Learn to Draw Birds with John Muir Laws

Learn to draw birds from the award-winning artist and author who literally wrote the book on the subject!
CLASS REVIEW: “This is the most wonderful online class that I have ever taken, paid or otherwise. The expertise of Jack as a teacher and artist is SO amazing. I loved every single second of this!”
In this 2-hour recorded class, award-winning artist, author, educator, and scientist John Muir Laws @johnmuirlaws #johnmuirlaws (aka "Jack") shares his best tips and tricks for drawing birds learned through his 35+ years of teaching and illustrating. A widely respected avian artist, Laws is continually refining his bird drawing techniques, and this class will include his latest ideas and tips to help you capture birds on paper. Laws is the author of the Laws Guide to Drawing Birds (more than 60,000 copies sold), which includes an introduction by respected author and bird artist David Allen Sibley @sibleyguides . In that intro, Sibley wrote: “I wish this book had been available to me when I was starting out, because it is filled with tips and tricks that took me decades to learn.”
NOTE: If you need the class worksheet, please register for this class here (it is free but you can add a donation if you like), and you will receive an automatic email with a link to the class handout: www.wildwonder...
This class was hosted by the Wild Wonder Foundation, co-founded by John Muir Laws, is dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community. Learn more here: www.wildwonder...
PLEASE SHARE YOUR CLASS DRAWINGS AND BIRD DRAWINGS and tag us at @wildwonderfoundation and #wildwonderfoundation Thanks!
MORE CLASS REVIEWS:
--“This is such a wonderful demonstration with lots of tips and tricks -so helpful! BIG thank you to Jack and Wild Wonder.”
--“This has been such an amazing class. What a phenomenal teacher you are, Jack. I can’t say thank you enough.”
--“Thank you so much. I learned a lot and always pick up so many great tips from John Muir Laws.”
MORE INFORMATION AND LINKS SHARED IN CLASS
Check out upcoming events with the Wild Wonder Foundation here: www.wildwonder...
Want to be the first to hear about future events hosted by the Wild Wonder Foundation? Sign up for our newsletter here: www.wildwonder...
Here’s a list of nature journaling equipment recommended by John Muir Laws, including the Non Photo Blue pencil, water brush, custom watercolor palette, and colored pencils that he uses in his classes: johnmuirlaws.c....
Looking for a sketchbook to get started? Check out Jack’s nature journaling sketchbook!
johnmuirlaws.c....
Would you like to do a deep dive into more nature drawing? Check out John Muir Laws’ book, The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling
johnmuirlaws.c....
You can also check out hundreds of hours of free video tutorials on drawing and nature journaling on John Muir Laws’ blog: johnmuirlaws.c...
If you’d like to learn more about nature journaling, check out this free series of short, fun, educational videos Jack created with the Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco. They are appropriate for ages 6 to adults. johnmuirlaws.c....
See your classmates' drawings on Instagram and Facebook. Share your own using #wildwonderfoundation and tag us @wildwonderfoundation
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: JOHN MUIR LAWS
John Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. John, who goes by Jack, is an award-winning naturalist, artist, scientist, and educator who has dedicated nearly four decades of his life to connecting people to nature through art and science. From an early age, his parents instilled in him a deep love and respect for nature. Over the years, that love has grown to a commitment to stewardship, nature conservation, and a passion to share the delight of exploring nature with others. As a writer, scientist, and artist, Jack has developed numerous interdisciplinary educational programs that train students to observe with rigor and to refine techniques to become intentionally curious. (See Resources.)
He is the award-winning author and illustrator of several books including The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling (also available in Spanish), and the Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada, among other books. He is co-author with Emilie Lygren of How to Teach Nature Journaling. Learn more about John Muir Laws here: johnmuirlaws.com/

[@chrischapman749]

John Muir Laws is an incredible teacher for breaking down the elements, components and proportions and angles of birds. I'm thrilled with my beginning results and want more

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. Check out our events calendar as we have another class coming up with him soon on how to draw insects! www.wildwonder.org/store/p/draw-insects

[@Nancy-tr5fi]

I love the way you are with birds, but with kids even more. I have an intense relationship with birds, I both love and fear them. The flying dinosaurs .

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Thanks for watching! We appreciate the feedback.

[@SB-qs9zu]

This was a "WILD" and WONDERFUL tutorial/presentation! As a birder and retired teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! I am also a huge fan of John/Jack Muir Laws who is an outstanding and inspirational teacher, artist and scientist! We are so privileged to be able to follow him here on the internet, you tube and the website. I will definitely spread the words to current teachers and all the nature lovers out there. All the best and thank you!

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Thanks for your comment! We are happy to hear you found it useful and fun! :)

[@garethgc1141]

Really informative videos, I have the book on drawing birds, just outstanding!!!

[@r4ts311]

What a joy to be able to follow such a fantastic tutorial. I havent been able to get myself to draw anymore for many months now, but this was so pleasing to follow along and I'm so happy wirh my bird.

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Thanks for your kind words! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@debhalld9794]

New watercolorist here. Found a passion for painting birds. This video is fabulous! Thanks to all responsible for making and sharing it.

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Thank you so much! Glad you found it useful. :)

[@chamelioness]

This was an amazing tutorial! We are so privileged to be able to watch, re-watch and learn from a great master. Thank you for making this video available, and for making the world of birds so exciting!

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@maryluvasicek1535]

What an enjoyable and giving personality. I so appreciated his instruction. Thank you for making this available. I teach art to children and I will pass along some of this knowledge to young artists. Thank you again.

[@wildwonderfoundation]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching.

[@cindylong2782]

Thank you so much! I love drawing birds. This is so helpful!

[@sunnycharacter]

Interesting! I have a green Quaker parrot. I’ll use her as my control.

[@featherfluent1109]

although i love birds and can identify many by ear, i never could make myself just sit down and memorize the names of all the anatomical parts of birds. This lesson was a perfect mixture of art, birding, and educational information so i FINALLY was able to pay attention and learn the names! i'm also new to watercolour so the end was a nice treat as well 😊 thanks for this!

[@wildwonderfoundation]

So glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@ruthmoore2246]

Wow he is incredible teacher. I love this video.

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Thank you! We agree!

[@MCUPW]

Great tips, thanks

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Thanks for watching!

[@MyLifeInTheDesert]

Does he go by Jack or John? Little confused

[@Nancy-tr5fi]

His name is Jack.

[@wildwonderfoundation]

His given name is John Muir Laws, and he goes by Jack. :)

[@MichaelKoksharov]

What kids age is this book for?

[@beaniebutt47]

My question is I just ordered the laws guide to nature journaling I haven’t got it yet does it have either way of his way to draw a bird? If so is it the old or the new?

[@wildwonderfoundation]

Hi! Jack published that book several years ago, and he is continually refining his techniques, so this video has his very latest approaches. That book, however, has 95% of the same info...he has just made a few tweaks to how he starts drawing the bird, which he demonstrates in this video.