Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Cockatiel" 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 top part of the cockatiel's body. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. Leave enough room on the top and bottom for the bird's head and tail.
Step 2: Draw another circle on the top right side of the body as a guide for the cockatiel's head. This circle should be about half the size of the first one. The edges of the two circles should touch.
Step 3: Inside the small circle, draw two intersecting lines. These lines will help you place the facial cockatiel's features later.
Step 4: Add a few more lines to complete the guide for the bird's body. A couple of lines at the top form the neck. An arc on the lower left side forms the bottom half of the guide for the cockatiel's body.
Step 5: Add a few more lines under the cockatiel's body as guides for the feet and tail. The guide for the feet is similar to a sideways letter C. Use a long line for the tail. Make it as long as you'd like.
That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.
Step 6: Draw the eye inside the cockatiel's head as a circle. Use the lines as guides for placement. Draw a tiny circle inside the eye to represent glare. In the middle of the eye, draw a big dot for the pupil. Shade the inside of the bird's eye using a value that's lighter than the pupil. Add a line around the eyeball as detail for the bare skin.
Step 7: Draw the top part of the cockatiel's beak, called a cere, by using the initial lines as guides. The shape is somewhat triangular. Use quick, short strokes to represent feathers on the left side. Add a small circle at the top for the bird's nostril.
Step 8: Draw the bottom part of the cockatiel's top beak by using the edge of the initial circle as a guide. The tip comes to a sharp point. The left side should be curvier.
Step 9: Draw the bottom part of the cockatiel's beak as a curved line. Use quick, short strokes on the left for the feathers.
Step 10: Draw the crest on the cockatiel's head using a series of curved lines. Lightly sketch the shape of the crest first. When you get the structure right, darken the lines. The crests on cockatiels vary in shape and length. Make yours as tall and wide as you'd like. The crest is composed of thin curved feathers. Draw a series of individual curved feathers for the crest. The feather in the front should be the tallest. The remaining feathers should decrease in height gradually. The mood of cockatiels determines the shape of the crest. You can make yours flatter and closer to the head if you'd like.
Step 11: Use the initial shapes to create the rest of the cockatiel's head. Make the head a bit thinner on the sides as you darken the lines.
Step 12: Use the initial shapes for the body as a guide to draw the cockatiel's folded wing. Follow the basic path of the outer edge of the guides as you draw the shape of the wing. Sketch lightly at first. Give the shape of the wing a few bumps along the way for the feathers. Darken the lines when you get the structure right. The tip of the wing should stick out of the bird's body a bit.
Step 13: Draw the bottom half of the wings as a set of curved lines under the cockatiel's body. First draw an arc with a diagonal orientation under the body. The shape should go across the top part of the line for the tail. Now add the visible part on the wing on the other side as well.
Step 14 (optional): Add a few lines within the cockatiel's wings as extra detail for the feathers. The feathers are made up of small U-shaped arcs throughout the shape of the wing. The curved lines should overlap one another, and they should have a diagonal orientation. Don't draw every individual feather. Just a few for the basic representation of the feathers. The curved lines on the lower part of the wing should be longer and thinner.
Step 15 (optional): Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the cockatiel's body and tail. Darken the lines at the top to complete the body. Use the line at the bottom to create the tail. Follow the basic path of the guide as you draw a couple of thin, long arcs for the tail. You can make the tail longer if you'd like.
Step 16: Draw the feet under the cockatiel's body by using the initial lines as guides.
Step 17 (optional): Draw something under the cockatiel's feet to give it something to stand on so it doesn't appear to be floating. Add a branch by drawing a jagged circle under the feet and a few lines above it.
Step 18 (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 of the final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.
Final Step (optional): Cockatiels can be colorful, so instead of the usual shading, try coloring your drawing. Using gray, add some shading to give the drawing more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that you draw the shadows consistently. Shadows are generally at the cool end of the color spectrum, so add some blue or purple to the shadows.
Cockatiels come in a variety of colors and patterns, so color yours however you'd like. If your cockatiel will be yellow, add a bit of orange to the shadows and darker sections. Use a darker orange for the cheek patch and black for the eyeball. Use light yellow and peach for the cockatiel's beak and feet. Continue adding yellow to the entire body. Use different shades of yellow as you color for a more three-dimensional look. Using a single shade of a color can sometimes make a drawing flat.
Coloring can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks as you draw. You can also skip the coloring for a white or albino cockatiel and a much easier drawing. Use brown and gray for the branch below. Keep in mind the shadows. Add a bit more orange to the sides of the cockatiel's body for a rounder look. You can stop here for a yellow or lutino cockatiel or continue adding color for a different variety. Add more gray along the wings and body for the pied or cinnamon variety cockatiel. Use light strokes as you add the gray to the body.
It's a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. If you have a pet cockatiel, try duplicating its feather pattern on your drawing. Remember to pause the "How to Draw a Cockatiel Video" after each step to draw at your own pace.
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