Learn how to draw an owl with our easy to follow and illustrative step-by-step guide.
Our easy and cute how to draw an owl guide is a real hoot! We’re taking the humble owl and supercharging the owl design, with colour, pattern and imagination!
This easy to draw an owl, step by step lesson is designed for kids and beginners who are keen to learn the basics of learning to draw cute owls with personality.
With just a few simple lines, the owl shape can be drawn in just two strokes, making this a really easy owl for kids to draw.
When we give children Autumnal activities, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the typical colors of changing leaves and not give them enough space to flex their creativity. So with this cute how to draw an owl guide, we’ve focused on that all-important self-expression, giving tips on how to use bold color, paint and brush techniques.
Younger children can use the step by step owl guide to practice their fine motor skills and develop confidence with a paintbrush, whilst older children can use our tips and tricks as a starting to point to really explore the many ways to use color and technique.
Watch the How to Draw an Owl Step by Step Video:
Flow Drawing – How to Draw an Owl:
Supplies
White Carstock
Black Crayon/ Chalk Pastel or or Oil Pastel
Paint
Download the the How to Draw an Owl Step by Step Tutorial:
The Flow Owl Templates are available to members of the Arty Crafty Kids club. Members will need to log in to access the templates: https://www.artycraftykids.com/product/flow-drawing-how-to-draw-an-owl/
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Let’s Draw an Owl!
Start with a Free Flow Squiggle – Drawing the owls Head
Start towards the top of your page, and in a smooth motion draw a small loop (up, over and down), flow across the page and end with another loop. This will be the top of the owls head, with the loops making two little ears.
Let’s Complete the Owls Shape
Create the rest of the owls body by flowing down from the bottom of the first loop, across the page and back up in a rounded shape to the bottom of the second loop. The shape you create should look like a large urn, or perhaps a full grocery bag!
Add Big Eyes and a Beak to the Owl
Now add the owls features: draw two big round eyes and a sharp beak.
Draw a Pair of Wings Decorative Owl Wings – Get Creative!
Time for the wings! Since our owl isn’t going to be in flight, her wings don’t need to be flappy; instead, you can create the look of folded wings by drawing a curved line on each side of the owls body.
And since this isn’t just any old owl, don’t forget to get creative! We love a rainbow stripe wing, but you could go for zig zags, polka dots, or even rows of semi-circles if you want to create a more realistic feathered look.
Let’s Evolve the Drawing with a Sitting Branch for the Owl
Once you have all the basic shapes in place, you can use your imagination to build the rest of the picture.
Is your owl sitting on a branch, or nestling safely in a hole in a tree trunk? Is it daytime or nighttime? What season is it – will there be spring blossoms or color-changing leaves on the tree?
Go Bold – Paint the Owl
This piece of artwork is all about being bold and expressive. We suggest using a dry brush to avoid watering down the paint, and don’t forget to be generous with the application so you get a nice thick finish. This technique would work brilliantly with acrylic or oil paints.
Give the Owl Beautiful Bold Colors
And since we’re going bold, it makes sense that we also go colorful! We don’t want any brown owls this time: use a mixture of bright colors and really have fun.
Explore Painting Techniques
The colorful bold owl you’ve created then makes a great base for experimenting with technique.
You could start to introduce some water and spread the paint for a textured feel. Also take note of the light and dark patches you’ve made – perfect for capturing the depth and texture of wood. You could also wash over areas with a secondary color to create a blend. There are so many different options to explore!
Add an Autumnal Feel
If you’re creating an autumnal scene for your owl, play with the leaves just as you did with the owl herself. Use that dry application of paint, dabbed on, to create a thick, layered texture and use color gradient to illustrate the changing leaves. Have fun playing with different techniques and paint application to achieve different effects.
Make the Owl Drawing Your Own!
Now the final touches to really make your owl pop!
To create detail and add pattern, try using your paintbrush in different ways, from dabbing to wet and dry applications; from water washing to using the end for dots and squiggles. The only rule is: there are no rules!
The Flow Drawing:
How to Draw an Owl is Complete
There are so many different ways to express yourself through our flow drawing owl, we absolutely can’t wait to see your amazing creations! Don’t forget to post on social media and tag us – checking our your artwork is always our favourite time of the week!
What is Flow Drawing?
Flow Drawing is a new art technique developed by us to encourage children (and adult beginners too!) to understand shapes and create illustrations, in a much ‘freer’ way. By removing restrictions, flow drawing encourages children to fully engage in the moment and discover their natural flow, making every line count and bringing mindfulness to their creative process.
You can think of the flow drawing technique as a ‘how to draw’ guide with a difference – children won’t just draw a picture, they’ll create a unique work of art, right from their soul.
Flow Drawing Benefits:
Although the process of flowing more naturally in art might seem a little alien to children at first, it’s really worth encouraging them to have a go. Flow drawing has so many benefits and helps little hands and minds to:
- Explore simple shapes and how they work together to create larger forms
- Discover their natural flow and rhythm through repetitive movements
- Learn how to combine mediums, with a fun and easy approach
- Build confidence in their own creative ability
- Combat ‘perfection-seeking’ in art, providing a much needed alternative to rigid ‘how to draw’ guides
- Bring mindfulness to the creative process and boost mental health
- Foster a love of art and self-expression.
More How to Draw Tutorials for Kids:
Paint Along Autumn Birch Trees:
Instead of focusing on using flowing shapes to create the images in the foreground, we’re harnessing that natural flow to build an expressive background for the piece that captures all the colors of Autumn.
https://www.artycraftykids.com/art/flow-drawing-for-kids-autumn-birch-tree-painting/
How to Draw a Cat:
Cats have a great aesthetic, with sleek lines and a range of patterns, and they have bags of personality too (I know mine does!) So they’re a brilliant animal to explore through art.
https://www.artycraftykids.com/art/flow-drawing-for-kids-how-to-draw-a-cat/
How to Draw a Poppy:
“the poppy! It almost has its own personality, growing wild and free in the fields and hedgerows. The bold red spring flower has also come to symbolise courage, strength and remembrance in many countries, so it really deserves to be the centre of some special artwork.”
https://www.artycraftykids.com/art/flow-drawing-for-kids-how-to-draw-a-poppy/
Happy Crafting!
