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TheAntimonyElement β€” Bird Wing Tutorial

Published: 2010-01-18 08:52:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 355735; Favourites: 16100; 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

GoldieWishes In reply to ??? [2013-09-20 23:50:53 +0000 UTC]

ODETTE

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to GoldieWishes [2014-08-28 19:46:33 +0000 UTC]

ZOMG SWAN-LADY Β 

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moondragonwings In reply to ??? [2013-09-20 14:06:45 +0000 UTC]

Complete, clear and correct!! Yea! (a bit Comedic as well)

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to moondragonwings [2014-08-28 20:03:45 +0000 UTC]

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MooNiterra In reply to ??? [2013-09-18 22:09:41 +0000 UTC]

O_O amazing

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to MooNiterra [2014-08-28 20:03:52 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

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Frostbite365 In reply to ??? [2013-09-11 01:31:46 +0000 UTC]

This will totalley change the way I draw wings. Like seriously, you are my hero for making this tutorial.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Frostbite365 [2014-08-28 20:04:24 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thank you! Glad to hear it helped.

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Frostbite365 In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2014-08-29 01:26:24 +0000 UTC]

no probs, keep being awesome~

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JuliQuadrinhos In reply to ??? [2013-09-06 21:00:24 +0000 UTC]

This is a very complete tutorial!


Thanks for spending some time to create this!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to JuliQuadrinhos [2014-08-28 20:04:30 +0000 UTC]

Β 

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AnimalsArt123 In reply to ??? [2013-09-05 10:49:22 +0000 UTC]

you are the master of birds!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to AnimalsArt123 [2014-08-28 20:04:41 +0000 UTC]

;D YesplzΒ 

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peach962 In reply to ??? [2013-08-29 23:56:17 +0000 UTC]

Awesome I never knew how to draw a bird wing until I read this, I used to draw broccoli! Seriously this is awesome!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to peach962 [2014-08-28 20:05:01 +0000 UTC]

I'm so glad to hear it! Birds are much happier with awesome wings than with broccoli!

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peach962 In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2014-08-29 02:54:39 +0000 UTC]

Yes!

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CrazyCanid In reply to ??? [2013-08-23 16:54:41 +0000 UTC]

Amusing and helpful!

Thank you Sir/ Ma'am!Β 

Β 

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avianation In reply to ??? [2013-08-22 04:46:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for this!

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WaterLillyHearts In reply to ??? [2013-08-21 00:48:13 +0000 UTC]

Oh this is really a nice one I like this...I think it will help me with my feathers. This is the first one that has broken them down enough and gotten really in there.

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Rainiila In reply to ??? [2013-08-19 07:12:48 +0000 UTC]

Awfully informative!!

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Ali-C-05 In reply to ??? [2013-08-12 22:51:16 +0000 UTC]

wow... that was really really useful! Thank you so much for sharing!

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Black-Card In reply to ??? [2013-08-12 05:23:44 +0000 UTC]

So I went to look for wing references because I wanted to draw some nice looking wing headgear accessories for a OC of mine. And look what I found lol. Didn't want to draw the crap that you see on example 1 (the "This is Evil" example).Β  Definitely going to try and apply this, hope it works out.

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ShinranRanger [2013-08-05 17:53:29 +0000 UTC]

What if u want a dragon to have feathered wings?

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to ShinranRanger [2014-08-28 19:58:46 +0000 UTC]

Easy--all the same rules apply! You can exaggerate some of the features to make it look more believable, of course. Here are some good examples:Β 

nambroth.deviantart.com/art/Ya…

www.deviantart.com/art/Silkara…

red-izak.deviantart.com/art/Fl…

saraais.deviantart.com/art/Win…

kgmomo.deviantart.com/art/Leti…

alviaalcedo.deviantart.com/art…

skysealer.deviantart.com/art/C…

novawuff.deviantart.com/art/ni…

Also check out the club! They have tons of great examples.

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MunchiCookieton In reply to ShinranRanger [2013-08-06 16:13:26 +0000 UTC]

Same idea.

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ShinranRanger In reply to MunchiCookieton [2013-08-07 04:53:51 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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mewquen In reply to ??? [2013-08-03 13:20:14 +0000 UTC]

Awesome tutorial!!!

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Wicked-Darkling In reply to ??? [2013-07-22 11:20:31 +0000 UTC]

This is an amazing pile of work and knowledge share with the world! Thank you for doing that! i don't have problems with drawing wings but your totorial pointed out many useful details. And I love your sarcsm

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Wicked-Darkling [2014-08-28 20:09:35 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Sarcasm makes everything better. Β 

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Wicked-Darkling In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2014-08-28 20:35:59 +0000 UTC]

Yea, it does! ;]

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draneas [2013-07-17 00:51:28 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! Thanks a bunch!

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themeepynerd In reply to ??? [2013-07-14 17:12:50 +0000 UTC]

This has been extremely helpful! Thank you so much for uploading this!

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MegaHills10 In reply to ??? [2013-07-10 20:06:23 +0000 UTC]

This was very very helpful!

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observer88 [2013-07-10 10:54:52 +0000 UTC]

This seems very helpful for when I want to draw wings.

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artbychoice In reply to ??? [2013-07-05 11:17:31 +0000 UTC]

Great reference point....thanks

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MiraKial In reply to ??? [2013-07-04 04:12:49 +0000 UTC]

Best. Tutorial. EVER.

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AngelOfChange In reply to ??? [2013-06-28 02:47:13 +0000 UTC]

This helped X3 Thank you so much!

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space--cat In reply to ??? [2013-06-24 13:38:29 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for this tutorial, super helpful and friendly looking, and you defiantly put in a ton of information that isn't too dense or confusing. Thank you ! <3

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to space--cat [2014-08-28 20:10:15 +0000 UTC]

I'm so glad to hear that the formatting is accessible and non-intimidating...that's what I was trying for. So glad you liked it! Β 

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orange-pirates In reply to ??? [2013-06-23 03:12:49 +0000 UTC]

Really detailed and interesting.
Thanks! it's really help me to learn

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Siocain In reply to ??? [2013-06-19 15:09:01 +0000 UTC]

Very helpful, thx! β™₯

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magoleth In reply to ??? [2013-06-18 18:17:59 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! It's very helpful!

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DamienMuerte In reply to ??? [2013-06-16 18:05:59 +0000 UTC]

very helpful ! Thanks

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DaliaWolfsoul In reply to ??? [2013-06-15 18:42:48 +0000 UTC]

Thanks you for the explanation! It was very very useful. You don't know how much.

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Draconic-Metalsmith In reply to ??? [2013-06-15 06:53:44 +0000 UTC]

Okay, I can learn from this.

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ScenesAndMemories In reply to ??? [2013-06-12 14:56:38 +0000 UTC]

Oh my god I love you.

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animecat33 In reply to ??? [2013-06-08 23:13:56 +0000 UTC]

wings are a serious pain for me
thank you so much for submiting this

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YokoSama In reply to ??? [2013-06-08 14:56:40 +0000 UTC]

This is a great tutorial!!! I had also noticed there was a lacking in explaining the basics of bird wing, but I dont not have the tallen to make a tutorial. So I am glad someone did for this turned out great!!! Thank you!

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karlarei2003 In reply to ??? [2013-06-07 09:02:18 +0000 UTC]

Wow, this is really awes--OH GOD! ODETTE! ;A;
I have to go back and watch that movie now.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to karlarei2003 [2014-08-28 20:10:34 +0000 UTC]

SWAN PRINCESS REPRESENT

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