How to Draw a Native American Feather
Some Native American tribes wore feathers in ceremonial headdresses. Although these garments, called war bonnets, signified honor in battle, they were rarely worn when fighting. Warriors received ceremonial feathers for acts of bravery. The signature feather associated with these war bonnets remains the feather of the golden eagle. Its characteristic markings in gray, black and white make perfect studies for pencil drawings. Sometimes these feathers were dipped in red dye, so you may use a red colored pencil to accent your feather if you wish.
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Instructions
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Draw a long, arching, vertical line. Make this line straighter at the bottom and more curved at the top. Make a line parallel to your first line that arcs to meet it at the tip. These two lines should meet at the top and remain separated at the bottom.
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Draw a small, diagonally-oriented oval at the base of your two lines to connect them. This completes the spine, or rachis, of your feather.
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3
Use short, flicking lines to create the barbs of your feathers. Make these lines light. These lines should arc slightly in a downward direction. As you get to the tip of your rachis, straighten these lines a little, while keeping them fluid and gently curving. In the top one-third portion of your feather, darken your lines to achieve a deep gray or black hue. If opting for a red color pencil, substitute if for your graphite pencil in these top feathers. Leave a small segment at the base of your rachis without barbs to create the quill.
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Shade your oval lightly to create a faint shadow at the base of the feather. This completes your feather.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid making hard, straight lines. Rigid lines detract from the organic form of the feather.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
