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TheAntimonyElementBird Wing Tutorial

Published: 2010-01-18 08:52:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 355832; Favourites: 16097; Downloads: 7183
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Description Ta-da! Finally! You peeps requested this, like, AGES ago, and here it is! Hope you learn something! Please don't be scared off by its length, I just talk a lot.

I browsed a bit through dA and I couldn't find a tutorial on bird wings that really covered it ALL--from bones to wing shapes and feather groups. All the tuts I found seemed to assume that you were starting with some basic knowledge of how bird wings worked. I don't know if you are, so here's one that works from the ground up!

Yes, this is based off the tutorial style of the incomparable (Go read her tutorials on drawing humans; I promise you will learn something!) because I feel that it's a very clear and dynamic way to show people stuff. So yeah.

Other Stuff:
Interesting web sites, if you want to learn more:
[link] --Explore this site some--it has some really cool interactive stuff. Also that game! XD My bobolink always gets eaten halfway through.
[link] --some more in-depth stuff on the physics involved.
[link] --lots of info on wing shape and purpose!

Great reference books:
-Birds of Prey: Majestic Masters of the Skies by Paul D. Frost--glorious, two-page spreads full of raptor close-ups. My copy is much loved.
-Raptors of the World by James Ferguson-Lees and David A. Christie--what need I say?
-Reader's Digest Book of North American Birds -- beautifully illustrated, with cool tidbits of information about all the birds.

...and I don't want to hear that you don't have the money to buy books. Libraries need love too, and there is one near you--go get to know it!

All photos that are not from Wikipedia were taken by me. The canada goose picture was found here: [link] and the peregrine falcon here: [link] .

Phew. That was rather exhausting (and hopefully exhaustive! ) so I hope you enjoy and appreciate! Wings are gorgeous; do them justice!

Also: has a wonderful gallery full of images of birds in flight--go check it out, it's a great reference! Thanks to for suggesting it.

:EDIT: HOMFG A DD THANK YOU SO MUCH and !!!!!!
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Comments: 2652

TheAntimonyElement In reply to ??? [2012-05-25 13:09:41 +0000 UTC]

Excellent! I'm glad it cleared things up for you.

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SolarSpiritualSafina In reply to ??? [2012-05-17 12:04:17 +0000 UTC]

great tutorial! this helped me alot D

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to SolarSpiritualSafina [2012-05-18 20:23:35 +0000 UTC]

I'm happy to hear it!

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SolarSpiritualSafina In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-05-19 00:53:24 +0000 UTC]

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Sunstar-Pwns In reply to ??? [2012-05-16 03:36:10 +0000 UTC]

I have used this so many times, and I think it's really helped me a lot to get the basics of a wing, and hopefully I'll continue to improve as I keep practicing! ^^ Thank you so much!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Sunstar-Pwns [2012-05-18 20:25:22 +0000 UTC]

Oh, it makes me so happy to hear that! I'm thrilled that it's helped you!

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Sunstar-Pwns In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-05-18 20:42:38 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! ^^

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That-Dodo In reply to ??? [2012-05-12 22:08:23 +0000 UTC]

Amazing turtorial!
i totally learned something new
i bet everyone else did 2

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to That-Dodo [2012-05-18 20:25:30 +0000 UTC]

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That-Dodo In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-05-18 22:16:10 +0000 UTC]

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Fuzzylicious4Eva In reply to ??? [2012-05-11 23:52:16 +0000 UTC]

I hope I have served you well, my master:
[link] & [link]

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crywulf4 In reply to ??? [2012-05-11 10:15:38 +0000 UTC]

Isn't it illegal to have a hawk feather or something in America..?

I'm not sure, I'm not in America

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FantaMullennix In reply to ??? [2012-05-11 07:41:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I dunno where to use this but... finally, someone who can explain something! Everything nowadays makes no sense.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to FantaMullennix [2012-05-18 20:27:48 +0000 UTC]

Haha, it feels like that sometimes, doesn't it? XD But wow, I'm touched that you feel that way...I try my best to make it as clear as possible, and I'm glad it came across.

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SugarySweetLove In reply to ??? [2012-05-10 18:27:51 +0000 UTC]

This helped so much! Thanks

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lilium-auratum In reply to ??? [2012-05-05 17:35:45 +0000 UTC]

This is fantastic! Thank youuuu

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niqichui In reply to ??? [2012-05-01 06:02:28 +0000 UTC]

Amazing! Thank you so much for this amazing tutorial.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to niqichui [2012-05-04 02:40:52 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure!

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ripplemaker-artistry In reply to ??? [2012-04-29 18:32:13 +0000 UTC]

Honestly the most helpful tutorial I have ever seen.
I'm planning on working on making a bird puppet and have been having a really hard time trying to figure out the wings so thanks so much for sharing!!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to ripplemaker-artistry [2012-05-04 03:03:57 +0000 UTC]

Ooh, wonderful! It's cool that you're using it for a physical object, I don't get a lot of that. Good luck with your puppet!

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ripplemaker-artistry In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-05-05 02:41:06 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!
Yeah it'll be a challenge considering I've never done it before. But I'm excited

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SnowPeakTheInsane In reply to ??? [2012-04-26 00:56:06 +0000 UTC]

Ahaha wow. Love it.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to SnowPeakTheInsane [2012-04-26 05:19:29 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I'm glad.

