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TheAntimonyElementBird Wing Tutorial

Published: 2010-01-18 08:52:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 355805; Favourites: 16098; 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

originalspaceduck In reply to ??? [2012-09-24 17:12:17 +0000 UTC]

Now THAT is helpful! xD

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to originalspaceduck [2012-10-24 05:18:59 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear it!

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originalspaceduck In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-10-24 13:48:37 +0000 UTC]

Well, it is!

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Sheep-Sheepy In reply to ??? [2012-09-23 01:45:36 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, this was really helpful!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Sheep-Sheepy [2012-10-24 05:19:06 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad!

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xXShiningstar In reply to ??? [2012-09-22 21:09:01 +0000 UTC]

Really helpful guide- well paced, laid out perfectly and easy to understand. Thank you for making this tutorial it really helped me understand how each feather plays it's part and the layering process!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to xXShiningstar [2012-10-24 05:19:23 +0000 UTC]

It's wonderful to hear that, thank you so much! I'm glad you found it helpful!

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TheGirlLullu In reply to ??? [2012-09-20 15:02:16 +0000 UTC]

Hey you should join the group ! (:

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angiedoodles In reply to ??? [2012-09-16 03:20:52 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! This will help me so much!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to angiedoodles [2012-10-24 05:19:53 +0000 UTC]

I'm so happy to hear that!

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angiedoodles In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-10-24 19:02:50 +0000 UTC]

No problem! It's very clear and understandable.

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InkyPinkyDots In reply to ??? [2012-09-15 09:39:20 +0000 UTC]

Oh, this was exactly what I needed! Thank you!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to InkyPinkyDots [2012-10-24 05:19:43 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! ^^

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RickCharlesOfficial In reply to ??? [2012-09-13 12:32:01 +0000 UTC]

This tutorial will enter me into a new stage in paleoart. Thank you for this presentation!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to RickCharlesOfficial [2012-10-24 05:19:37 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic, I'm so glad to hear that! Good luck!

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YoshiKyubi In reply to ??? [2012-09-06 19:49:29 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, this helps A LOT x3

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to YoshiKyubi [2012-10-24 05:20:58 +0000 UTC]

I'm very glad! :3

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Leo-ish-female In reply to ??? [2012-09-04 23:12:58 +0000 UTC]

WOW
This was even very helpful in my 3D construction of a bird wing, thank you!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Leo-ish-female [2012-10-24 05:21:37 +0000 UTC]

It's great to hear that, I'm so glad it translated well from 2d to 3d!

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TalkativeTiaD In reply to ??? [2012-09-03 21:15:18 +0000 UTC]

im a broccoli bird.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to TalkativeTiaD [2012-10-24 05:22:00 +0000 UTC]

That's ok--for now! Just keep trying, I promise it will get easier the more you draw! ^^

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Crysenley In reply to ??? [2012-09-01 04:26:10 +0000 UTC]

This tutorial is amazing. Even though I don't draw wings often, this will come in handy when I do.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Crysenley [2012-10-24 05:22:11 +0000 UTC]

I'm so happy to hear that, thank you!

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Crysenley In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-11-05 10:46:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank you.

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Snowball4292 In reply to ??? [2012-08-26 10:20:17 +0000 UTC]

Thanks to your awesome tutorial I drew this! : [link]

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Snowball4292 [2012-10-24 05:23:26 +0000 UTC]

Awesome, that's a really great start! Just keep practising, I promise it gets easier and easier the more you draw! :3

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Snowball4292 In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-10-24 07:01:49 +0000 UTC]

Yay! :3 Thankyou!

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Vekke In reply to ??? [2012-08-25 21:20:14 +0000 UTC]

god wow WOW YOU'RE A LIFESAVER

thank

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Vekke [2012-10-24 05:23:45 +0000 UTC]

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Toxiclilly In reply to ??? [2012-08-21 21:58:22 +0000 UTC]

OMG THANK YOU!
I need to draw wings for a project and now I think they will look real wings! :3

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Toxiclilly [2012-10-24 05:24:01 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! Real wings are the best!

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PinkiePinkie In reply to ??? [2012-08-21 10:32:12 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! It helped me a lot.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to PinkiePinkie [2012-10-24 05:24:08 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear it!

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Stoop--Kid In reply to ??? [2012-08-17 14:27:22 +0000 UTC]

Awesome work, dude! It'll be really helpful for a project I'm working on.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Stoop--Kid [2012-10-24 05:24:15 +0000 UTC]

I'm so happy to hear that! ^^

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Monrroe In reply to ??? [2012-08-17 05:57:52 +0000 UTC]

Just wanna say how well written this is, it's rare that I actually learn something from a tutorial, but this time I did, I guess it's just made so easy to understand like this c:

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Monrroe [2012-10-24 05:24:32 +0000 UTC]

Haha, that's high praise--thank you so much! I'm glad you found it helpful! :3

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xThistlePath In reply to ??? [2012-08-14 21:25:49 +0000 UTC]

Amazing, thank you!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to xThistlePath [2012-10-24 05:24:37 +0000 UTC]

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Nocturnalmissives In reply to ??? [2012-08-12 21:59:38 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! Perfect and thanks so much!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Nocturnalmissives [2012-10-24 05:24:51 +0000 UTC]

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Hi-Hikari-Byouga In reply to ??? [2012-08-10 20:10:12 +0000 UTC]

the most hilarious Tutorial I've ever seen!

but also the most helpful, thanks!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Hi-Hikari-Byouga [2012-10-24 05:25:17 +0000 UTC]

Awesome, thank you so much!

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HareTrinity In reply to ??? [2012-08-09 17:55:09 +0000 UTC]

Recommended this twice in the last few days!

Think I commented before but have another comment reminding you that this is an awesome addition to artist tutorials.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to HareTrinity [2012-10-24 05:25:56 +0000 UTC]

Oh, wow, thank you so much! Comments like this just make my day!

...Also, are you a fan of Pratchett, by any chance?

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HareTrinity In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-10-26 22:11:17 +0000 UTC]

No problem!

And Pratchett? I suppose so, though not a huge one, why do you ask?

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Snowball4292 In reply to ??? [2012-08-09 08:03:18 +0000 UTC]

Fun to read and helpful! Yay now my feathery dragon doesn't look like a mop with legs!

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DaNoodleBox In reply to ??? [2012-08-07 16:48:01 +0000 UTC]

Very cool tutorial...seeing the bone structure with how it relates to the wing structure helps put a lot in perspective. I snicked at "But wait there's moar!"...very informative and fun to read.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to DaNoodleBox [2012-10-24 05:26:13 +0000 UTC]

I'm so glad to hear that, thank you!

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HappyPanda00 In reply to ??? [2012-08-07 12:29:54 +0000 UTC]

Ahh!!! thankyou so much i was dying the other day cos i couldn't draw wings XD

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