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 nightingale. Draw two ovals that will help to define places for its head and body. Draw a line, which will act as the center of its beak. Add a smooth line for the tree.

STEP 2. Draw the bird’s neck. Add guidelines for its body and tail.

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

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

STEP 5. Detail the shape of the wings. Add the eye, toes and tail of the bird.

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

STEP 7. Contour the nightingale, trying to vary the thickness and darkness of the line. Add more detail and add the ground. Erase all guidelines.