Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw a portrait of a Bald Eagle. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this majestic bird!

Love drawing? Keep your artistic streak going and enjoy more free art lessons by:

• Bookmarking the How2DrawAnimals.com homepage for updates
• Subscribing to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube channel
• Visiting EasyDrawingTutorials.com for tons of free cartoon tutorials

This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RELATED TUTORIALS

To draw this bald eagle step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.

Materials You'll Need Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies from Blick Art Materials. If you choose to purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Mechanical Pencil	Drawing Pencils (an HB lead pencil is best for light sketches)	Drawing Paper
Eraser	Click Eraser	Ruler

Step 1: Initial Pencil Sketch

Start by creating the basic structural framework for the head and neck. Sketch lightly on your paper so you can easily erase these lines later.

The Head and Beak

• Head Circle: Draw a circle as a guide. To achieve a good shape, make small marks to indicate the height and width, then connect them with curved lines. If you have trouble drawing a freehand circle, trace the edge of a cup or lid.
• Facial Line: Draw a horizontal line through the center of the circle to help place the facial features. Extend this line on the left side, slightly outside the circle.
• Beak Arc: Make a small mark on the left tip of the horizontal line. Connect this mark back to the circle using curved lines to create a short, wide arc shape for the beak.

The Neck

• Right Side: From the top right of the head, draw a line curving downward and to the right to define the neck and widen the head profile.
• Left Side: Add a shorter sloping line on the bottom left for the other side of the neck. Close the shape at the bottom with a horizontal line.

Step 2: Draw the Eye and Beak

Once the structure is set, begin adding the eagle’s distinct features.

The Eye and Brow

• Eye Placement: Lightly sketch a small circle above the horizontal construction guide, positioning it slightly left of the center. Draw a short, thick, dark line above the eye to represent the heavy brow.
• Eye Details: Inside the eye, add a smaller circle for a highlight, then a larger circle for the pupil. Shade the pupil, keeping the highlight clear. Add curved lines around the eye and short, angled strokes to create a feathery texture.

The Beak

• Outer Shape: Draw an angled line for the base of the beak near the left edge of the circle. Darken the top of the initial arc and curve the tip downward.
• Mouth and Nostril: Create the beak’s opening with a line that curves upward and to the right. Add a small, upside-down water-drop shape inside the top of the beak for the nostril.

Step 3: Finish Sketching the Head

With the features in place, now focus on the outer head shape and feather texture.

Textures

• Head Shape: Darken the outer edges of your initial guides. As you work on the right side of the head, draw tiny triangular angled lines to represent individual feathers.
• Neck Feathers: Define the rest of the neck by darkening the left edge of your guide. Add a series of triangular shapes along the bottom and sides of the neck to mimic feathers. Vary the size of these triangles to create a natural look.
• Body Section: Add a few short, curved lines on the sides for the visible section of the body.

Step 4: Erase Guidelines and Tidy Your Sketch

Get rid of the initial structure lines and finalize your line art.

Erasing and Restoring

• Erase Guides: Erase the construction lines used to build the head and neck. A click eraser is perfect for getting between the final, detailed strokes.
• Touch Up Lines: Go back and redraw any final lines that may have been accidentally erased.

Step 5: Begin Shading

Use shading to create volume and bring your bald eagle to life.

Shadows and Highlights

• Base Shading: Shade the beak using a light value (an HB pencil works well). Keep the pressure on your pencil light.
• Deepen Shadows: Identify your light source (in this case, coming from the top). Apply darker values (using a 4B pencil or increased pressure) to the undersides of shapes, such as the left side of the neck where the beak casts a shadow.

Step 6: Add a Background and Finish the Details

After these finishing touches, your bald eagle will be complete!

• Create a Background: If you'd like, you can draw a rectangle using a ruler to create a background and really make the shape of the eagle pop against the page. Shade the inside of the rectangle to really emphasize the white on the head.
• Touch Up the Shading: Finally, add a bit of dark value at the bottom to create a bit of the body. Be careful not to overlap the thin pointy shapes that create the feathers along the neck. Use short, dark strokes to add additional feathery texture inside the head and around the eye.
• Add a Final Outline: Go over your final shapes one more time using a dark value to really emphasize them.

Buy My Step-by-Step Art Books on Amazon!

If you enjoyed drawing with me and want to expand your artistic skills, please consider checking out my step-by-step drawing books on Amazon! My books break down a wide variety of animals into simple geometric shapes, making it easy and fun for artists of any skill level to follow along. Every purchase directly helps support this site so I can keep creating high-quality, free tutorials for the art community.

Click Here to Order Your Copy Today!

This is an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Thanks for visiting! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for new tutorials every week.

And to learn how to draw cartoons, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

RELATED TUTORIALS