Cardinal Drawing Tutorial - How to draw Cardinal step by step

Cardinal Drawing

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1. How to Draw a Cute Cardinal for Kids

Today, drawing123.com will guide you how to easily draw a cardinal with simple steps.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Draw the Beak

Start by drawing a small, pointed oval for the Cardinal’s beak.

Step 2: Define the Mask

Draw a small, tear-drop shape around the base of the beak. This will form the black mask of the Cardinal.

Step 3: Draw the Head and Crest

Draw a large, curved line extending from the top of the mask, outlining the main shape of the head. At the top of the head, draw a spiky, feathered crest (topknot).

Step 4: Draw the Wing

Draw a rounded, almost almond shape for the wing, attaching it to the lower back of the head. Add a few short, curved lines at the tip of the wing to suggest feathers.

Step 5: Draw the Body and Tail

Draw a long, continuous curved line from the bottom of the mask, sweeping down to form the chest and belly of the bird. Extend this line backwards to form the long, tapered shape of the tail, connecting it to the back of the wing.

Step 6: Draw the First Leg and Foot

Draw the first leg using a short, vertical line. Draw a three-pronged foot with curved toes at the bottom of the leg.

Step 7: Draw the Second Leg and Foot

Draw the second leg slightly behind the first, using a slightly shorter line. Draw the second three-pronged foot, making it partially obscured by the first leg.

Step 8: Draw the Eye

In the space above the mask and on the head, draw a small circle for the eye. Draw an even smaller circle inside for the pupil.

Step 9: Color the Cardinal

Color the main body, head, and crest in shades of red. Color the mask around the beak dark brown or black. Color the beak, legs and feet yellow.

2. Easy Cardinal Drawing Tutorial for Beginners

Step 1: Draw the Wing Shape

Begin by drawing a half-circle shape with a straight diagonal line across the top left. This forms the initial outline of the bird’s wing.

Step 2: Add the Tail Section

From the bottom left corner of your initial shape, draw a trapezoid-like shape with a slightly curved bottom line. This will be the tail section.

Step 3: Define the Body Curve and Crest

Draw a large, sweeping curved line that starts near the top right of the head shape, curves upwards to form a small, pointed crest, and then continues downwards, curving to meet the bottom of the initial head shape. This creates the main body and the top of the head/crest.

Step 4: Draw the Beak

On the right side of the head, draw a small, triangular shape for the beak.

Step 5: Add Facial Details (Mask Outline)

Draw a curved, wavy line inside the head, starting near the crest and moving down towards the beak. This line helps define the facial mask of the Cardinal.

Step 6: Draw the Eye

Inside the area defined by the mask outline, draw a larger circle for the eye. Inside that, draw a smaller circle for the pupil, and an even tinier circle inside that for a highlight.

Step 7: Draw the First Leg and Foot

Draw a short, vertical line for the first leg. At the bottom of the leg, draw a three-pronged, cartoon-style foot with curved toes.

Step 8: Draw the Second Leg and Foot

Draw a second leg slightly behind and to the right of the first, using a similar short, vertical line. Draw the second three-pronged foot, making it appear slightly behind the first.

Step 9: Color the Cardinal

Color the body, head, and tail in varying shades of red. Color the facial mask (the area around the eye and extending towards the beak) a dark brown or black. Color the beak, the legs and feet yellow.

3. Step-by-Step Cardinal Drawing Guide for Children

Step 1: Draw the Beak

Start by drawing a small, almond-shaped oval for the beak, which is pointed and slightly rounded.

Step 2: Draw the Facial Mask

Draw a large, irregular shape around the beak. This shape has a jagged, feathered bottom and a smooth top, outlining the facial mask and lower throat area.

Step 3: Draw the Eye

Inside the outlined mask area, draw a small circle for the eye.

Step 4: Draw the Crest

Draw a sharp, spiky crest (topknot) extending upwards and backwards from the top of the mask outline. Then, draw a long, curved line sweeping down from the crest to begin the bird’s back.

Step 5: Draw the Body Outline

Draw a long, continuous curved line starting from the bottom of the feathered throat, sweeping downwards to form the belly, and then curving up to form the lower back.

Step 6: Draw the Tail

Draw the long, tapered tail extending horizontally from the back of the body, connecting it to the back curve.

Step 7: Draw the Left Leg

Draw the first long, thin leg extending downwards from the body, and draw a four-toed foot at the bottom.

Step 8: Draw the Right Leg

Draw the second leg slightly behind the first, using a similar long line, and draw the second foot resting parallel to the first.

Step 9: Coloring

Color the bird: Red for the entire body, black for the mask and legs, and yellow for the beak.

