In this guide, I’ll show you how to draw an emu’s face in front view. It’s a full-face portrait with lots of detail in the feathers and eyes. If you like drawing animals with expressive features, this one’s fun to study. The drawing has 16 steps, and I’d place it at a moderate complexity level because of the textured lines around the head and beak, but if you’ll follow along without rushing, it will be much easier than it looks.
Emu’s features to focus on
- Centered composition with full face view
- Large round eyes with highlights
- Smooth curved beak with nostrils
- Dense feather texture around the face
- Fringe-like feather details on the top of the head
- Feather lines running outward from the center
- Neck with scattered feather strokes
Once you’re done, you might want to try drawing other birds like a bald eagle, a penguin or a robin – they all have completely different structure and may be a great practice in bird drawing. Soon, I’ll also add the emu’s head drawing in a 3/4 view.
Visual guide color key
Here’s how to read the drawing steps as you follow along:
- Red Color: shows the lines for the current step
- Black Color: marks what you’ve already drawn in earlier steps
- Grey Color: represents the initial base sketch
The shape starts with a light sketch of the main head outline and center alignment. Pay attention to where the eyes sit in relation to the beak—it keeps the expression balanced. After that, you’ll work gradually through the details and feather lines. Short, slightly curved strokes work best for the texture.
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Once you’re done with your emu drawing, feel free to post it in the comments section of the pinned article on Pinterest. I always enjoy seeing how everyone approaches the final look.
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