Drawing Birds by Andrew Forkner

Drawing Birds by Andrew Forkner is an expert guide to producing beautiful lifelike drawings of birds in their natural habitat. Artists of all interests will find a lot to inspire them in this detailed, practical and beautiful guide on drawing birds. The book includes sections on materials, basic techniques and reference gathering, as well as how to draw the key features of birds such as beaks, eyes, claws, wings and feathers. A special section focuses on birds in flight, and this is followed by chapters on the main bird groups including: Waders and water birds, Wildfowl, Birds of prey, Owls, Garden and woodland birds, Seabirds and Game birds.

Each chapter covers the techniques specific to the group as well as numerous examples and a full step-by-step demonstration. The absence of colour means that Andrew uses other aspects such as pattern, shading and shape to give his paintings life and interest. Written for artists who wish to apply their skills to drawing birds, as well as experienced artists who want to improve their drawing skills, this is an expert guide to producing exquisitely rendered, lifelike drawings of birds in their natural habitats and nothing could be more inspirational than Andrew’s accurately observed and truly beautiful drawings.

96 page paperback. 216mm x 280mm

Introduction 6
The history of drawing birds 8
Materials 12
How to start 18
BIRD FEATURES 24
Wings 24
Feathers 26
Eyes 28
Beaks and bills 30
Feet 32
BIRDS IN FLIGHT 34
Bird groups 40
Waders and waterbirds 42
Common moorhen step by step 44
Wildfowl 50
Canada geese step by step 52
Seabirds 58
Atlantic puffin step by step 60
Birds of prey 64
Lanner falcon step by step 66
Owls 72
Snowy owl step by step 74
Garden and woodland birds 80
European goldfinch step by step 82
Game birds 88
Red-legged partridge step by step 90
Index 96

Andrew Forkner is a keen naturalist and has travelled the world in search of wildlife. His artwork has also travelled widely, with examples of his art in collections in the UK, Europe, Kenya, Canada, USA and Nepal. A self-taught wildlife artist, he works in a variety of media, including graphite pencil, acrylics and pastel to complete his originals. Andrew lives in Oxfordshire. He has produced several commissions for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, of which he has been a member for over thirty years.