GRID STEP. You can print out the base construction lines and start drawing on tracing paper, or you can draw the grid layout yourself using the following steps.1) Draw a rectangle that will define the conditional proportions and boundaries of the chosen drawing. 2) From the middle of the rectangle, draw one vertical and one horizontal line equally dividing the shape. 3) Draw another horizontal line equally dividing the upper half of the rectangle. Similarly, draw a horizontal line equally dividing the bottom half of the rectangle. 4) Draw a vertical line equally dividing the left half of the rectangle. Similarly, draw a vertical line equally dividing the right half of the rectangle.

STEP 1. Mark off the width and height of the cuckoo. Draw two ovals that will help to define the places for its head and body. Draw a line to act as the center of its beak. Add lines for the tree.

STEP 2. Draw guidelines for the birds neck, tail and the tree.

STEP 3. Define the places for the legs, wings and mouth of the cuckoo.

STEP 4. Mark off the shapes of the legs, wings and beak of the cuckoo.

STEP 5. Detail the shapes of the wing. Add the eye, toes and tail of the bird.

STEP 6. Outline the shapes of the feathers and claws. Work on the figure, paying special attention to detail.

STEP 7. Contour the cuckoo, trying to vary the thickness and darkness of the line. Add more detail to the bird and the tree. Erase all guidelines.