Here, let’s draw one of the most beautiful birds around – a quetzal… the very same ones you *might see* – on a trip to Monteverde, waaaaay up in the cloud forests of Costa Rica.
And yes, I do mean *might*.
Catching a glimpse of one of these usually-concealed birds, isn’t easy. On your next trip to Costa Rica – and to Monteverde… be sure to team up with an experienced birder, for the best chance to spot one!
On to drawing now…
How to Draw a Quetzal, Step by Step
So what makes drawing this bird so interesting?
Well just like with anything we’re about to draw – it really helps to be able to distinguish those *distinct* shapes, forms, extrusions, features, etc…
…those things that help make our subject, OUR SUBJECT.
For example, a quetzal is different than any other bird. They’ve got these beautiful bright green, turquoise, blue, and red feathers.
Their heads are really small…
Their tail-feathers are really long…
And yes – it’s key features like these – that will really help to cartoonify this interesting-looking bird of the cloud forest – beginning with a rough framework, like so…
And then, structure in place – it’s on to the window to our soon-to-be little friend’s soul…
The eye!
Simple spiky lines, big ovular eyes, and even a little triangular nose – we can already see how it’s going to turn out.
How does yours look? How will yours look? Get creative!
Mirroring it on over now, gradually bring forth the other eye (remember – its head is tilted slightly, take a look at the grey cross in behind).
After that, let’s get at that branch the bird is perched on. They way I’ve done it – is to have it all blotched up with moss – just like it would be, way up in the cloud forest…
And then, sketching in the actual branch lines underneath — is SO MUCH easier now.
As is sketching in the body and initial tail feathers of our quetzal.
Here’s a really fun part – swooping down with the pencil (or stylus!) – to create those long, elegant tail feathers.
You can see too below, I’ve gone ahead and completed its body. Taking our time, carefully – and intelligently – placing each line, as it makes the most sense to do so…
Finishing it all up – a couple more tail feathers, details, and then finally…
Some awesome-looking color, gradients and all!
And that pretty much does it — a neat little way, to sketch a cute-looking cartoon quetzal, one of the most beautiful birds of the cloud forest…
…of Costa Rica…
And of the world. 🙂
Hope you enjoyed the lesson!