Penguins are flightless birds. Instead of flying, they have adapted flippers to help them swim in the water. Emperor penguins are the tallest of all penguin species, reaching as tall as 47 inches in height. Their coloration serves as camouflage while they are in the ocean, meant to protect them from predators. In this Art4Schools project, we will draw emperor penguins using different shades of gray.
Adult emperor penguins have
- white underparts- a belly and wings
- black feathers covering the head, chin, throat, back flippers, and tail
- black webbed feet
- pale to bright yellow patches around the ears
- a black bill
Emperor penguin chicks have
- a black head
- a white mask
- gray plumage
- a black bill
Materials
-a piece of paper
-a pencil
-eraser
-crayons or colored pencils (optional)
Step 1: Make a value scale
A color’s value is its lightness or darkness. Shading is the technique of showing a gradient of light to dark values in a picture. Between pure white and pure black, there are many values of gray. Using the side of a pencil, practice making a value scale.
See the diagram below to make a value scale.
Step 2: Draw the penguin
Using the steps below, draw your penguin.
Step 3: Color your penguin
Use the value scale to color your artwork. Use Shade 1 to color the ground, Shades 2-3 to color the baby penguin, and Shade 4 to color the heads of both penguins and their feet. If you have colored pencils, use one to add a bright yellow patch around the visible ear of the adult penguin.
