down to the feet. Make sure to keep the wingspan and beak sharp and defined.
Now that you have a basic understanding of shading, you can go on to add texture to your penguin. Draw thin, thin lines in their feathers, paying particular attention to the wings and the wingspan. Using this technique, you’ll be able to create a lovely texture that distinguishes the penguin from other animals in the wild.
If you ever feel stuck while drawing your penguin, remember to allow yourself to be creative. Dare to draw outside the box and play with the details. Penguin’s are naturally quirky and playful, so don’t feel obliged to keep your drawings traditional. Draw what you see in your mind and have fun with your art.
