Drawing A: Brenda Hoddinott

DRAWING A
Brenda Hoddinott
I-06 BEGINNER: CARTOONS & CRITTERS
In this project, you first sketch the proportions of a feather, and then use hatching lines to create the texture.
While the diverse fashion statements of birds vary, from understated and elegant to brightly colored and flamboyant, all their clothing is made of feathers! In order to realistically render portraits of birds, you need to understand the basic construction of their feathers. This lesson is divided into the following three parts: GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH FEATHERS: You examine a generic feather, and become familiar with the terminology used to identify each part. SKETCHING FEATHERED PROPORTIONS: Your goal is to sketch the shapes of the various components of a feather in preparation for adding textured shading. ADDING A FEATHERY TEXTURE: Rendering a feathery texture requires hatched shading similar to drawing fur. Suggested drawing supplies include good quality white drawing paper, graphite pencils, kneaded and vinyl erasers, pencil sharpener, and a sandpaper block. This project is recommended for artists from age 10 to adult, as well as home schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators.
17 PAGES 28 ILLUSTRATIONS
Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada Revised 2006
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GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH FEATHERS

Beyond their beauty, feathers serve most birds in other more practical functions, such as conserving their body heat in cold environments, providing the propelling action and the supporting surface needed for flying, and protecting their skin from minor injuries.
ILLUSTRATION 06-01
Illustration 06-04 fairly represents the overall qualities of the feathers of most adult birds. Examine and identify each part of this generic feather, as defined by the following terms: 1) QUILL: the hollow, wide end of the shaft that is attached to the skin and embedded into the body of the bird. 2) VANE: the flattened structures that extend outward from either side of the shaft. The vane is made up of numerous long thin branches called barbs. 3) SHAFT: the long, hollow, rigid rod down the total length of a feather that is attached to the bird at the quill. Illustration 06-02 demonstrates a few of the vast range of shapes and sizes of feathers as they appear on a wing.
ILLUSTRATION 06-02
While this drawing is based on a birds wing; the basic anatomy can be implemented into any drawing of an entity with wings, from angels, and dragons, to flying pigs! Since primitive man began drawing on the walls of caves, birds have remained a favorite drawing subject for artists of all ages and abilities. The various forms of the birds in the next three drawings are covered in feathers of various sizes and shapes. In Illustration 06-03, a goose seems totally absorbed with watching her big feet as she walks. The individual feathers are highly visible on the wings and tail of the owl in Illustration 06-04. The magnificent feathers of the elegant swan are designed to help her move gracefully through the water.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott. E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
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ILLUSTRATION 06-03
ILLUSTRATION 06-04
ILLUSTRATION 06-05
SKETCHING FEATHERED PROPORTIONS

In this section, your goal is to sketch the shapes of the various components of a feather in preparation for adding textured shading. Pay close attention to the lengths, angles, and curves of the various lines which outline its different parts. As you draw, dont press too hard with your pencils. Dark pencil lines are difficult to erase, especially if they leave dents in your paper. When you try to add shading over dents, light scratchy looking lines show through, spoiling the overall appearance of your drawing.
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1)
Draw a long slightly curved line to mark the location of the shaft of the feather. This line is slightly wider on the right and becomes very thin toward the left. Leave plenty of room on your drawing paper to add the vane above and below the shaft.
ILLUSTRATION 06-05
2)
Lightly sketch a teardrop shape (the vane) that extends above and below the shaft. The rounded end of the vane (on the right) cuts through the wider end of the shaft, leaving a section of the quill extending beyond its end. Note that the upper section of the vane is slightly larger than the lower.
ILLUSTRATION 06-07
3)
Sketch several straight lines as a guide for drawing the barbs of the feather. Note that the lines are drawn at an angle to the shaft. Feathers come in a broad range of shapes and sizes; so, dont worry if your proportions are different than mine.
ILLUSTRATION 06-08
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ADDING A FEATHERY TEXTURE

