Tips for Drawing Your First Colored Pencil Bird

If you've ever looked at a photograph of a cardinal or a kingfisher and thought about how to recreate those vibrant feathers, starting a colored pencil bird project is honestly one of the most rewarding things you can do as an artist. There's something about the way the light hits a wing or the tiny, sharp detail in a bird's eye that just begs to be captured on paper. But, let's be real—it can also be a little intimidating when you're staring at a blank page and a box of sixty different shades of blue. ...

February 27, 2026 · 6 min · Mckenzie Jacko