In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw an Andean Condor step-by-step.

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To draw this Andean Condor step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

Below you can watch a Narrated 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: Start by drawing a circle near the top of the paper as a guide for the top part of the Andean condor's body. To draw the circle, first make four marks to determine the height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a circular object like a coin or a bottle cap. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle.

Step 2: On the lower, left side of the circle, draw a big arc as a guide for the bottom half of the condor's body. Pay attention to the position and size of this arc in relation to the circle. The length of this arc should be about the same size as the length of the top circle.

Step 3: Above the first circle and to the right, draw a small circle as a guide for the head. condor's have long necks, so don't place this circle too close to the body. This head circle should be about one-fifth the size of the first circle.

Step 4: On the right side of the head circle, draw a small arc as a guide for the condor's beak. Pay attention to the size of this arc in relation to the head. The arc should slope downward slightly. Connect the head to the body using two curved lines to create the guide for the neck. The line on the right should be wavy; similar to the letter S.

Step 5: On the bottom, right side of the body, draw two angled lines as guides for the Andean condor's feet. These lines should be vertical at the top and then curve down and to the right at the bottom. Don't draw them too far apart. On the lower, left side of the body, draw the guide for the tail. This guide is made up of two sloping vertical lines for the sides and a shorter, curved horizontal line at the bottom.

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That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.

Step 6: Inside the condor's head, on the top, right side, lightly sketch a small circle for the eye. When you get the size and position of the eye right, darken the lines. Inside the eye, draw a tiny circle off to the side for a highlight and a bigger circle in the middle for the pupil. Shade in the pupil but don't overlap the tiny highlight circle. Add a few small, curved lines around the bird's eye for a bit of the bare skin.

Step 7: On top of the head, draw a long, curved shape for the condor's comb or crest. The comb should extend down to the beak. Use a series of short, curved line to create the base of the comb at the bottom.

Step 8: On the left side of he Andean condor's head and neck, draw a series of vertical lines for the loose skin on the head called the wattle. Draw these lines along the path of the initial guides. Don't overthink these lines; just add a few vertical lines.

Step 9: Darken the top part of the initial small arc to create the condor's beak. Extend the right side of the line farther down for the pointy tip of the beak. Curve the line back into the guide to create the wavy mouth. Darken the bottom part of the guide for the lower half of the beak.

Step 10: Darken the left side of the initial circle to create the back of the Andean condor's head. Inside the head, on the left side, draw a series of wavy lines for the veins and wrinkles on the bare skin. These lines don't have to be perfect; just draw a few squiggly lines inside the head.

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Step 11: Draw a long, curved line on the left side of the head that's made up of short strokes for the fluffy neck feathers. The top part of these feathers should extend above the initial guide line. Close off the shape at the bottom using a solid line.

Step 12: Draw a series of curved lines along the edges of the guides for the neck for condor's the longer feathers. Use curved lines of different sizes to give the feathers more variety. The right side of the neck should be wider than the initial guides.

Step 13: Lightly sketch a long curved shape across the entire body for the condor's folded wing. The wing starts below the neck and ends inside the shape for the tail. Make the bottom edge of the wing wavy and use short, curved lines at the tip for feathers. When you get the shape of the wing right, darken the lines. Inside the wing, draw a couple of sloping lines for the pattern on the feathers.

Step 14: Use the angled line under the body on the left side as a guide to draw the Andean Condor's first leg. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg around the top of the guide. Then sketch the middle toe around the curved part of the guide. Add a pointy tip to the toe for the talon. Above the toe, draw another short, curved shape with a pointy tip for another toe. At the bottom, draw the third toe the same way. When you get the shape of the leg, foot and toes right, darken the lines.

Step 15: Use the line on the right as a guide to draw the condor's other leg the same way. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg and foot around the guide. Sketch the shape of the middle toe around the curved part and make the tip pointy for the talon. Add another toe on the left side using a thin, curved shape. A big part of this foot will be hidden behind the first foot, so only draw the visible portion. When you get the shapes right, darken the lines.

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Step 16: Use the remaining shapes and lines as guides to draw the rest of the condor's body. Darken the outer edges of the guides to create the body's shape but use lines that are wavier than the guides. Draw a series of sloping lines inside the tail shape for individual feathers. Add a couple of curved lines under the feet to create a rock for the condor to perch on.

Step 17: 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 final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step: Shade your drawing. Condors have dark feathers on their bodies but start shading lightly and gradually build up to a darker value. For a light value, push very lightly on your pencil then slowly push harder for darker values. Use a medium value for the head, feet and the rock. Then add shadows using a darker value. Pick the light source as you shade so that the shadows are consistent. Here the light source is coming from above, so most of the shadows will be on the underside of the shapes. Draw a series of vertical lines along the bottom half of the wing to create the feathers. You should have three rows of feathers with the top row being the shortest. Add a lighter value to the top part of the folded wing for a highlight. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for a more accurate depiction of an Andean condor. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

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