A swan with a softly curved neck

Follow a long S-curve into a low rounded body to sketch a swan. A simple folded wing and a few feather tips add form while leaving the plumage open.

A way into the drawing

1. Follow the neck curve

   Draw a loose S-shaped guide, then give it gentle thickness. Place a small head at the top and a low body at the base.

2. Fold the wing over the body

   Lay a broad wing shape across the side and finish it with a few feather tips. Add the short tail behind it.

3. Choose the small accents

   Draw the beak and eye, then add pale graphite at the neck and wing overlaps. Leave the broad plumage unshaded.

A small thing to tryCheck the neck’s thickness along the whole curve; narrowing it too sharply can make it look pinched.