Raven Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas

Learning how to draw a raven is easier than it looks — the whole thing starts with a circle for the head and an oval for the body. This guide walks you through a raven drawing in six clear steps, then hands you a set of raven drawing ideas to keep going: easy versions for beginners, cute and cartoon takes, and variations worth sketching when you want more.

  • Difficulty Easy
  • Time ~15 min
  • Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
  • Starts with a circle for the head and an oval for the body
Raven drawing — hand-drawn raven illustration with ink lines and soft colors
Raven drawing — hand-drawn raven illustration with ink lines and soft colors

How to Draw a Raven Step by Step

How to draw a raven step by step — 9-step raven drawing tutorial sheet

Step 1 of 9

Head and body guides

Draw a light circle in the upper left area of the page for the head, then a taller oval below and to the right for the body.

See the full sheet
How to draw a raven step by step — 9-step raven drawing tutorial sheet
How to draw a raven step by step — 9-step raven drawing tutorial sheet

  1. Head and body guides

    Draw a light circle in the upper left area of the page for the head, then a taller oval below and to the right for the body.

  2. Head outline

    Trace the head outline on the circle, flattening it slightly where it will meet the body.

  3. Beak and eye

    Add a thick pointed beak extending forward from the head, then a small round eye near its base.

  4. Body shape

    Trace the body outline on the oval, narrowing slightly at the neck and rounding at the base.

  5. Folded wing

    Draw one large folded wing along the side of the body, tapering to a point below the middle.

  6. Wing feathers

    Layer rows of short curved feather lines down the folded wing.

  7. Throat, perch, tail

    Add shaggy feather tufts below the beak, then a perch branch with clawed feet and a long tail hanging behind it.

  8. Ink the lines

    Go over every kept line with dark ink, then erase the light head circle and body oval guides.

  9. Color the raven

    Fill the whole body glossy black with a few blue-purple highlight streaks on the wing, and the beak and feet dark gray.

Raven Drawing Ideas to Try Next

Once the basic raven clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.

  • Raven face close-up portrait

    Crop to just the face and make the eyes the star. Big expressive eyes carry the whole piece.

  • A cartoon raven with a tiny accessory

    Round everything, shrink the body, add one hat/bow/scarf. Accessories add personality for nearly zero extra difficulty.

  • A geometric low-poly raven

    Build the raven from straight-edged triangles only — a modern design look that secretly teaches structure.

  • A raven in its natural habitat

    Add two or three environment elements behind your raven — the scene sells the story without needing a full background.

  • A sleeping raven curled up

    Sleeping poses tuck away the legs and face details — draw one restful curve and let the pose forgive the anatomy.

  • A raven peeking around a corner

    Half the animal hides behind an edge — you draw the easy half and the composition feels playful.

  • Continuous one-line raven

    Draw the whole raven without lifting your pen. Great warm-up, and the wobbles are the style.

  • A baby raven next to its parent

    Same drawing twice at two sizes with bigger eyes on the little one — instant "aww" with skills you already have.

Tips for Better Raven Drawings

  • Eyes make or break animal drawings: place them carefully, keep them symmetrical, and always leave a white highlight dot. A perfect body with dead eyes still fails; a wobbly body with living eyes still charms.
  • Draw the gesture line first — one curve through the spine from nose to tail. Animals drawn from the spine out always feel alive; animals drawn from the outline in always feel stuffed.

Not feeling the raven today?

Let the generator pick your next subject — filtered by mood and difficulty.

🎲 Random Drawing Generator

Raven Drawing FAQ

How do you draw a raven easily?

Start with a circle for the head and an oval for the body, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable raven on their very first try with it.

How long should it take to draw a raven?

A simple raven drawing takes about 15 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.

What do I need to draw a raven?

Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.

Is a raven easy to draw for beginners?

Yes — the raven is one of the friendlier subjects for beginners, and this method was written for first-timers. Kids can follow the same steps; just expect wobblier lines and more charm.