How to Draw and Paint Crows in a Tree

Armpatis

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posted on 3 weeks ago — updated on 1 second ago

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As temperatures drop, trees lose their leaves and the countryside seems still and bare — but perhaps eerily so. Coming across an unusual scene in nature, such as dozens of crows overwhelming a winter tree and cawing their eerie symphony, we might question what is going on. On Halloween, such a strange sight can trigger the imagination to go into overdrive—and can be captured in all its haunting glory in a spooky watercolor scene.

Steps

Practicing

Practice drawing the shape of the bird in pencil. Your tree will feature every branch holding a crow.

Practice doing birds in watercolor. Squeeze ⅛ inch of black watercolor onto a palette. Or, if using a set of watercolors, wet the black paint with 5-6 drops of water to activate it.

Practice painting a series of black birds using a small to medium-pointed brush. Try to use as few strokes as possible.

Drawing

Sketch the trunk and main branches of a deciduous tree. Use a 9" x 12" piece of watercolor paper.

Sketch a large circle lightly as a guide for the branches to fill.

Continue to draw the branches of the tree. Remember to make many horizontal or angled so birds might perch on them.

Draw each branch with double lines. Have the branches diminish in size as they reach toward the circle you sketched for them to stop. When the tree is complete, hold it away from you and see if it looks balanced, with enough branches in every section.

Draw birds on the branches of the tree. Try to keep them approximately the same size throughout.

Draw birds on the ground under the tree. Have some flying in the sky and some landing.

Continue drawing in more birds. When adding birds to the tree, you most likely will get so adept that you begin painting them directly without drawing. When you think you have enough birds, add more.

Go over the drawing. Use a fine-line Sharpie or another indelible black marker to go over the outlines you have sketched.

Painting

Paint the scene with watercolors if desired. Use warm colors and paint a few fall leaves clinging to the branches and leaves on the ground. If you prefer to make it a winter scene, use cool colors.

Make it a true fall or Halloween scene. Add a pile of pumpkins stacked under the tree. Add a fence line with more birds perched on it. Have ghosts walking into the scene from over the horizon. Make the scene at night, lit by a full moon.

Pack a dramatic punch with your haunted scene. You may choose to do it in black and white or in full color. Happening upon and seeing this scene of so many birds in one tree would make a person stop and look—you can try to capture this eerie feel in your artwork.