Activity 4 - A Colourful Raven

The raven in Little Raven is depicted as having colour in its feathers even though it is a jet black bird. The illustrator/author Bridget Uppill has done this because when light reflects raven’s feathers, they show a spectrum of colours illuminating off their feathers.
For this art activity you are to draw a raven from Little Raven using the guide below and include colour into the features to show that these birds can be just as colourful as other birds.

Materials needed:
A3 cartridge paper
Pencils
Waterproof ink pens.
Water colour paints or tempura paints
Paint pens of various colours (white, pink, yellow, purple, blue, silver etc)

Step 1. In pencil, draw the outlined steps of the bird below. Draw lightly.

Part A

Part C

Part E

Part B

Part D

Step 2. Erase way any internal shape lines.

Part F

Step 3. Draw the eyes, beak, feathers legs and any other detail part. Outline in dark pencil or waterproof black pen.

Part G

Step 4. Paint the bird in black water colour and allow to dry. Don’t worry if you go over the lines.

Part H

Step 5. Find a coloured piece of paper or paint a background on another piece of paper.

Part I

Step 6. Cut out the bird as best you can and stick it onto the coloured paper.

Part J

Step 7. Using paint pens, begin to highlight feathers with white.

Part K

Step 8. Use other paint pens to add swirls and lines. 

Part L

Step 9. Don’t forget to include a crown. You now have your own regal Little Raven.

Last Part!

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