Step 15: Use the lines under the body as guides to draw the blue jay's feet. Follow the basic path of the guides as you darken the lines and make the shapes thicker.

Step 16 (optional): Draw a couple of lines under the feet to give it something to stand on so it doesn't appear to be floating.

Step 17 (optional): For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any of the final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step (optional): Blue jays are colorful, so instead of the usual shading, try coloring your drawing. Using gray, add some shading to give the drawing more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that you draw the shadows consistently. Use dark blue to draw the darker tones around the head and tail. Use quick, short strokes as you add the color to the tail for a feathery look. Do the same thing on the wings. Blue jays have a few dark sections on their face pattern. Use black or dark blue to create these shapes. Use the shapes created earlier on the face as guides to block in the black sections. Add a darker tone on the tail and wing pattern and on the beak and feet as well.

Make sure your blue jay is blue! Start adding blue all over the body. Use light blue as you start adding the color to the drawing and work toward a darker shade. Blue jays have a few white spots along their wings, so leave a few sections blank. Continue adding the color throughout the body, this time using a darker tone. Coloring your blue jay can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Use strokes that go in the general direction of the feathers as you color. Use different shades of blue as you color. press lightly as you color and build up the body gradually using multiple shades of blue. Use a darker shade of blue to get the richer tones on the body. Use this darker shade of blue to outline the individual feathers along the tail and wings. Continue using different shades of blue throughout the body until you get the blend of colors just right. Use some brown on the eye and branch, and gray on the feet and beak. It's a good idea to use reference to get a more accurate color pattern on your drawing. Don't forget to PAUSE after each step to draw at your own pace.

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