Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Penguin (Magellanic)" 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 as a guide for the top part of the Magellanic penguin's body. First make four small marks to indicate the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. If you're struggling drawing the circle, trace the outer rim of a coin, a lid or any other object with a circular edge.

 

Step 2: Draw another circle below the first as a guide for the bottom half of the penguin's body. This circle should be about the same size as the first one and slightly off to the right. Don't draw them too far away from each other, otherwise the bird's torso will be too long.

 

Step 3: At the top, draw a small oval as a guide for the penguin's head. Just like with the circles, use small marks to draw the oval but make the sides farther apart.

 

Step 4: Inside the head, draw two intersecting lines to help you place the penguin's facial features later.

 

Step 5: To the left of the bird's head, draw a small arc similar to a less than sign (<) as a guide for the penguin's beak.

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Step 6: Draw two lines that connect the head to the body to create the guide for the neck. Draw two longer lines that connect the bigger circles to complete the guide for the body. On the bottom, right side of the penguin's body, draw a short, angled line as a guide for the tail.

 

Step 7: Add the guide for the penguin's flipper-like wing by first drawing a long, curved line in the middle of the body. To the right, draw a long, angled line for the other edge of the flipper.

 

Step 8: On the bottom, left side of the penguin's body, draw a small arc as a guide for the feet.

 

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

 

Step 9: Inside the penguin's head, draw a small circle for the eye. Use the initial lines as guides for placement. When you get the size and shape right, darken the lines. Make the top part flatter. Inside the eye, add a few lines for the eyeball and a big dot in the middle for the pupil. Shade in the rest of the eye using a value that's almost as dark as the pupil. Add a couple of lines around the bird's eye for the folds of skin.

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Step 10: Use the arc on the left as a guide to draw the top part of the beak. Follow the basic path of the arc but draw a pointy tip on the left side. Draw a curved line near the middle of the initial arc for the penguin's mouth. On the right side, draw a few quick, short strokes for the feathery base.

 

Step 11: Use the initial arc to draw the bottom portion of the penguin's beak. Follow the basic path of the arc and curve the line upward so that it meets the top of the beak on the right. Add a few lines within the shape for the detail on the bird's beak.

 

Step 12: Darken the outer edges of the initial shapes to create the top of the head. The head extends farther to the left than the initial oval and is a bit flatter at the top. Darken the line under the penguin's beak to create the bottom part of the head.

 

Step 13: Use the shape in the middle of the body as a guide to draw the penguin's flipper. Follow the basic path of the guide but make the shape rounder as you darken it. Curve the lines on the sides so that they're not so rigid and at the bottom so it's not so pointy. The top part of the fin, where it attaches to the body, should be fairly thin.

 

Step 14: Use the remaining shapes as guides to draw the rest of the bird's body. Simply darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the body. When you get to the penguin's tail, use quick, short strokes to represent the fluffy feathers found there. Continue drawing the short strokes so that they go over the guide for the feet.

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Step 15: Use the small arc at the bottom as a guide to draw the feet. Darken the path of the guide but make it wavier. At the tip, add a couple of pointy shapes for the claws. Draw a few lines in the middle of the shape for the slight separation of the penguin's webbed toes. Add a similar shape right above the one you just drew for the visible portion of the other foot.

 

Step 16: 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: Add some shading to your penguin drawing for extra detail. Use a dark value for the beak, except for a couple of spots near the middle. Use a medium value around the eye and a dark value at the top of the head and neck. Magellanic penguins have a thick, white strip along the head, so leave that section blank.

Outline the dark sections on the bird's body and then shade them in. The dark areas are on the back, the neck and a strip across the chest that curves toward the bottom. Make the edges of the strip across the chest a bit wavy. The penguin's flipper should also have a dark value, but leave the edges white. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks.

Try to add the value evenly across the body for a smooth coat and avoid a rough, gritty texture. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Add a few spots along the strip on the chest and use a medium value for the feet.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the penguin so it doesn't appear to be floating.

Add a bit more shading to the white sections to give the penguin drawing more dimension and volume. It's always a good idea to use reference when you draw. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace.

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To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

 

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