Rendering a feathery texture requires hatched shading similar to drawing fur. Keep the following in mind as you draw:
ILLUSTRATION 06-09
Draw some lines close together and others farther apart. Vary the pressure used in holding your pencils. For light lines you press very lightly with your pencil. Press harder with your pencil to make darker lines. Vary the lengths and thicknesses of the lines. The lines used to draw realistic feathers need to be ragged and uneven. Keep a pencil sharpener (and sandpaper block if you have one) handy so you can easily keep your pencil points nice and sharp. Place a piece of clean paper under your hand as you draw. Each time you work on a new section, remember to move your paper so its always under your hand. This prevents you from smudging your drawing, and protects the paper from the oils in your skin. Draw slowly. Accuracy is more important than speed. Your speed will automatically improve the more you practice. 4) 5) 6) Gently pat your entire sketch with your kneaded eraser until all your lines become so faint that you can barely see them. Erase the line that marks the position of the shaft. Use an HB pencil to redraw the shaft with a neat outline. Refer to Illustration 06-10. The shaft becomes wider closer to the tip of the quill, which has a pointed end. Keep your pencil very sharp. Graphite wears down quickly and needs to be sharpened frequently.
ILLUSTRATION 06-10
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ILLUSTRATION 06-11
7)
Add shading to the shaft with your HB pencil.
Leave a long thin section of the quill white to create the illusion of its cylindrical form.
ILLUSTRATION 06-12
8)
Use 2B and 4B pencils to add short dark raggedy lines on either side of the shaft.
The vane is slightly bowed, and these lines will serve to help create this illusion.
ILLUSTRATION 06-13
9)
Add a few long, thick, slightly curved, dark lines on either side of the shaft.
These lines mark a few natural separations of the barbs. The drawing of the feather appears more realistic with slight natural imperfections.
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ILLUSTRATION 06-14
10) Add a series of slightly curved hatching lines extending from both sides of the shaft. Use freshly sharpened 2H and HB pencils. Continuously keep your pencil points very sharp as you draw.
ILLUSTRATION 06-15
11) Add more hatching lines from the outside edges of the vane inward, leaving a lighter section in the center sections. By leaving this center section lighter, the vane appears to curve outward rather than appear flat. 12) Erase the rough sketch lines around the vane.
ILLUSTRATION 06-16
13) Add curved tips to the ends of the barbs. Use a very sharp pencil! Take your time!
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ILLUSTRATION 06-16
Try your hand at drawing feathers of different shapes, sizes, and colors. If you like drawing birds, you can discover lots of feathered friends with minimal effort. Check out your favorite park, the local zoo, an aviary, or a neighbors garden. The result will be many hours of drawing enjoyment.
BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY

As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk pastel, charcoal, cont crayon, and oil paints. My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter, the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable.
>Brenda Hoddinott<
Born in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Brenda grew up in the small town of Corner Brook. She developed strong technical competencies with a personal commitment to self directed learning, and the aid of assorted Learn to Draw books. During Brendas twenty-five year career as a self-educated civilian forensic artist, numerous criminal investigation departments have employed Brendas skills, including Royal Canadian Mounted Police and municipal police departments. In 1992, Brenda was honored with a commendation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and in 1994, she was awarded a Certificate of Membership from Forensic Artists International. Her home-based art career included graphic design, and teaching recreational drawing and painting classes. As supervisor of her communitys recreational art department, Brenda hired and trained teachers, and designed curriculum for several childrens art programs. In 1998, Brenda chose to end her eighteen-year career as an art educator in order to devote more time to writing, drawing, painting, and developing her websites. Drawspace http://www.drawspace.com incorporates her unique style and innovative approach to curriculum development. This site offers downloadable and printable drawing classes for students of all abilities from the age of eight through adult. Students of all ages, levels and abilities have praised the simple step-by-step instructional approach. This site is respected as a resource for fine art educators, home schooling programs, and educational facilities throughout the world.
LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT

Drawing for Dummies: Wiley Publishing, Inc., New, York, NY, this 336 page book is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally. The Complete Idiots Guide to Drawing People: Winner of the Alpha-Penguin Book of the Year Award 2004, Alpha - Pearson Education Macmillan, Indianapolis, IN, this 360 page book is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally.

Drawing A: Brenda Hoddinott

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DRAWING A

GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH FEATHERS

SKETCHING FEATHERED PROPORTIONS

ADDING A FEATHERY TEXTURE

Add shading to the shaft with your HB pencil.

BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY

LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT

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