{"id":48697,"title":"Tutorial On Illustrating Herons","description":"Want a step-by-step guide on drawing a heron in flight? Here are some stages you can follow. Why not then draw it in your own style?","content":"

Hello again! (Or possibly the first time!) Want a step-by-step guide on drawing a heron in flight? Here are some stages you can follow. The parts outlined in green show what is being talked about. Why not then draw it in your own style?<\/strong><\/p>

(Image made using digital design software. Very minor tweaks may occur between any images here or similar images in other locations. Heron may not be shown with a hundred percent accuracy. Grey Heron used as reference).<\/p>

Post is an updated\/edited version - this sentence was written on 7th July 2025.<\/em><\/p>

So, what are we aiming for?<\/h2>

A heron, mid-wing-flap! This one is a little trickier than my previous tutorials. You don\u2019t have to add all the feather details if you don\u2019t want to, it still looks enough like a heron without them. They come nearer the end, anyway. So, let\u2019s start!<\/p>

\"Cartoon-style<\/p>

Step 1: Draw the Head and Body<\/h2>

The body in this position is pretty streamlined. The beak is long and the heron as a little wisp at the back of its head that will mostly be obscured by the wing later. If you want the beardy bit to go over the base of the wing outline near the body (see step 6) add in a couple of wiggles like those found there (these wiggles will be shown in this tutorial in the outline from step 6 onwards).<\/p>

\"Cartoon-style<\/p>

Step 2: Add the Wing<\/h2>

Here\u2019s the rest of the wing outline. You've drawn some of it already, wiggles or not (not shown here).<\/p>

\"Outline<\/p>

Step 3: Add the Beak<\/h2>

The beak indents into the side profile of the head a bit, like drawing an arrow pointing left.<\/p>

\"Outline<\/p>

Step 4: Add a Leg and an Eye<\/h2>

The eye is pretty much touching the beak, it\u2019s quite far forward. The leg shown here is outstretched and the foot claws upwards a bit.<\/p>

\"Outline<\/p>

Step 5: Add the Other Foot and the Tail<\/h2>

Take a look at the green outline below for reference.<\/p>

\"Outline<\/p>

Step 6: Add the Hair Wisp(?) and Beardy Part<\/h2>

If you want, this can cover over some of the wing, as shown here. If you came to this page for the basic outline, the tutorial is finished! If you want more detail and colour, carry on below.<\/p>

\"Outline<\/p>

Step 7: Feather Details, Part 1<\/h2>

The wavy bits in the wing often bulge to the left to show the tips of the feathers arranged in the wing.<\/p>

\"Wing<\/p>

Step 8: Feather Details, Part 2<\/h2>

Not much more to say here; the wing detail steps are split up to make the details easier to refer to.<\/p>

\"More<\/p>

Step 9: Feather Details, Part 3<\/h2>

Herons have a lot of feathers, don\u2019t they? I don\u2019t know how many compared to other bird species.<\/p>

\"Additional<\/p>

Step 10: Feather Details, Part 4<\/h2>

Don\u2019t forget the trim bit of the beardy part.<\/p>

\"More<\/p>

Step 11: Final Feather Details<\/h2>

Just a bit more in the wing part, near the back of it.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"More<\/p>

<\/p>

Step 12: Add Colour to the Image<\/h2>

Here are the colours I used!<\/p>

\"Cartoon-styleYou\u2019ve completed the steps!<\/h2>

There you have it! Thank you for trying this activity out! You should now have a heron flying to the right. Of course, you might want it pointing left. If so, here\u2019s a handy reference image:<\/p>

<\/p>

\"Cartoon-styleWant to see more art?<\/h2>

Have you seen my shop<\/u><\/a>? You can buy products there that get printed with my other art, by my product suppliers, when you order! (Please don\u2019t copy or use any of this website\u2019s content that\u2019s not the focus of one of my tutorials. For permissions regarding the use of graphics within this site\u2019s product customiser, please refer to this site\u2019s home page.<\/p>

Until the next time I get in contact, thanks for your time!<\/p>

Alex (\u201cSheffinch\u201d)<\/p>","urlTitle":"tutorial-on-illustrating-herons","url":"\/blog\/tutorial-on-illustrating-herons\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/tutorial-on-illustrating-herons\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/sheffinch.co.uk\/blog\/tutorial-on-illustrating-herons\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1745501081,"updatedAt":1751899228,"publishedAt":1751899228,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":351119,"name":"Sheffinch"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/y93ouobqsm3mjsxw5q3bvxfotguxv45j2kcub9dxp6khytzx.png","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/y93ouobqsm3mjsxw5q3bvxfotguxv45j2kcub9dxp6khytzx.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/y93ouobqsm3mjsxw5q3bvxfotguxv45j2kcub9dxp6khytzx.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":49134,"title":"Experimenting with Digital Art","url":"\/blog\/experimenting-with-different-digital-art-styles\/","urlTitle":"experimenting-with-different-digital-art-styles","division":351119,"description":"This page is part of me trying out sharing different art styles on the internet! There\u2019s just one on this page at the moment, but check back for more updates.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ubmy86tc7eqccgqflprwc7kypz0m82gklumosbcbygz5knrh.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ubmy86tc7eqccgqflprwc7kypz0m82gklumosbcbygz5knrh.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":48959,"title":"Sheffinch Themes | Parties","url":"\/blog\/sheffinch-themes-parties\/","urlTitle":"sheffinch-themes-parties","division":351119,"description":"Hello! Here\u2019s a collection of images I\u2019ve made on the theme of special occasions. I might update it at times, so check back to see if there are any additions in future!","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ta0gdb54glgpcbmdtwqmtaask6yazgeutrvhdy1pljeivq3g.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=3.4&fx=0.51359216977094&fy=0.14998329171751","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ta0gdb54glgpcbmdtwqmtaask6yazgeutrvhdy1pljeivq3g.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=3.4&fx=0.51359216977094&fy=0.14998329171751"},"hidden":0},{"id":49400,"title":"Tutorial on Illustrating another bee","url":"\/blog\/tutorial-on-illustrating-another-bee\/","urlTitle":"tutorial-on-illustrating-another-bee","division":351119,"description":"Hello and welcome to my next guide for drawing cartoon-like yet fairly realistic images! This time, it\u2019s what I hope are bumblebees!","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/veyi63vgkdkfubw6mt0dwuswq573bjf1owrpwct7rm5ddunq.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/veyi63vgkdkfubw6mt0dwuswq573bjf1owrpwct7rm5ddunq.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}