5 Easy Steps to Draw a Rooster: A Beginner's Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 6 min read

If you've ever wanted to try your hand at drawing, let's start with something fun and straightforward—an easy drawing rooster. Drawing can seem daunting at first, but with the right guidance and a step-by-step approach, you'll be amazed at what you can create. In this beginner's guide, we'll go through five easy steps to draw a rooster, starting with the basics and building up to a detailed final piece.

1. Gather Your Drawing Tools

Before we dive into our rooster sketch, let's make sure we have all the necessary tools. Having the right tools can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. Plus, it can significantly impact the outcome of your artwork.

Select the Right Drawing Paper

The first thing you'll need is the right kind of paper. While you can technically draw on any piece of paper, the quality of your drawing paper can affect your work. Look for drawing paper that's smooth and heavy enough to hold your pencil marks without tearing. Strathmore or Canson are good brands to consider.

Choose Your Drawing Pencils

Next, let's talk about pencils. For an easy drawing rooster, you'll need a few different types of drawing pencils. A set of graphite pencils with varying hardness levels—like the Staedtler Mars Lumograph set—gives you the flexibility to create different textures and shades in your drawing.

Get a Quality Eraser

Finally, grab a good eraser. An eraser is more than just for fixing mistakes—it's a vital drawing tool. A quality eraser, like the Prismacolor Magic Rub, can help you create highlights, adjust shapes, and clean up your drawing.

Now that you've got your tools ready, you're all set to start on your easy drawing rooster journey. Remember, the key is to enjoy the process as much as the final result. Happy drawing!

2. Study the Rooster's Shape

Now that your tools are ready, let's move to the next step of our easy drawing rooster guide: studying the rooster's shape. Drawing is not just about lines and strokes—it's also about observing and understanding the subject. Studying the rooster's shape will help you capture the essence of its form in your drawing.

Observe Real-Life Roosters

If you have access to a farm or a zoo, spend some time observing real-life roosters. Pay attention to their size, form, and how they move. If you can't find a real rooster, don't worry—you can also study from videos. Notice how a rooster's chest is puffed out, how its tail feathers fan out, and how its head is relatively small compared to the body. It's these little details that can bring your rooster drawing to life.

Use Rooster Photographs for Reference

There's no harm in using photographs as reference material. They can provide you with a still image to capture those intricate details. Try to find clear, high-quality images that showcase different angles of the rooster. This will help you understand its three-dimensional form and make your rooster drawing more realistic.

Understand Basic Anatomy of Roosters

Understanding the basic anatomy of a rooster can significantly improve your drawing. You don't need to be an expert in bird anatomy, but knowing the basics can help. For example, roosters have a distinctive 'comb' on top of their head and 'wattles' hanging below their beak. Their legs are covered in scales, and they have three forward-facing toes and one backward-facing toe. Keeping these characteristics in mind will help you achieve an accurate and easy drawing of a rooster.

Studying your subject might seem like a lot of work, but it's a crucial part of the drawing process. Plus, it can be a fun way to learn and observe. Now, with a good understanding of the rooster's shape, you're ready to start sketching!

3. Start Sketching the Basic Shape

With a clear understanding of the rooster's shape, we're now ready to put pencil to paper. Sketching the basic shape is a critical step in our easy drawing rooster guide, as it forms the foundation for your artwork. This stage is all about getting the proportions right and not about perfecting the details. Let's go!

Draw the Rooster's Body

Start with a simple oval for the rooster's body. This is the largest part of the rooster, so it will help you determine the size of your drawing. Don't worry about getting it perfect; it's just a guideline. Remember, the rooster's body is plumper at the front due to its puffed-out chest.

Sketch the Rooster's Head

Next, draw a smaller circle for the rooster's head, connected to the body with a short line—this will be the neck. Make sure the head isn't too big. It's a common mistake to draw the head too large, but remember, in roosters, the body is significantly larger than the head.

Outline the Rooster's Tail Feathers

The tail is one of the rooster's most distinctive features. Sketch an upward curve at the back of the body to represent the base of the tail. Then, add some elongated shapes fanning out from this curve for the feathers. These shapes can be a bit curvy to show the fluffiness of the feathers.

That's it! You've sketched the basic shape of your rooster. It might look simple and a bit abstract now, but this is the foundation of your drawing. With this in place, you're ready to add the details and bring your rooster to life.

4. Add Details to Your Rooster

Now we’re entering the exciting part of our easy drawing rooster journey: adding the details. This is where your rooster starts to take on personality and life. Let’s explore how to add defining features to your rooster drawing.

Draw the Rooster's Beak and Eye

Two features that give your rooster its character are the beak and the eye. For the beak, draw a simple triangle shape near the bottom of the head. Add a line in the middle to show the mouth. For the rooster’s eye, sketch a small circle above and to the side of the beak. Remember to leave a tiny white dot in the eye for the reflection—it adds a spark of life to your rooster!

Add the Rooster's Wattles and Comb

No rooster drawing would be complete without the wattles and comb, the fleshy, red features on a rooster's head. For the comb, draw an uneven line along the top of the head, with points to represent the comb's spikes. The wattles hang down from the rooster's head, so sketch two small, elongated shapes on either side of the beak.

Sketch the Rooster's Legs and Feet

Let's move on to the legs and feet. These are slightly tricky due to the various joints and angles. Draw two lines coming down from the body for the legs. The rooster’s feet have three toes facing forward and one facing back. Sketch these using simple lines first, and then refine the shape to make them look more natural.

Well done! You're one step away from completing your easy drawing rooster. Your artwork is beginning to take shape, and it's time for the final touches.

5. Finalize Your Rooster Drawing

Let's put the finishing touches on your rooster masterpiece. By now, you've done the hard work, and it's all about refining and enhancing. So, let's dive in and complete your easy drawing rooster.

Erase Any Extra Markings

Firstly, it's time to clean up your drawing. Grab your eraser and gently rub out any extra sketch lines or marks that aren't part of the final drawing. Remember to be gentle—you don't want to smudge your artwork. This step helps your rooster look clean and polished.

Add Shading to Your Rooster

Now, let's give your rooster some depth and texture. Shading helps to create a 3D effect, making your rooster come alive on the page. Use your pencil to add shades to the body, especially under the wings and tail feathers. Also, don't forget to shade the legs and the comb and wattles. Remember, the key to good shading is to follow the shape of the object—you're suggesting shape and light direction, not just coloring in.

Sign and Date Your Artwork

Finally, it's time for the last, but crucial step. Sign and date your artwork. This is your masterpiece—you should be proud of it! Signing and dating your drawing not only gives it a professional touch, but it also allows you to track your progress as an artist over time.

And there you have it! You've just completed your easy drawing rooster. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be sketching roosters with ease and confidence. Remember, every artist started somewhere, and you're on your way to becoming great at this. Happy drawing!

If you enjoyed learning the 5 easy steps to draw a rooster and want to further improve your drawing skills, don't miss out on the workshop 'Drawing with Ease and Accuracy' by Yazmin Moktan. This workshop will provide you with valuable techniques and tips to help you draw with confidence and precision, taking your art to the next level.