How to do (birds') feet? (1 Viewer)

[Dave B]

I would have thought this question had been asked on this forum before, but I can't find any thread, so perhaps not.

Does anyone else find feet impossible to do well? Mine always end up looking as if they are made from pipecleaners. The way I resolve this is usually to hide them behind a leaf or stick them deep in mud.

However, I would really like to learn how to do feet better so they can be displayed openly and without embarrassment. Any tips please?

 

[Oskar Moilanen]

I reckon they're hard to get right because of their delicate structure and form.
To get them looking the least bit realistic, one has to put the right lines and shadowing at the right places.

This is just a reflection from a total beginner. The way I have dealt with them is to draw the form and then try to draw shadows on them, just as if they were small twigs.

 

[Lykos]

I only find this...but I have no tip,I´M not good enough

 

[RafaelMatias]

My advice is to observe, to spend time understanding how they work, how many joints are there on each toe, etc. If you have the chance of studying live birds in the hand (say in a ringing session) that helps a lot. Note that different birds will have completely different feet, differing even in the number of toes. So you just need to know your subject, and importantly, to understand what you're seeing. It will be easier after some practice. A lot of hard self criticism is also important!
Good luck!

 

[timwootton]

do what I do - stick to waders

 

[John Cantelo]

I fear that 'doing' feet is one of the things that has made me give up drawing/painting birds (except waders & ducks of course!),