Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a House Finch" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

Written step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: Draw a circle near the middle of the paper as a guide for the first part of the house finch's body. First draw four small marks to indicate the height and width of the circle, then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. But the circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. If you're having a hard time drawing the circle, trace the outer rim of a glass, a lid or any other object with a circular edge.

Step 2: Now draw the second part of the house finch's body by first making a small mark on the lower, right side. Now connect the small mark to the circle using curved lines so that you end up with an arc. The shape of the guides combined should be similar to an egg.

Step 3: Draw another circle on the top, right side as a guide for the house finch's head. Draw this circle the same way as the first one. Start with marks indicating the height and width, then connect the marks with curved lines. This circle should be about one- third the size of the first one. The edges of the circles should touch.

Step 4: Inside the house finch's head, draw two intersecting lines. These construction lines will help you place the bird's facial features later.

Step 5: On the left side of the head, draw a line that's similar to a less- than sign (<) as a guide for the house finch's beak.