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How to Draw a Penguin by Oliver Jeffers

How to Draw a Penguin by Oliver Jeffers

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Oliver Jeffers, author and illustrator of many picture books including Lost and Found, Here We Are, A Child of Books, and STUCK (my personal favorite), shows us how to draw a penguin.

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It might be tricky to borrow a penguin (for drawing reference), but you might find one at a nearby zoo. Or if you’re lucky enough to visit Phillip Island in Australia, you can see small fairy penguins return to their habitats at the end of the day in the “Penguin Parade.”

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You could find the penguin documentary, March of the Penguins, and draw the flightless birds while watching, or by pausing the video.

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Penguin doodling begins with simple shapes: circles.

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Then connect the circles.

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Add oval-shaped wings.

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Color in your penguin.

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Add details.

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If you don’t have white paint, make sure you leave white dots for the eyes by NOT coloring them in.

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Shading can be tricky, but remember: shadows are cast away from the light, and that side of the object/subject will be slightly darker than the side nearer to the light.

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His feet are doodled much like his beak!

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Voilà! You’ve doodled a waiter. Happy doodling!

For more doodling feathered friends, check out How to Draw Birds.

All art copyright Oliver Jeffers, via The Guardian.

 

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