Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Falcon" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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 falcon's head. It doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. The circle shouldn't be too big. Leave enough room at the top so you can draw the wings.
Step 2: Draw a U-shaped arc under the falcon's head as a guide for the beak. Pay attention to the placement of the arc and the size of it in relation to the head.
Step 3: Draw another circle on the right side of the head as a guide for the top part of the falcon's body. The edges of the circles should touch. This circle should be about twice the size of the first.
Step 4: Draw an arc on the lower right side of the big circle as a guide for the bottom half of the falcon's body. Draw the arc long and skinny. The resulting shape should be similar to an egg.
Step 5: Draw a couple of lines that connect the falcon's head to the body for the neck and another arc at the bottom for the tail. The arc for the tail should be even longer and skinnier. It should somewhat resemble an oval with the top part missing.
Step 6: Draw two lines on top of the body as the first part of the guide for the falcon's wings. The lines should curve a little. The length of these lines will determine the size of the bird's wings, so draw them as long or as short as you'd like.
Step 7: Draw another set of lines under the first as the second part of the guide for the wings. These lines curve too. They come to a point at the tip and form a wider base near the falcon's body.
Step 8: Draw an angled line on the lower left side of the body as a guide for the falcon's first leg. Draw a few lines at the tip for the toes.
Step 9: Draw a similar line next to the first for the leg on the other side. Don't forget to add the small lines for the toes!
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 10: Draw the eye as a small half-circle inside the falcon's head. Draw a tiny circle to represent glare, then add a bigger dot in the middle for the pupil and shade it in. Using a value that's slightly lighter than the pupil, shade the inside of the shape for the iris. Draw a few lines around the eye for extra detail. Use quick, short strokes to create the small feathers around the falcon's eye.
Step 11: Use the U-shaped arc under the head as a guide to draw the top of the falcon's beak. Follow the basic path of the arc to draw a shape similar to a curved, pointy triangle for the top beak. Add quick, short strokes at the base for the feathers and a small circle for the falcon's nostril. The mouth extends into the head.
Step 12: Now draw the lower part of the falcon's beak on the right side. Use the right side of the arc as a guide. The shape is like a smaller, wavier triangle. Draw a curved line inside the shape for the falcon's tongue.
Step 13: Use the initial circle as a guide to draw the rest of the falcon's head. Flatten the shape as you darken the lines.
Step 14: Use the initial lines on top of the body as guides to draw the falcon's wings. Follow the basic path of the guide on the left as you darken the lines and make shape of the bird's wing thinner. Use a series of long, curved lines on the bottom of the wing to represent the falcon's feathers. Now follow the basic path of the shape on the right to draw the falcon's other wing. Draw a pointy line where the wing curves near the middle for a feather sticking out. Draw the feathers along the bottom of the wing by following the path of the shape and drawing curved lines. The curves should get smaller near the bottom. The base of the wing curves in toward the bird's body.
Step 15: Draw a few lines within the shape of the falcon's wings for further structure and extra detail. Add a wavy line near the top of the left wing to give it a more curved look. Extend the curved lines at the bottom of the wing in toward the body to make the feathers longer. On the right wing, draw a row of small, curved lines near the top for the shorter feathers. Now draw a few longer lines near the middle of the wing. This wing will have more detail because it's closer. Extend the curved lines at the bottom of to create the long feathers. The lines should be closer shorter to the base.
Step 16: Use the lines at the bottom as a guide to draw the falcon's leg on the right. Use quick, short strokes to draw the thick base of the leg near the body. Follow the path of the lines to draw the individual toes. Draw a curved line at the tip of each toe for the sharp talons.
Step 17: Use the other line to draw the falcon's leg on the other side. The base of this leg is hidden behind the first one, so don't draw all of it. Add the bird's individual toes and talons, though.
Step 18: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the falcon's body and tail. Follow the path of the guides and darken the lines. The bottom line for the neck comes in toward the body a bit. Use long, curved lines at the bottom of the initial arc to represent the tail feathers.
Step 19 (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 final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your falcon drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Don't worry too much about the shading if you're going to add more value to your drawing.
You can add more value throughout your falcon drawing for extra detail. The feather pattern varies between falcon species. A lot of falcons have a speckled pattern. The pattern on the face can also vary. For a peregrine falcon like this one, add a dark value on the head and below the eye. To achieve a speckled pattern, alternate the pressure of your pencil as you add the value. Add a few spots on the underside of the falcon's body. Try not to overthink it. Just add the spots randomly.
Add the speckled pattern on the top part of the body and the other wing too. Remember to get this pattern right, alternate between pushing down hard on your pencil, then lightly all over the section you want to cover. This process can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It seems more difficult than it actually is. Just add spots randomly all over the falcon's body. It's always a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Some falcons have a solid feather pattern, so just shade the body evenly for an easier drawing. Don't forget the pause the "How to Draw a Falcon" video after each step to draw at your own pace.
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