The round shape of a quail's body makes it an easy bird to paint.
Artists have looked to birds for inspiration for centuries. These tiny, winged creatures offer a delicate and colorful subject. Their arching, circular forms and richly textured feathers add further interest. The quail's intricate brown and white chest feathers contrast against a slate gray or bright blue neck region. The bird's face sports a tiny strap of white beneath the chin an a regal black plume at the crown of the head. These fascinating colors and patterns provide the perfect subject for a nature lover's sketch.
Instructions
Draw the Quail
1. Draw a long vertical line using a straight edge. Keep this line light because it only acts as a guide.
2. Draw a large, wide egg shape over the vertical line. The egg should lay on its side with the narrowest tip facing the right side of the page. One third of the egg should lay on the left side of the vertical line. This shape creates the body of your quail.
3. Draw a small circle evenly bisected by the vertical line on top of the egg shape. This circle forms the head of the bird.
4. Draw a small circle to form an eye on the left side of the vertical line. Extend a small triangle for a beak directly in front of this circle on the left side of the head.
5. Draw a small inverted "U" shape on the bottom of the bird's body. Make sure this shape is evenly bisected by the vertical line. This forms the quail's foot. Draw an identical shape directly to the left on the first foot.
6. Extend a long, fanning tail feather from the narrowest tip of the egg shape. Make this feather from a softened, elongated partial triangle widening away from the body of the bird.
Paint the Quail
7. Using brown paint, connect the head and body of the quail in an arching, fluid line over the back of the head and neck. In front, join the head and body with a semicircle that arches inward towards the body in black paint. This completes the neck of your bird
8. Paint the breast of your bird in light gray. Paint the back of the neck, body and tail feathers in brown.
9. Paint around the eye in brown, and fill in the rest of the head with black. Allow paint to dry.
10. Add the feather details to your bird by painting a rich pattern of light brown and white semicircles across the breast and underbelly of the bird.
11. Paint the legs light brown, adding gray to the feet with a small brush.
12. Using a small brush, flick small white strokes over the back of the quail. Repeat this process with black paint.
13. Apply black paint to the inside of the quail's eye. Extend one arching feather from the top of the head to create a plume. Make this feather narrow at the base and wide at the end.
14. Dab dots of black paint over the back of the quail's neck.
15. Using a small brush, paint one stroke of brown paint over the back edge of the quail's neck.
16. Using a small brush, add one circle of white to the bird's eye, and dot small strokes of white paint over the back of the quail's neck.
17.Add one stroke of white paint above the quail's eye and a partial loop of white to form the quail's chinstrap of white feathers.
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