Charley Harper Sketchbook: How to Draw 28 Birds

This step-by-step visual guide to drawing twenty-eight birds as portrayed by artist Charley Harper progresses from simple to complex images, from cardinals through owls to a roadrunner.

An avid naturalist, Charley Harper particularly liked to paint birds. He masterfully portrayed a host of species using simple lines and shapes. From the smallest songbird to the largest seabird, Harper conveyed not only the form and coloration of his avian subjects but also their personalities. His minimalist approach did not reduce the impact of his art; instead, it offered a bold and unique interpretation of nature’s winged beauties.

This sketchbook gives you the opportunity to learn how Harper captured his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements. For each of the twenty-eight birds featured herein, included is a four-page presentation. On the first page, you will find line drawings that show a three-stage process for recreating Harper’s image. The line drawings build on each other: the first one presents the most basic shapes, the second further develops the form of the bird, and the third completes the image with all the details. Following the line drawings are two uncoated sheets on which you can mimic these lines and shapes. Harper’s original full-color bird image completes each sequence. The sketchbook progresses from the simpler of Harper’s bird images to the more complex. In some cases, the line drawings present a slightly modified version of the original art.

At the end of this book, you will find thirty pages for your continued sketching, be it using Harper’s style or your own bold and unique approach. Happy bird sketching!