4. Simple Cardinal Sketch for Young Artists

Step 1: Draw the Beak

Start by drawing a small, pointed shape that looks like a horizontal diamond or football shape for the beak.

Step 2: Draw the Head and Crest

Draw a curved line starting from the back of the beak, sweeping up to form the rounded top of the head. Add a small, feathered crest (topknot) at the highest point of the head with a few gentle curves.

Step 3: Draw the Wing

Draw a rounded, almond-shaped wing extending backward from the head/shoulder area. Add some scalloped or wavy lines at the bottom edge and two or three parallel lines inside the wing to suggest feathers.

Step 4: Draw the Body Outline

Draw a large, sweeping curved line that starts from the base of the beak and curves downwards to form the full, round chest and belly of the bird.

Step 5: Draw the Tail Feathers

Extend the lines of the back end of the wing to form the long, rounded tail. Draw parallel lines within the tail to separate the large tail feathers.

Step 6: Draw the Legs and Feet

Draw two short, vertical lines for the legs underneath the body. Draw two three-pronged feet with short, rounded toes for a cute, resting stance.

Step 7: Draw the Mask and Eye

Draw an irregular, curved shape around the base of the beak and eye area to create the Cardinal’s black mask. Draw a small circle for the eye inside the mask, adding a tiny dot for the pupil.

Step 8: Color the Cardinal

Color the main body, head, crest, and tail in shades of red. Color the mask black. Color the beak, the legs and feet light orange or beige.

5. Kids’ Guide: Draw a Fun and Friendly Cardinal

Step 1: Draw the Beak

Start by drawing the small, triangular beak with a slightly open lower mandible.

Step 2: Draw the Head and Crest

Draw a long, curved line sweeping upward and backward from the top of the beak. At the peak, draw a spiky, jagged outline for the feathered crest (topknot).

Step 3: Draw the Front of the Body

Draw a short, jagged line below the crest to suggest the back of the neck. Draw a small, wavy line below the beak and eye area to outline the feathered throat.

Step 4: Draw the Wing Base

Draw a curved line extending from the back of the neck/shoulder area. Draw the first layer of wing feathers with a scalloped edge at the bottom. This section should be long and narrow.

Step 5: Draw the Main Wing

Extend the shape of the wing from the previous step, drawing two or three parallel lines to indicate long primary feathers. Add another scalloped line below the first one to create a second layer of feathers.

Step 6: Draw the Chest and Belly

Draw a large, sweeping curved line that starts from the throat (from Step 3) and curves down to form the rounded chest and belly. This line then curves slightly upward towards the tail.

Step 7: Draw the Tail

Draw the long, tapered tail extending downwards from the back of the bird. Add long, curved parallel lines within the tail to define the individual tail feathers, making them appear layered over the end of the wing.

Step 8: Draw the Leg Stumps

Draw two tiny, wavy lines underneath the belly. These form the very top of the Cardinal’s visible legs, where they emerge from the body feathers.

Step 9: Draw the Legs and Feet

Draw two short, thick legs extending downwards from the lines in Step 8. Draw three-toed feet with curved toes pointing forward, giving the bird a stable, perched appearance.

Step 10: Draw the Facial Mask

Draw an irregular, curved shape around the base of the beak and eye area. This finalizes the outline of the distinctive black facial mask.

Step 11: Draw the Eye

Draw a small circle for the eye inside the mask, adding a tiny dot for the pupil.

Step 12: Color the Cardinal

Color the main body, head, crest, and tail in shades of red. Color the mask black. Color the beak, the legs and feet light orange or beige.

6. Cardinal Drawing for Kids: Easy Step-by-Step Lesson

Step 1: Draw the Wing Shape

Begin by drawing a large, long almond shape for the main body and tail outline.

Step 2: Draw the Body Outline

Draw the head, crest, and wing outline by adding a continuous, curved line starting from the top back of the body, curving up to a point for the crest, and sweeping down to define the neck and the rounded back edge of the wing.

Step 3: Draw the Tail

Draw a long, straight line down the center of the tail section, extending it to the tip, to segment the tail feathers.

Step 4: Draw the Legs and Feet

Draw two parallel vertical lines for the legs, ending each with a short horizontal line to indicate the feet/toes.

Step 5: Draw the Beak

Draw a small, pointed triangular shape for the beak. Add a vertical line connecting the upper and lower parts of the beak.

Step 6: Draw the Facial Mask

Draw a curved line extending from the neck down to the front of the beak. This line defines the bird’s black facial mask.

Step 7: Draw the Eye

Draw a small circle for the eye inside the mask area.

Step 8: Coloring

Color the bird: The body and crest in shades of red/coral, the mask dark gray/black, and the beak yellow.

Hopefully, this drawing tutorial on Cardinal will help you easily create a cute drawing.