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 — 6-step raven drawing tutorial grid
How to draw a raven step by step — 6-step raven drawing tutorial grid

  1. Block in the basic shapes

    Start a raven with two simple shapes: a circle or oval for the head and a larger oval for the body. Keep your lines light — these are scaffolding, not the final drawing.

  2. Connect the head and body

    Join the two shapes with smooth neck and back lines. Look at where the raven's head sits relative to its body — getting this connection right does more for likeness than any detail.

  3. Add the legs and posture

    Sketch the legs as simple lines with small circles at each joint, then thicken them into shapes. Check that the feet all touch the same ground line.

  4. Shape the head features

    Place the eyes about halfway down the head, then add the ears, nose, and mouth. Feature placement is what makes a raven look like a raven, so compare against a photo reference here.

  5. Refine the outline

    Erase your construction shapes and draw one confident final outline, following the muscle and fur curves rather than the geometric guides.

  6. Add texture and shading

    Break the outline with short fur or skin-texture strokes, shade the underside and any overlaps, and darken the eyes with a white highlight left in each.

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 six-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.