How to Draw an Owl - Digital Drawing Ideas

Have you ever looked at a wise little owl and thought, “I wish I could draw one, but where would I even start?” That’s exactly why I put together this guide on how to draw an owl. I know how intimidating a blank page can feel—I’ve been there myself, staring at my sketchbook and second-guessing whether I could make my owl look more charming than awkward.

The good news? Drawing an owl doesn’t need to be complicated. With just a few simple shapes, you can create an adorable owl that looks cozy, cute, and full of personality. I’ll walk you through each step, sharing the same process I used when sketching the little owl you see here.

And just to let you know, these drawings are all made by me—because I love creating tutorials that not only show you the steps, but also inspire you to grab a pencil and try them right away.

Step 1: Draw the Face Outline

Begin by sketching a rounded shape that looks a bit like the top of a heart, but with a smooth curve at the bottom. This will form the outline of the owl’s face.

Keep your lines light and easy to adjust if needed. A good trick is to draw slowly and focus on making both sides as even as possible, but don’t worry about perfect symmetry—slight differences will make your owl look more natural.

Step 2: Outline the Head Shape

Now, draw a larger curve around the face outline you just made. Start from one side, sweep down and around the bottom, and bring it back up on the other side. This creates the full head shape of your owl.

Try to keep the curve smooth and even so the head looks round and balanced. If one side feels a little off, you can lightly adjust it—owls look cute even if they’re not perfectly symmetrical.

Step 3: Add the Top of the Head

Draw a short, curved line above the face outline. This line connects the two sides of the head and shapes the top of the owl’s head.

Keep the curve gentle and smooth, almost like a small hill. Placing it slightly above the face outline will make sure the owl’s head looks nice and round later.

Step 4: Draw the Owl’s Ear Tufts

Add two pointed shapes on top of the head—one on each side. These tufts look like little horns but are actually just feathers that give owls their distinctive look.

Make the tufts slightly angled outward so they look balanced. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfectly even—tiny differences will make your owl’s expression more unique.

Step 5: Add Eyes and Beak

Inside the face outline, draw two small curved lines for the eyes, shaped like upside-down U’s. Then, add a small rounded triangle in the center for the beak, pointing downwards.

Placing the eyes evenly on each side of the beak will give your owl a friendly, happy look. Keep the curves of the eyes soft to make the expression extra cute.

Step 6: Draw the Wings

On each side of the owl’s body, add long oval shapes that curve slightly downward. These will be the wings, starting just under the head outline.

Try to keep both wings about the same size so the owl looks balanced. If one side looks a little different, that’s fine—it can make your owl look like it’s tilting its wings in a playful way.

Step 7: Draw the Body

Connect the two wings with a smooth curved line at the bottom. This creates the round, chubby body of your owl.

Keep the curve wide and gentle so the body looks soft and full. If you’d like your owl to look extra cuddly, you can make the body slightly larger.

Step 8: Add the Belly Patch

Draw a large oval shape inside the body, starting just below the head and curving down toward the bottom. This will be the owl’s light-colored belly patch.

Keep the lines smooth and rounded—it should look like a soft area in the middle of the owl’s body. This detail will make your owl look even cuter once it’s colored.

Step 9: Draw the Feet

Add two small sets of toes at the bottom of the body, right under the belly patch. Each foot should look like three short, rounded bumps lined up next to each other.

Keep the feet small and simple—they don’t need much detail. Their tiny size will make your owl look even cuter and more cuddly.

Step 10: Add Details to the Wings and Belly

Draw two curved lines on each wing to show the feathers. Then, add three small curved lines inside the belly patch to look like a sleeping face.

Keep the feather lines light and rounded so they blend smoothly with the wings. The little curves on the belly will give your owl a cozy, gentle look.

Step 11: Add Background Decorations

Draw small stars and circles around your owl to decorate the background. These details make your drawing feel more magical and complete.

You can place the stars and dots randomly to keep the design playful. Varying their size will add more interest and make your owl stand out nicely.

Step 12: Color Your Owl

Now it’s time to bring your owl to life with color. Fill in the head, wings, and body with warm shades of brown, and use a lighter tan for the face and belly patch. Color the beak and feet in a soft orange, and brighten up the background stars with golden yellow.

Experiment with different browns if you’d like—lighter or darker shades can give your owl its own personality. Adding soft shading will make it look even more cozy and three-dimensional.

Wrapping It Up

And there you have it—a sweet, chubby little owl that you drew from scratch! Now you know how to draw an owl in just twelve easy steps, and I hope you’re as excited about the result as I was when I first tried this design.

When I finished my owl, I couldn’t help but smile. There’s something magical about transforming simple shapes into a character with personality. That’s why I keep coming back to drawing tutorials—each new piece feels like a small creative adventure.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, you might also love these step-by-step guides:

For even more ideas and inspiration, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest: Digital Drawing Ideas on Pinterest. I share tons of cute doodles, step-by-step tutorials, and creative drawing ideas that will keep your sketchbook full.

Your Turn

Now I’d love to hear from you! Did you enjoy this owl tutorial? Do you prefer your owls sleepy, silly, or super serious? Share your drawings with me on Pinterest or tag me on Instagram (@digitaldrawingideas). I can’t wait to see the adorable owls you create.

Remember: every drawing doesn’t have to be perfect—it’s about having fun and enjoying the creative process. And if your owl looks a little quirky, that just means it’s unique, just like you.