Raven Drawing: Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

There’s something wonderfully mysterious about ravens — those glossy black feathers, that clever glint in the eye. The good news? Learning how to draw a raven is much less mysterious. Underneath all that midnight plumage is a simple oval body, a round head, and a beak like a little banana. 🐾

Ravens are basically the puzzle-solving geniuses of the bird world, and drawing one makes a great next step after our easy bird drawing for beginners. Same friendly shapes, just dressed in black.

What You’ll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Optional: markers or colored pencils

Step 1: Sketch the Body Oval

Draw a plump oval tilted slightly upward, like an egg leaning back to look at the sky. This is your raven’s body. Keep the lines soft — we’ll shape the feathers over it later. Leave space above for the head and below for a branch to perch on.

Step 2: Add the Round Head

Place a circle at the top front of the oval so the two shapes overlap a little. Ravens have proud, rounded heads, so make it a bit bigger than you might for a sparrow. No neck needed — the shapes blend together. If the circle overlaps more than planned, no worries; extra overlap just makes a cozier, fluffier bird.

Step 3: Draw the Big Beak

Here’s the raven’s signature feature. Draw a thick beak that curves gently downward, like a small banana pointing forward. Add a line through the middle to split the top and bottom halves. A raven’s beak is chunky, so don’t be shy! A few tiny bristle marks where the beak meets the forehead make a lovely bonus touch.

Step 4: Give It a Clever Eye

Draw one round eye above the beak, and drop a tiny white highlight dot inside it. That little dot is what makes your raven look smart and curious instead of sleepy. A short curved line above the eye adds a thoughtful brow. And if the eye lands a little big, lean into it — oversized eyes only make the raven cuter.

Step 5: Fold the Wing

Sketch a long, smooth shape along the side of the body, starting at the shoulder and narrowing toward the tail. Finish the tip with three or four pointed bumps — those are the folded flight feathers, stacked like fingers in a mitten. Let the wing sit slightly below the back line so it looks relaxed rather than pinned on.

Step 6: Add the Tail and Legs

Extend a wide, slightly rounded tail from the back of the body, like a paper fan that’s only half open. Then draw two sturdy legs beneath the belly, each ending in three little toes. Ravens perch with confidence, so plant those feet firmly. Short, thick legs look right here — this is a sturdy bird, not a dainty one.

Step 7: Perch It on a Branch

Draw a long, slightly bumpy line under the feet and give it a second line below for thickness — instant branch. Wrap the toes around it so your raven grips on tight. A leaf or two makes the scene feel alive. Tilt the branch just a touch, since perfectly level perches always look a bit stiff.

Step 8: Go Bold with Black

Outline everything, erase your sketch lines, then fill your raven with rich black. Here’s the secret: leave a few slivers of white, or streak in some deep blue and purple, so the feathers look shiny. Real raven feathers shimmer like oil on water. ✨

Tips to Make Your Raven Drawing Even Cuter

• Make the head extra round and the eye extra big for a chibi-style raven.
• Add a tiny shiny pebble or button near its feet — ravens love collecting treasures.
• Draw a crescent moon behind it for a gentle nighttime mood.
• Give it slightly ruffled head feathers, like bird bedhead.
• Sketch a second, smaller raven beside the first — these clever birds love company.

FAQ

Is a raven hard to draw?

No — it’s an oval, a circle, and a chunky beak. The all-black coloring actually hides small mistakes, which makes ravens very forgiving for beginners.

What’s the difference between drawing a raven and a crow?

Ravens are bigger, with a thicker curved beak and shaggier throat feathers. Exaggerate the beak and you’ll read as raven every time.

How long does a raven drawing take?

Around 15 to 25 minutes for most beginners, plus a little extra if you’re layering blues and purples into the black. The shine is worth those extra minutes.

Give yourself a caw of celebration — you just drew one of the smartest birds on the planet! If you’d like to see more feathered friends come to life, visit our YouTube channel. And if you’re in the mood for more creatures of the night, our easy bat drawing is a perfect follow-up. 🎨