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TheMorlock In reply to ??? [2012-04-25 20:13:02 +0000 UTC]

Excellent! Very informative!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to TheMorlock [2012-04-26 05:19:42 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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TheMorlock In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-04-26 05:27:16 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome.

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SilverX7Studios In reply to ??? [2012-04-25 14:49:35 +0000 UTC]

What a helpful, helpful tutorial! I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! ^O^

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to SilverX7Studios [2012-04-26 05:20:44 +0000 UTC]

Well, I love this comment, so I guess we're even!

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briannaeking In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 19:38:29 +0000 UTC]

This is amazing. Thanks for posting!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to briannaeking [2012-04-26 05:21:04 +0000 UTC]

You're so welcome, comments like this make it totally worthwhile.

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Alorasaur In reply to ??? [2012-04-23 07:03:51 +0000 UTC]

This is seriously the best feather/wing tutorial I've seen

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Alorasaur [2012-04-26 05:21:22 +0000 UTC]

Ooh, thank you so much!

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reverielly In reply to ??? [2012-04-22 18:59:09 +0000 UTC]

a:l,br:,c:r,d:r,e:l,f:r,g:l....right?
helpful tutorial

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to reverielly [2012-04-26 05:22:07 +0000 UTC]

...Alright, where'd I put my decoder ring? :V

Glad you like it.

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reverielly In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-04-26 21:59:00 +0000 UTC]

lol^^'

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Galaxy-Squid In reply to ??? [2012-04-22 17:40:27 +0000 UTC]

Believe it or not, this really helped me with a bird cosplay! Thank you so much! Very helpful.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Galaxy-Squid [2012-04-26 05:22:29 +0000 UTC]

PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

Seriously though, I'm happy to hear that it helped you!

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5UNNYR4Y3 In reply to ??? [2012-04-22 15:53:41 +0000 UTC]

this iss so freaking helpful!!! i can never figure out how the wings fold together -.- the bit about which section of the wing falls where when tucked was such a huge help! i am so scared to draw my OCs with their wings---especially while flying, but this tutorial made me feel less like i would fall off a cliff while attempting it ^^

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to 5UNNYR4Y3 [2012-04-26 05:25:25 +0000 UTC]

Oh, wonderful! I'm so glad to hear it! Folded wings are one of the trickiest things to try and draw, I think, and it took me years to figure out what the heck I was doing. I'm always happy to hear that the tutorial helped people with stuff like that.

As for your OCs, honestly, all I can say is practice practice practice...it may seem traumatic to draw wings, but the more you do it, the better you'll get and the easier it will be. It used to take me ages to draw a decent wing, and now I can whip together something I like in 10 minutes. So just keep at it.

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Dennise In reply to ??? [2012-04-21 22:45:42 +0000 UTC]

Retarded M:s so true xD

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Dennise [2012-04-26 05:26:13 +0000 UTC]

XD Inorite?

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Gold-Seven In reply to ??? [2012-04-20 10:19:03 +0000 UTC]

I've seen a lot of wing tutorials and I've learnt a bit from each of the - but this one taught me such an incredible lot I didn't even know *existed*.


Absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for this.

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WolvieSyxx In reply to ??? [2012-04-18 15:11:22 +0000 UTC]

This is facking incredible. thank you so much for taking the time to make this for derps like me. ^^

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finquilizer In reply to ??? [2012-04-16 09:19:29 +0000 UTC]

I love tutorials that teach realistic and not some goofed up simplified anime-style. Thanks!

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Destynee33 In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 01:45:45 +0000 UTC]

Wow, this has got to be the best tutorial I have ever seen. Very cleverly done! Very well explained and illustrated, and some points were just hilarious. Plus, that question you asked? "Do you see what's wrong with them now?" Well I sure did. And that's the mark of a great tutorial; when you have just learned something important at the end of it. Absolutely wonderful! This has helped me so much just in the five minutes I read over it. I'm drawing wings right now, so I'll comb through it more carefully. One last thing; Thank you so very much for sharing your tips and tricks and your humor with us! <3

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CrescentRise In reply to ??? [2012-04-10 09:23:55 +0000 UTC]

Wow! Useful AND awesome!

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wildstar582 In reply to ??? [2012-04-07 20:33:58 +0000 UTC]

FFFF th1s r34lly h3lps. 1 dr3w 4 p1ctur3 4G3S 4g0 th4t just... n0w 1t 4lm0st hurts t0 l00k 4t 1t. XD Th1s w1ll d3f1n1t3ly h3lp m3 d0 b3tt3r <3

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Aiko-Shiri In reply to wildstar582 [2012-04-12 01:10:32 +0000 UTC]

... Not to be rude, but it hurst my eyes to read your text, I'm pretty sure it's a pain to type

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wildstar582 In reply to Aiko-Shiri [2012-04-12 01:19:46 +0000 UTC]

s0rry 1t hurts y0ur 3y3s but 4ctually, 1ts n0t h4rd t0 typ3 l1k3 th1s, s1nc3 1v'3 b33n d01ng 1t f0r 4 l0ng t1m3. don't worry, you're not rude, i kinda get stuff like that a lot. at least you were polite about it, unlike a lot of people <3

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Aiko-Shiri In reply to wildstar582 [2012-04-12 21:05:26 +0000 UTC]

Aha I see now, ^^ I've actually starting to get used to it, it's different. I try to be as polite as possible ^^ thank you for not taking it harshly <3

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