In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Western Meadowlark 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 Meadowlark 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: Start by drawing a circle as a guide for the top part of the meadowlark's body. To draw the circle, first make four marks to determine the 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. 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: On the lower, left side of the circle, draw a big arc as a guide for the bottom half of the western meadowlark's body. Pay attention to the position and size of this arc in relation to the circle. The combined shape of both guides should be similar to an egg. On the top, left side, draw a small circle as a guide for the head. This circle should be about half the size of the first circle.

Step 3: Inside the head, draw a two intersecting lines that are similar to a plus sign. These are guide lines that will help you place the bird's facial features later on. On the right side of the head circle, draw a long, thin triangular shape as a guide for the beak. Pay attention to how long this guide is in relation to the head.

Step 4: Draw two curved lines that connect the head to the body to create the guide for the meadowlark's neck. The bottom part of the neck should be wider than the top. On the lower, left side of the body, draw a triangular line as a guide for the tail. Don't draw the guide for the tail too long. Under the body, draw a sloping line as a guide for the leg. At the bottom of the leg, draw a short, horizontal line as a guide for the foot. Pay attention to the length of this guide in relation to the body.

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

Step 5: Inside the head, on the top, right side, lightly sketch a small circle for the western meadowlark'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: Darken the triangular guide on the right to create the shape of the bird's beak. Make the tip of the beak pointy and draw a line across the middle of the shape for the actual mouth. To the left of the beak, draw a series o short strokes for the feathery base. Inside the top part of the beak, draw a tiny circle for the nostril. Add a short stroke too for a groove.

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Step 7: Darken the top part of the guide to create he meadowlark's head. Make the head slightly flatter than the circle. The top of the head should meet the top part of the beak. Add a series of short strokes along the guides on the bottom, right side for the feathery throat. Inside the head, add more short strokes around the eye for the feather pattern.

Step 8: Use the sloping line under the body as a guide to draw the western meadowlark's first leg. First draw a curved line at the to that's made up of short strokes for the feathery base of the leg. Then draw the shape of the leg around the guide line. Draw the edges of the leg close to the guide to keep the shape of the leg thin. On the bottom, right, draw three long, thin shapes along the guide for the toes pointing forward. The toe in the middle should be longer and the toe on the other side should barely be visible. At the front of each toe, draw a curved, pointy shape for the nails. Add a slightly shorter shape on the left side for the toe pointing backward. Don't forget to add the pointy nail!

Step 9: Draw a long, curved line across the entire body for the bird's folded wing. The bottom edge of the wing should be close to the base of the leg. The top part of the wing should touch the edge of the very first circle. Add a few short strokes at the top for feathers. Along the middle of the wing, draw a series of longer curved lines for more feathers. Each of these lines should be similar to the letter J.

Step 10: Use the remaining shapes and lines as guides to draw the rest of the meadowlark's body. Simply darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the body. Add the shape of the tail within the triangular guide on the left side. The tail is made up of long, sloping lines. To the right of the leg, draw the visible portion of the leg that's on the other side of the body. Most of this leg will be hidden behind the first leg, so only draw the visible part. Use the first leg as a template as you draw this leg.

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 western meadowlark.

Final Step: Using ink, add the feather pattern to the entire body. Add thick stripes on top of the head, to the left of the eye and across the chest. The top of the body should have a variety of streaks, stripes and spots. It's a good idea to use reference as you ink for a more accurate depiction of a western meadowlark. Now color your meadowlark drawing! Use different shades of brown like light brow, dark brown and even a bit of orange and red to color the top part of the body. Add the colors lightly at first and gradually blend them together as you color darker and push down harder on your pencils. For a simpler drawing, use a single brown color instead of blending different shades together. Add shades of yellow on the bottom section of the body. Use brown close to the bottom edge to create shadows. Shadows will give the figure more dimension and volume. Color the beak gray but leave a few streaks blank for highlights. Use a blend of light brown and peach to color the legs. At the bottom, draw a shadow using gray and a bit of blue or purple. The shadow will ground the bird so that it doesn't appear to be floating.

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