How to draw an owl flying

Step 1 of 39Guide lines

Line of action, head and body

Hazel is leaving the branch for the very first time, wings raised mid-flap. Start light: one sweeping curve for the line of action, a circle for her head, and a bigger one for her body.

Draw these lightly: they’re only there to help, and you’ll rub them out in step 27.

Step 2 of 39Guide lines

The near wing's guides

A wing is an arm with a hand of long feathers. One long arc from her shoulder, up past the wrist bend, out to the tip, then lines fanning out where the flight feathers will go.

Draw these lightly: they’re only there to help, and you’ll rub them out in step 27.

Step 3 of 39

Far wing, tail and legs

The far wing the same, a little smaller: its arc and its fan of feather lines. Then three lines fanning down for the tail, a short one on the right, and two for the tucked-up legs.

Step 4 of 39

The head

Now the ink. Across the top of her head from right to left, up over the left ear tuft with its little notches, and down that side. Then the right tuft, and the lines inside the tufts.

Step 5 of 39

The face disc

The face disc: the double curve round her left eye and the arc beneath it. Then the brows, meeting in a V above the beak, and the edge of the disc on the right.

Step 6 of 39

Eyes and beak

Two big eyes looking up and ahead: lids, rings, and pupils with a round glint in each, just outlines for now. Then the small hooked beak tucked between them.

Step 7 of 39

The body

The body: the curve under her tummy, up her right side to the wing, a short curve for her thigh, then her left side, just above where the tail will go.

Step 8 of 39

The near wing's leading edge

The leading edge is the wing's strong front edge. From her shoulder up to the sharp wrist bend, the short top edge, then a second line just inside, back down to the shoulder.

Step 9 of 39

Small coverts

Coverts are the small feathers covering the wing's base, overlapping like roof tiles. A scalloped row just inside the leading edge, from her shoulder up towards the wrist.

Step 10 of 39

The covert row

Then the bigger coverts, working down from the wrist: a second scalloped row, each little feather tucked over the base of a long one, with a short line between each.

Step 11 of 39

The longest feathers

Now the primaries, the long flight feathers at the wing tip. The top three first, each a long, narrow loop overlapping the next.

Step 12 of 39

Fanning out

The next feathers fan out below them, each shorter and lower, their round tips stepping down.

Step 13 of 39

Down the wing

On down the wing. Keep each feather the same width, and let every line run back to the covert row.

Step 14 of 39

Back to the body

The last, shortest feathers, curving round to meet her body. See how the tips make one smooth trailing edge.

Step 15 of 39

The far wing's leading edge

The far wing now. Its leading edge from the shoulder up to the wrist, and the line inside it.

Step 16 of 39

Its small coverts

A scalloped row of small coverts under the leading edge, and a short second row near her body.

Step 17 of 39

Its covert row

Then the bigger coverts, a long scalloped row from the top of the wing down to her side, with little lines between the feathers.

Step 18 of 39

The far wing's primaries

The long primaries, from the one reaching right up to the tip, fanning down: narrow loops, each overlapping the one below, the tips stepping down.

Step 19 of 39

Fanning round

And on round, the feathers getting shorter, each line running back to the covert row.

Step 20 of 39

The secondaries

Now the secondaries, the broader feathers nearer her body, getting shorter until they tuck in against her side. Their round tips make the trailing edge.

Step 21 of 39

Chest feathers

Soft, broken lines for the fluffy chest: a ruff under her chin and down each side. Keep them short and light.

Step 22 of 39

The feet

Her talons are tucked up for flight. The near leg first, down to its curled toes and hooked claws, then the far foot beside it, toes curled in a loose grip.

Step 23 of 39

The tail

The tail fans out behind her legs: long, rounded feathers overlapping one another, then the bit that shows on the right.

Step 24 of 39

The branch

Now the branch she has just left. The long limb from the edge of the page, and the twigs reaching up from it.

Step 25 of 39

The leaves

Pointed leaves on the twigs, each with a line down the middle: up on the top twig first, then the middle twig and the end of the branch. Keep them light.

Step 26 of 39

Loose feathers

A few feathers shaken loose by her first flap, drifting down: a curved quill, and soft barbs on each side.

Step 27 of 39

Erase the guides

Rub out the circles and guide lines. Hazel, her branch and the drifting feathers stay.

Step 28 of 39

Go over her head

Press harder round her head and tufts, so she stands out from the page.

Step 29 of 39

Go over the near wing

Then round the near wing: up the leading edge to the wrist, and along all the feather tips. The coverts stay lighter inside.

Step 30 of 39

Go over the far wing

The same round the far wing: its leading edge, out to the tip and back along the trailing edge.

Step 31 of 39

Go over her body

Last, her body, tail and feet. Leave the branch and feathers light, so Hazel stays the star.

Step 32 of 39

Shading her head

The light comes from the top left. A soft tone over the top of her head, down the side of her face and along the inside of the near wing's arm.

Step 33 of 39

Shading her body

Then down her side and round her tummy, keeping it soft and even. Leave the chest ruff and the near wing white, so they catch the light.

Step 34 of 39

The far wing's tip

The far wing is turned away from the light. A soft tone along each long feather at its tip, following the feather's length.

Step 35 of 39

The rest of the far wing

Then across the coverts and down each secondary, a stripe of tone in every feather.

Step 36 of 39

Deep shadows on the left

Press harder in the deepest places: under the near wing, the tail feathers and between her legs.

Step 37 of 39

Deep shadows on the right

And where the far wing meets her body, under her tummy and on the far side of the tail.

Step 38 of 39

The branch

A light tone along the underside of the branch. No shadow under Hazel: she is in the air.

Step 39 of 39

The darks

Last of all, fill in her pupils, leaving each glint white. Hazel is flying.