Easy Dove Drawing Tutorial
In this tutorial I’ll show you how to draw an easy dove. You’ll also see a variation with a bit more detail, but still an easy beginner drawing.
These easy dove drawings would be good for artist trading cards, stained glass window designs, or any other art project.
Let’s get our supplies and get ready to start drawing.
* Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
Art Supplies
- Thin black marker
- Paper or cardstock
- Markers
- Pencil
- Click Eraser, Pink Pearl Eraser
- White Gelly Roll pen
Doves in Art
Doves have held symbolic significance in various cultures for centuries, often associated with peace, purity, love, and spirituality. This symbolism has made them a popular subject in art throughout history. Here’s a brief overview of their presence in art:
- Ancient Civilizations: Doves were revered in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In ancient Greece, they were associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and were often depicted in artwork alongside her. In ancient Rome, doves were symbols of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
- Christianity: Doves play a significant role in Christian art, representing the Holy Spirit. This symbolism originates from the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, where a dove brings an olive branch to Noah, symbolizing peace and the end of the flood. Additionally, doves are often depicted in Christian art surrounding scenes of the Annunciation and the Baptism of Jesus.
- Renaissance Art: During the Renaissance period, doves continued to be popular subjects in art, often representing love and purity. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael included doves in their religious paintings, further cementing their symbolism in Christian iconography.
- Baroque and Rococo Art: In the Baroque and Rococo periods, doves remained prevalent in art, particularly in depictions of romantic and allegorical scenes. They often symbolized love, fidelity, and harmony in paintings by artists such as Peter Paul Rubens and François Boucher.
Doves in Modern Art
- 19th and 20th Centuries: The symbolism of doves persisted into the 19th and 20th centuries, with artists like Pablo Picasso using them as motifs in their work. Picasso’s “Dove of Peace” became an iconic symbol of peace, particularly during times of conflict, such as the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
- Contemporary Art: In contemporary art, doves continue to be a subject of interest for many artists, often used to convey themes of peace, freedom, and hope. They appear in various mediums, including paintings, sculptures, and installations, and their symbolism remains relevant in addressing current social and political issues.
Throughout history, the depiction of doves in art has evolved alongside changes in culture, religion, and society, yet their enduring symbolism as messengers of peace and love has remained constant.
Dove Sketch Practice
A good way to get warmed up is to do some quick practice sketches. This only takes a few minutes to do, but give you a ton of benefits. But of course, this step is completely optional.
- Get some paper and something to sketch with (pencil, pen, marker, etc.)
- Pull up some reference photos of doves
- Set a timer for three or five minutes
Then just simply sketch as many doves as you can before you run out of time. Don’t worry about any specific details. Just get some basic elements into your sketch.
You could also do as many dove sketches as you can fit on your paper. Either way is fine. Just be sure to keep your drawings loose and quick.
How to Draw an Easy Dove
Now that you’re warmed up and ready to go, let’s look at the step by step process to draw an easy dove. We’ll begin with some simple shapes.
Step 1: Basic Shapes
The easiest way to begin any drawing is with some basic shapes. This allows us to get a general idea of what our finished drawing will look like.
It also allows us to work out the size and placement of our drawing before we have too much time invested into it.
Let’s begin with a circle for the head, and an oval for the body.
Then draw a triangle shape for the tail.
Next, draw the shape of the wings. You may have to make some adjustments to your drawing so be sure to sketch things out lightly.
Step 2: Easy Dove Sketch
Now we can use those basic shapes to create a rough sketch of our dove. Start by drawing the shape of the body. You don’t want to leave it as a simple oval shape.
Add some curves and clean up the edges a bit.
Do the same thing for the head and also where the head connects to the body.
Step 3: Add Details
To finish up your easy dove drawing add in any extra details. Add a beak, an eye, and some feathers on the wings and tail. You can also add some feet.
You can make your dove as simple or detailed as you want. This simplified drawing would be nice for a stained glass window drawing.
Easy Dove Outline
After you’ve finished your dove sketch and you’re happy with the results, you can create an outline. This is easily done with a black pen or marker.
You could also use a color other than black, or skip the outline altogether. The choice is yours and will be determined by the style and look you want when you’re finished.
To create your outline, simply trace over the pencil lines that you want to keep. You can make your lines thick, thin, or a combination of line weights.
Use an eraser to remove any pencil lines after you’ve created your outline.
How to Draw an Easy Dove with Markers
My drawing was colored using markers but you can use whatever medium you prefer. Here’s how to color your dove drawing with markers.
First, if you want to be able to blend your colors together you need to use alcohol based markers. Bic, Sharpie, and Copic for example. As well as many others.
Second, you need to work while the colors are still wet or they won’t mix together. This isn’t a big deal. Just make sure you work on a section at a time.
Third, you need to use colors that are similar to each other if you want to create a smooth transition of color. If your markers are too different they will leave a harder edge.
For this drawing a few gray markers were used. Start with the lightest color and add the darker colors on top of it.
Use the lighter color or a colorless blender to smooth the transitions.
Yellow and orange were used for the beak and feet.
A white Gelly Roll pen can be used to add highlights.
How to Draw an Easy Dove – Conclusion
Now that you know how to draw an easy dove, what’s next? If you want to improve your drawings you need to practice.
The more you practice the better you will get. This doesn’t mean you have to practice every spare minute you have. But you should try to do some type of drawing for a few minutes each day.
Doing a series of the same subject matter is a great way to really improve your art skills.
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