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How to Draw a Crane

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw a crane in 13 easy steps, about 10 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: small round head.

Step 1: Small round head
Near the top left draw a small round head, a little wider than tall.
Tip Leave lots of room below for the neck, the body and the long legs.
Step 2: Pointed beak
Start on the head's front, draw a pointed beak out left, stop on the head. Add a mouth line.
Step 3: Eye and cap
Behind the beak draw a big eye with a black dot. Draw a curve across the top of the head.
Step 4: Long neck
From under the head draw 2 neck lines down, curving to the right. Join their ends with a U.
Tip Keep the neck thin and smooth, with no corners.
Step 5: Slim oval body
Start where the U meets the back neck line. Draw a slim oval body round to the front neck line.
Tip The body is about 2 heads wide.
Step 6: Folded wing
On the body draw a folded wing like a long leaf, with its point toward the tail.
Step 7: Tail feathers
Start on the top of the back, sweep round the rump with 3 drooping bumps, stop on the tummy.
Tip A crane's tail feathers hang down like a bushy bustle.
Step 8: One long leg
Start under the tummy. Draw a long thin leg down to a flat foot. Stop back at the tummy.
Tip Crane legs are long and thin, a little fatter at the top.
Step 9: The other leg
A hand further back draw the second leg the same way, from the tummy and back up to it.
Step 10: Ground and grass
Start left of the bird. Draw a ground line under the feet, stop past the tail. Add grass tufts.
Step 11: Red cap, tan beak
Colour the cap red and the beak tan. Leave the head, body and eye white.
Step 12: Grey wing and legs
Colour the wing light grey. Colour both long legs dark grey.
Step 13: Black neck and tail
Colour the long neck and the drooping tail feathers black.