Lifelike Animals

AUSTRALIAN BARKING OWL

The large, slightly crossed eyes and facial “mask” of the Australian Barking Owl are particularly striking. I visited a local wildlife sanctuary and closely observed this subject during a “free flight” demonstration. I was able to take a number of good photos of the bird in flight, as well as when it landed on a nearby fence railing, which is the pose I choose to depict. As I have mentioned, it is always helpful to understand the anatomy of the animal you are drawing. When drawing birds, pay attention to the way the feathers lay. Most birds share the same general feather structure, so refer to diagrams in encyclopedias or other references for help.

Basic Shapes I start by drawing a simple circle for the head, dividing ...