{"id":10622,"date":"2020-12-01T11:32:31","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T15:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/blog\/?p=10622"},"modified":"2020-12-01T11:32:31","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T15:32:31","slug":"how-to-draw-a-duck-with-ink-and-water-soluble-tinted-graphite-pencils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/blog\/how-to-draw-a-duck-with-ink-and-water-soluble-tinted-graphite-pencils","title":{"rendered":"How to Draw a Duck with Ink and Water-Soluble Tinted Graphite Pencils"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ducks are probably the most well-known aquatic birds. They can be found on every continent except for Antarctica, in both fresh and sea water. Today, we\u2019ll explore the subtle beauty of these birds. Fun facts about ducks included!<\/p>\n

Technically, there is no such thing as some general<\/em> or average<\/em> duck. Numerous species of them exist! In this tutorial, we\u2019ll create a stylized drawing of a male mallard duck<\/strong>. It’s interesting to know that mallard ducks are the ancestors of almost all other varieties of domestic ducks.<\/p>\n

A Couple of Words About Mallard Ducks<\/h2>\n

This species of duck features a significant difference in appearance, depending on whether the bird is male or female. The male mallard duck is also called a drake<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The plumage of a mallard drake changes during the breeding season. The head acquires a glossy iridescent green color with a white collar. The breast becomes chocolate brown with a subtle inclusion of purple. The wings are gray and brown, and the belly is pale gray.<\/p>\n

After the breeding season, the plumage of male ducks becomes similar to the one of females. They wear it for about a month as their new feathers grow. During that time, they are flightless and more vulnerable to predators. In this period, drakes prefer to stay in isolated areas or flock together for protection.<\/p>\n

The coloring of female mallard ducks doesn\u2019t change much during the year. Their plumage is duller, relatively uniform in colors, and mottled. The colors vary from beige or pale orange to dark brown.<\/p>\n

Both male and female mallards have distinct iridescent blue speculum feathers edged with white.<\/p>\n

The main body structure of both male and female mallard ducks is similar, but males tend to be larger. Also, drakes have bigger heads and thicker necks. You can draw a female duck, relying on the following instructions, just remember about the difference in plumage coloring.<\/p>\n

Art Supplies for Drawing the Duck<\/h2>\n

This is a mixed media artwork. Each art tool presents a unique set of features, so we can combine different supplies to our \u2013 and our artwork\u2019s \u2013 advantage.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be drawing on watercolor paper<\/strong> with a rough surface. I also recommend that you keep a couple of sheets of ordinary printer paper at hand.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll need a graphite pencil<\/strong> and an eraser<\/strong>. They are necessary to create sketches and an underdrawing for the finished artwork. I recommend using an H or HB drawing pencil.<\/p>\n

A black 0.1 ink liner<\/strong> will help us to create crisp outlines and details of texture.<\/p>\n

In the image below, you\u2019ll find water-soluble tinted graphite pencils<\/strong>. The unique feature of this medium is the pleasant, enchanting naturalness of colors. They are deep and yet slightly subdued.<\/p>\n

\"Water-soluble<\/p>\n

The majority of these pencils are Graphitint<\/strong><\/em> by Derwent, which probably is the most well-known brand of tinted graphite pencils.<\/p>\n

Two additional colors are from ColourTint<\/strong><\/em> by Spectrum Noir. I\u2019ll use Blueberry to add color to the speculum and Maize for the beak and feet. Their pigments are closer to the color scheme of a real mallard drake. The color range of Graphitint pencils is beautiful, no doubt about it. But, in my view, yellows and oranges are somewhat under-represented.<\/p>\n

Here’s a list of the materials that we’ll use…(The following links are affiliate links which means we make a small commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you.)<\/p>\n