Bird Drawings

A collection of my bird drawings in a simple graphic style.


The intention of these designs is to illustrate articles and place on gift products like tees and cards.


The images aim to be clear, reasonably accurate and appealing.

Blackbird

A popular inhabitant of English gardens, blackbirds are a common sight. This design was a bit of an experiment in drawing, because creating a black design for a black t-shirt is tricky.


Using grey lines against the black plumage seems to work.


I often try out different techniques, it's part of a learning curve. When I come back to a drawing months or years later I can see it with different fresh eyes. Some work, some don't.


This one's OK! Phew.

Drawing of a Blackbird with essential details - eye, beak, wing - perched on a branch.

Blackbird Gifts >>

Budgie

The budgie is commonly kept as a household pet, perhaps as a single one or pair in a cage or a group in an aviary.


In some countries they are free to fly wild, which is how all creatures should be.


Having spent a couple of weeks with an injured pigeon I can see the appeal of bird-keeping. These animals have intelligence and awareness. The pigeon recovered and was set free, by the way.

Budgie features a budgerigar observing the viewer. Fun drawing for budgie fans!

Budgie Gifts >>

And for those who love budgies.
I Love Budgies design shows a pair of budgies perching in front of an I Love symbol. It makes a fun graphic for people who love budgies!

I Love Budgies Gifts >>

Chicken

This is not a great drawing of a chicken. It sits half-way between cartoon and illustration, and achieves neither.


But sometimes when you need to create a picture quickly for whatever reason, there is a point at which it has to do.


As for the chicken itself. What a remarkable addition to any household!


A pet that is fairly tame, fairly easy to feed and keep, and provides one of the key foodstuffs that many humans enjoy. A miracle of protein and other goodness, delivered in an egg-shaped container.


​Well done chicken!

Chicken Cluck features a chicken with the word

Chicken Cluck Gifts >>

Duck

The duck drawing is just about right for my purposes. 

It is clearly a duck.

The humor, such as it is, comes from its simple appearance, its strutting walk and the speech bubble Quack.
Funny Duck Quacking features a confident strutting duck striding along saying

Funny Duck Quacking Gifts >>

Eagle

This Eagle design uses the classic head, feathers and beak shapes and colors them in using the bare minimum of detail.


​The design certainly looks like an eagle. Whether people like it remains to be seen. I like it which is a big plus point.

Head of an eagle in graphic style

Eagle Gifts >>

Geese

It is funny how some drawings and illustrations work better than others.  Some of that perception is a preference thing.  I prefer it therefore it must be better.

It is hard to analyze and judge art objectively.

In any case. I like the geese below.  Putting the different sizes and colors together resulted in an image better than I was expecting.  Funny and attractive for fans of geese.
Geese design features a family of five geese in different colors and sizes. For goose fans!

Geese Gifts >>

And here is the goose drawing put to other purposes, again by adding a speech caption.
Funny Goose Honk shows a goose stepping out with Honk! speech caption. For fans of geese and their honking.

Goose Honk Gifts >>

Flamingo

The flamingo is one of the most recognisable birds. Pink, tall, elegant, standing on one leg. Anyone can immediately tell it is a flamingo.


So why did I need to add the word "flamingo" to the drawing?


​It's art. That's my excuse.


More seriously, it was a style I was experimenting with. Would people like the word spread round a design? The jury is still out on that.

Drawing of a pink flamingo (is there any other kind?) standing on one leg, because that's what they do. With Flamingo lettering.

Flamingo Gifts >>

Magpie

One for sorrow, two for joy.  That's the old song.  The drawing below is for fun.

Magpies are a super attractive and intelligent bird.  Although cruel to other birds and wildlife.
Drawing of a Magpie with the distinctive blue flash of colour, and the white markings - perched on a branch. A clever bird with much folklore referring to it. A fun design for Magpie fans.

Penguin

I wanted a penguin and now I have drawn one.


He is neither good or bad. just a simple representation.


The funny thing is, I can not remember why I wanted a penguin drawing.

A fun King Penguin drawing shows this magnificent bird standing somewhere in Antartica.

King Penguin Gifts >>

Parrot

One of the most recognisable birds, parrots are bright and fun to recreate.


​Add in the fact they can speak and are associated with pirates and jungles, the parrot has a lot going for it.


As with many of my creature creations, I only drew the head. I put a lot of time into it.

Parrot design shows a parrot looking at the viewer. With typical plumage and pose this parrot would make an ideal companion for pirates or parrot fans out there.

Parrot Gifts >>

Robin

Who doesn't love robins?

Instantly recognizable bird that is always in the garden somewhere, especially when you are out digging or weeding.  Not too scared by human closeness either, happy to perch a few feet away watching what you are doing.

The drawing is OK but the robin itself?

​Magnificent little bird.
Robin graphic shows a hand drawn robin standing on a twig in a typical pose for this well known garden favourite. The robin is a welcome visitor to the bird table. He is sometimes known as the gardener's friend because he is always around when garden chores are being done. A traditional image for many Xmas designs, the robin!

Robin Gifts >>

Seagull

I like my seagull drawing below. Not because it is great art or showcases my amazing skills but because it is a graphic representation that works.


It's a seagull!


Believe me, it still surprises me when something looks about right.


Seagulls are sometimes referred to as flying rats by seaside folk. They raid bins, steal food and are a bit of a noisy menace. However the fast food and rubbish bins are filled by humans so we create our own problems.


The seagull itself is ideally suited to its environment. Superb flyer. Adaptable behavior. And not a bird to mess with.

Seagull design shows a side-on view of a flying seagull, or gull to use its correct terminology. Not that the seagull cares what you call it.

Seagull Gifts >>

Swan

That dreaded thing to copy, the white anything is hard to draw. The swan drawing below works OK, no more than that.


But as usual for me, "OK" can be good enough.


As for swans.


I love swans. I love the river. I love everything about the life and life-cycle of the swan. The pairing, nesting, cygnets. The proud swan parents paddling through the water with their young. One parent at the front, then three or four cygnets, and another parent at the back.


I love the way a swan can hold it's wings up to make a clipper ship kind of shape as it takes ownership of and defends its territory.


​And the majestic inspiring sound and sight of a swan taking off, flying and landing. Yeah, I love that too.

Swan shows a typical swan swanning around on the water with wings raised in the beautiful confident way they do. A majestic, graceful and mostly peaceful bird.

Swan Gifts >>

Turkey

I needed a turkey for Halloween stuff.


The drawing below has been messed around with to try to make it acceptable.


​I don't like it. But sometimes, even if you don't like something you have created, someone else might.


Update: Some years later I can confirm that no one else liked it either. Fair enough.

Turkey design shows a stylish wild turkey standing proudly with full feather display. For Thanksgiving or maybe just as a friend.

Wild Thanksgiving Turkey Gifts >>

Let's Fly The Nest

That was a selection of my best bird drawings. They are not great art. Not particularly funny or clever. Not very good really for the most part.


But I created them and they have to be somewhere.


​So there they are.


This page contains the possibilities for becoming an A to Z. Hugely exciting for an amateur artist. I should get out more.


Thanks for viewing.