Coloring a hummingbird is a fun and creative way to appreciate these small, fast-flying birds. With some basic supplies and a steady hand, you can easily add color to a hummingbird drawing or painting. When coloring a hummingbird, it’s important to consider their unique anatomy and vibrant, iridescent plumage. In this article, we’ll walk through simple steps for coloring hummingbirds and provide tips to make your artwork look realistic. We’ll also share ideas for easy hummingbird coloring pages that both kids and adults can enjoy. Read on to learn how to color hummingbirds!
Gather Your Coloring Supplies
Before you start coloring your hummingbird, make sure you have the right art supplies on hand. Here are some essentials:
- Coloring pencils or markers in vibrant colors like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Look for a set with a good range of shades and intensities.
- Black coloring pencils or markers for outlining and adding detail.
- White coloring pencils or paint pens for adding highlights and blending colors.
- Fine-tipped markers for tiny details like eyes and feet.
- Blending stumps or cotton swabs for smoothing and mixing colors.
- Sketchbook or printer paper for practice sketches and finished artwork.
In addition to standard art supplies, consider using iridescent or metallic markers or paints. These will help you recreate the shimmering colors of a hummingbird’s feathers. Glitter pens can also add a magical touch!
Sketch the Basic Shape
Start by lightly sketching the basic silhouette of the hummingbird with a pencil. Pay attention to the unique anatomy:
- Long, thin beak for drinking nectar.
- Small head and compact body.
- Wings designed for hovering with a blunt, rounded shape.
- Feet positioned far back on the body near the short tail.
- Forked or notched tail.
Keep your initial sketch simple since you’ll add more detail during the coloring process. Use light, quick strokes so you can easily erase and make changes.
Outline and Define Areas
Once you’re happy with your hummingbird sketch, go over the pencil lines with thin black marker or pen to make the outline stand out. As you trace the silhouette, define different areas of the body like the beak, head, wings, feet, and tail. This will create sections for you to fill in with color.
Pay special attention to the eyes, using small dots or ovals. You can also start adding some feather texture with short angled lines on the wings, chest, and crest. Just a few details will give your hummingbird more life and realism.
Add Color and Shading
Now comes the fun part – bringing your hummingbird drawing to life with vibrant color! Here are some tips for a realistic look:
- Use oranges, reds, greens, and browns on the body and head. Layer darker shades over lighter ones to build depth.
- Make the wings iridescent with blues, greens, and purples. Blended, shimmery colors recreate the look of feathers.
- Add white highlights and black shading to create the illusion of 3D form.
- Consider color intensity too. Male hummingbirds are usually more vibrant than females.
- Mix colors directly on the paper to achieve smooth transitions between shades.
Take your time building up color and shading for a painterly effect. Varying the direction of your strokes will help convey the texture and sheen of feathers.
Detail the Eyes, Beak, and Feet
The eyes, beak, and feet are small but important details. Here are some tips for finishing them:
- Keep the eyes simple with black or dark gray pupils in a white area. Add a touch of color on the outer edge.
- Make the beak sharp and slender. Use yellow, orange, black, and white for realistic coloring.
- Paint the feet brown and position them curled around a branch or flower.
- Consider a few small details like faint feather patterns, vein lines on the wings, or fluffy down feathers.
Taking the time to accurately render these elements will give your hummingbird artwork more personality. But don’t overdo it on tiny decorations – less is often more with hummingbird art.
Add a Background
Filling in the background brings your colored hummingbird to life. Here are some easy nature backdrop ideas:
- Flower garden with blossoms in vibrant colors
- Tropical leafy greens like ferns, monstera, or palms
- Flowering branches or vines winding through
- Watercolor splashes or washes in coordinating colors
- Simple textures like grass, bark, or feathers
Keep the background soft and blurred. You want the crisp, vivid hummingbird to stand out as the focal point.
Fun and Easy Hummingbird Coloring Pages
If you’re looking for easy printable pages to color, here are some kid-friendly options:
- Simple cartoon-style hummingbirds – great for beginners
- Minimalist line drawings with no background – quick to color
- Basic geometric shapes transformed into hummingbirds
- Single-line hummingbirds made up of swirls and loops
- Hummingbird mandala designs for meditative coloring
Adults can also get in on the coloring fun with detailed, realistic hummingbird illustrations. Just add your own artistic flair as you color.
For free printable hummingbird coloring sheets, check out websites like Easy Peasy and Color. There are hundreds of sweet hummingbird designs to choose from!
Tips for Coloring Hummingbirds
Follow these tips as you bring your hummingbirds to life with color:
- Start by coloring larger areas, then fill in details.
- Use strong pressure for vivid hues, light pressure for soft shades.
- Blend and layer colors to mimic iridescent plumage.
- Keep your strokes following the contour of the body and wings.
- Use white highlights and black accents for extra dimension.
- Look at photos for realistic coloring inspiration.
- Have fun and get creative with your color combinations!
Conclusion
Coloring hummingbirds is an enjoyable artistic adventure for all ages. Follow the step-by-step process of sketching, outlining, coloring in details, and adding a background to create your own unique hummingbird artwork. Use vibrant colors and watch your hummingbird drawing come to life! With a little practice, you’ll be able to easily color these shimmery birds in a realistic style. So grab your coloring supplies, reference photos, and printable pages to get started! Then display your finished, framed hummingbird pictures with pride.