Paint A Dove: Step-By-Step Guide

Doves are a symbol of peace, love, and innocence, and they are incredible creatures to draw and paint. In this step-by-step guide, we will teach you how to paint a realistic dove using watercolour pencils. Watercolour pencils are versatile and can be used like regular coloured pencils or turned into watercolour paint by adding water. Let's get started on creating a beautiful and elegant dove painting!

Start with basic shapes

When drawing a dove, it's best to start with basic shapes. Begin by sketching an elongated oval for the body of the dove, slightly tilted to convey motion. Draw a small oval for the head and, on the right side of the paper, position a big oval at a 45-degree angle for the rest of the body.

Next, you can start to draw the wings. Draw two long, curved lines extending from the upper part of the body, creating the impression of outstretched wings in flight. Refine the wings by adding additional curves to depict the feathers, giving them a layered look.

Now, you can begin to add the finer details to the head. Draw a triangular beak and a small dot for the eye. Using a fine, sharp brush and black paint, fill in the pupil of the eye. Then, using white paint, apply a shimmer around the edge of the eye.

Finally, connect the head and body by drawing the neckline. Once you're happy with the basic structure, you can start to add more detail and bring your dove to life!

Outline the body

To outline the body of the dove, you can start by drawing an elongated oval for the body, slightly tilted to convey motion. This will form the basic shape of the dove's body, capturing the gentle curves and serene posture of the bird. You can then add two long, curved lines extending from the upper part of the oval to create the impression of outstretched wings in flight. Remember to tilt the body oval slightly to convey a sense of movement and fluidity in your dove's posture.

Next, refine the wings by adding additional curves to depict the feathers. This will give the wings a layered and feathered look. You can add soft brush strokes to the wings using a small, soft brush and dark grey paint to enhance the features and structures of each wing. Don't forget to add the feathers at the bottom end of the body, creating a sense of fluffiness and volume. You can also indicate the long tail feathers by drawing long lines that curve upward from the bottom of the body.

Once you're happy with the wings and feathers, it's time to add the beak and head details. Outline the beak with a triangular shape and add a small dot for the eye. You can then start refining the head by drawing the neckline and upper curves of the neck, connecting it to the outline of the body. Use soft lines and gentle curves to capture the elegance and tranquility associated with doves.

Finally, review your drawing and make any necessary adjustments. Smooth out any rough lines and add subtle details, such as feather markings or shadows, to enhance the form and give your dove a three-dimensional appearance. You can also add a curved line for the branch of an olive leaf in the beak if you want to incorporate a symbol of peace and joy. Remember to keep your lines fluid and graceful, reflecting the peaceful nature of these birds.

Draw the wings

To draw the wings of a dove, you'll want to start by drawing two long, curved lines extending from the upper part of the body, creating the impression of outstretched wings in flight. You can then refine the wings by adding additional curves to depict the feathers, giving them a layered look. This can be done by drawing lines for the feathers on the wings and at the lower end of the body. You can then draw a similar line inside the wings.

Once you're happy with the overall shape of the wings, you can start to add detail. Draw a bunch of small, curvy lines for the feathers on the wings and tail, and add details to the eyes. You can then draw angular lines on the wings and in the tail, and add any other final touches to the wings, such as soft strokes of contour shading.

Add shading and texture

Now it's time to add shading and texture to your dove painting. Using a fine, sharp brush and black paint, fill in the pupil of the eye, leaving a small white area at the edge to represent a highlight. With a small, soft brush, add soft shadows in black paint along the beak of the dove.

Next, add sharp edges to the claws using a small, soft brush and dark maroon paint. Repeat this step, but this time use a fine, sharp brush and white paint to add texture to the claws. Using the same small, soft brush and black paint, gently add a black spot underneath the dove, leaving enough space to create the illusion that the dove is flying. Use a blending brush to gently fade the edges of the shadow.

Now, add soft brush strokes with a small, soft brush and dark grey paint to the wings of the dove. Add soft strokes of contour shading to the head, body, and under the main wing of the dove. Using a fine, sharp brush and white paint, apply fine lines between the feathers of the dove. Finish this step by using a small, soft brush and white paint to add soft lines along the head and body of the dove.

Finally, add a second layer of paint with a small, soft brush, but only on one half of each wing. Using a fine, sharp brush and grey, white, and lichen green paint, add fine sharp texture lines along the soft highlighted brush strokes you've already made. To finish, add more blue to darken the shadows and more yellow to brighten the highlighted areas. Don't worry about the blue and yellow mixing to make green—this will add an interesting painterly quality to your dove painting!

Final touches

Now that you have completed the body of the dove, it is time to add the finer details. Using a fine, sharp paintbrush and black paint, begin filling in the pupil of the eye. Using white paint, apply a shimmer around the edge of the eye. With a small, soft brush and black paint, add soft shadows along the beak.

Using a small, soft brush and dark maroon paint, add sharp edges to the claws. Repeat this step, but this time use a fine, sharp brush and white paint to add texture to the claws. Using the same paintbrush, switch to light pink paint and fill in the beak of the dove.

Now, use a blending brush to gently fade the edges of the shadow underneath your dove drawing. To finish, use a fine, sharp brush and the corresponding colours to trace the entire outline of the dove.

You can add more blue to darken the shadows and more yellow to brighten the highlighted areas. Don't worry about the colours mixing and turning green; this will add an interesting and painterly quality to your drawing.

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