In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Cedar Waxwing bird step-by-step.

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All of the tutorials on How2DrawAnimals.com are good drawing tutorials for beginners and experienced artists alike. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow.

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To draw this Cedar Waxwing step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

Below you can watch a Narrated step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake.

Step 1: Draw two circles as guides for the cedar waxwing's head and the body. To draw each circle, first make four marks to determine the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a circular object like a coin or a bottle cap. Pay attention to the sizes and placements of the circles. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle.

Step 2: Inside the head, draw a horizontal line that will be used as a guide line to help you place the waxwing's facial features later on. On the left side of the head circle, draw a small, triangular shape as a guide for the beak. Pay attention to how long this guide is in relation to the head.

Step 3: Connect the two circles using short lines to create the guide for the neck. On the lower, right side of the big circle, draw a big arc as a guide for the bottom half of the cedar waxwing's body. Pay attention to the position and size of this arc in relation to the big circle.

Step 4: On the lower, right side of the body, draw a long, thin shape as a guide for the mockingbird's tail. The tail shouldn't be too long in relation to the body. Under the body, draw two short lines as guides for the legs. On the sides of the lines, draw a couple of short lines as guides for the toes.

That's it for the guidelines! From this point on, press down harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing of a cedar waxwing bird.

Step 5: Inside the head, on top of the horizontal construction line and near the center of the head, lightly sketch a small circle for the waxwing's eye. When you get the size and position of the eye right, darken the lines. Inside the eye, off to the side draw a tiny circle for a highlight. In the middle of the eye, draw a slightly bigger circle and shade it in for the pupil. Don't overlap the tiny highlight circle as you shade in the pupil. Add a few small, curved lines around the bird's eye for a bit of the bare skin and corners of the eyes.

Step 6: Use the triangular guide on the left side as a guide to draw the waxwing's beak but make the shape more curved. Draw a line near the middle of the guide that extends toward the inside of the head for the mouth. Add the feathery base of the beak along the right side using a series of shorter curved lines. Place the base of the beak near the middle of the triangular guide. The beak should be shorter than the initial triangular guide. Inside the top part of the beak, draw a small oval for the nostril.

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Step 7: Use the other shapes and lines as guides to draw the rest of the cedar waxwing's head. Draw a triangular shape on the top, right side of the head for the crest. Pay attention to the size of the crest in relation to the head. Use a series of short strokes on the right edge of the crest for a feathery texture. Inside the head draw the mask-like pattern using a series of short strokes for a feathery texture. Place the pattern around the eye and connect it to the crest on the right side.

Step 8: Draw a long, curved line across the entire body for the waxwing's folded wing. Make the top part of the shape wide and then gradually make it thinner toward the bottom. The bottom tip of the wing should extend into the shape of the tail. Along the middle of the wing, draw a series of small, thin oval-like shapes for the tips of the feathers that look like drops of wax (which is where the name waxwing comes from). Use the lines that are under the body and on the right side as a guide to draw the bird's first leg. Add a few short strokes at the top for the feathery base of the leg. Draw the shape of the leg, foot and toes around the guide lines. Make the tips of the toes pointy and curved for the nails.

Step 9: Use the short lines on the left as guides to draw the cedar waxwing's other foot the same way. Draw the shape of the foot and toes around the guide lines. Keep the shape of the foot thin and the make the tips of the toes thin and pointy for the nails. Use the remaining shapes and lines as guides to draw the rest of the bird's body. Simply darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the body.

Step 10: Draw the shape of the tail within the long, thin guide on the right side. The tail is made up of long, sloping lines. Make the base of the tail wider than the tip and add a few short strokes at the top for a feather texture. Under the feet, draw a couple of sloping lines to give the cedar waxwing a branch to perch on.

Step 11: Go over the final lines with a pen, marker or any other type of permanent ink. Take your time and be careful when you ink to avoid any accidents. Don't ink the initial guide lines, only the final drawing. After inking, get rid of every pencil mark with an eraser for a cleaner drawing of a cedar waxwing.

Final Step: Now color your waxwing drawing! Use different shades of brown to color the top part of the body. Use dark brown to create shadows, regular brown for mid-tones and light brown for highlights. Add the colors lightly at first and gradually blend them together as you color darker and push down harder on your pencils. Use yellow to color the underside of the body. Use a smooth transition between the brown and yellow to create the silk-like texture of the feathers. Color the beak, mask-like pattern, feet and tips of the wing black and gray. Leave a few sections blank on the head and wing for the white feathers. Color the small shapes across the middle of the wing red for the wax-like tips of the feathers. Use different shades of brown and a bit of green to color the branch. Coloring can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's a good idea to use reference as you color for a more accurate depiction of a cedar waxwing bird.

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