If you've ever wanted to learn how to draw birds with more life, energy, and authenticity, then The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds might be the exact resource you need. I picked it up after a few frustrating afternoons trying to sketch from field photos and quickly realized why so many people praise John Muir Laws. His approach blends natural history, anatomy, and art in a way that feels not only educational but also deeply inspiring.
In this review, I'm diving into my personal experience with The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds, what makes it different from other bird drawing books, and why I think it's a must-have for anyone who loves nature journaling or drawing animals. I'll share what worked for me, what surprised me, and even a few things I had to adjust in my own habits to get the most out of it.
Key Points
- You don't have to “be good at drawing” to benefit from this book: Laws walks you through basic to advanced skills with patience, making it approachable even if you're starting from scratch.
- It teaches you to see birds differently: Understanding posture, structure, and feather patterns improves both your sketches and your birdwatching skills. It literally trains your eyes to notice more.
- The focus is on practice and observation, not perfection: A huge relief if you struggle with self-criticism like I do. This book encourages you to enjoy the act of drawing, rather than fixating on creating “perfect” sketches.
The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds: Why This Book Stands Out
I've read a lot of “how to draw birds” books over the years. Most of them fall into two camps: either very cartoony “step-by-step” books that leave you stuck copying without understanding, or ultra-technical manuals that assume you already have a mastery of bird anatomy. The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds lands squarely in the middle, and that's why it works so well.
From the beginning, John Muir Laws explains that drawing birds is about understanding their structure from the inside out. Instead of memorizing “how a robin looks,” you learn how a bird’s skeleton supports its posture, how feathers grow and overlap, and how different positions reflect different states of alertness, relaxation, or flight.
This approach is life-changing if, like me, you sometimes find your sketches looking stiff or lifeless. By internalizing these structures, you're able to draw more intuitively—even without reference photos. This aligns beautifully with the mindset of nature journaling basics, where the goal is to capture the essence of what you observe, not to create “perfect” illustrations.
How it blends art and science
Laws doesn't separate “art” and “science”—they flow together naturally. As he writes, “To draw feathers, you must understand how feathers grow, overlap, and insert into the body.” That single sentence reshaped how I approach not just birds, but all my natural history drawings.
When you realize how much overlap there is between observing and creating, you start seeing details you'd normally miss. Studying posture, angle, and feather placement trained me to become a much better birdwatcher, too.
If you're interested in combining field observation with artistic skills, you might also love sketching nature or diving into more advanced nature journaling supplies.
What to Expect Inside the Book
The book itself is structured beautifully. It's a large format softcover, easy to flip through while sketching. The visuals are colorful, clear, and sequential—meaning you can actually follow along step-by-step without feeling lost.
Inside, you'll find:
- Warm-up exercises: These loosen your hand and get you comfortable making marks quickly.
- Understanding bird anatomy: Skeletons, muscle groups, and how birds move.
- Proportions and measurements: How to block in a bird's basic form using simple shapes.
- Drawing posture and angles: How to capture the “gesture” of a bird, even when it's moving.
- Field sketching tips: Techniques for capturing birds on the move—essential if you like outdoor nature journaling excursions.
One aspect that surprised me was the chapter dedicated to wing movement. Laws breaks down the mechanics of flapping flight in a way that's easy to grasp—even showing how to suggest movement in your sketches with just a few lines. As someone with a tradition 2D animation background, I thought he did a great job at this.
Real-world practice suggestions
Laws encourages you to get messy. Literally. He suggests sketching in the field, making tons of rough, quick studies rather than trying to create a masterpiece each time. This advice took a huge mental weight off my shoulders.
He also recommends focusing on specific body parts—for example, spending a day sketching only heads and beaks, or only wings. This “targeted practice” method sped up my improvement far more than my old habit of “draw the whole bird perfectly or nothing.” It’s a strategy that’s helped me immensely when working on nature journaling prompts.
Who Should Read The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds?
I'd recommend this book to:
- Absolute beginners: If you think you “can't draw,” this book will prove you wrong.
- Intermediate artists: If you’re confident drawing still objects but struggle with animals, this will sharpen your skills fast.
- Birders and naturalists: Even if you never plan to draw, understanding a bird's structure will make you a better observer.
- Teachers and parents: If you're teaching kids about nature journaling for adults or students, this book is filled with accessible lessons and inspiring quotes.
I think it would also make a fantastic companion to watercolor in nature if you want to move into painting your bird sketches eventually.
How The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds Helped Me Personally
Before this book, my bird sketches were frustrating. I could draw trees, flowers, and landscapes, but every bird came out stiff or “off” somehow. I would spend way too much time focusing on tiny details, like individual feathers, without capturing the bird's energy.
After working through The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds and using some techniques during nature journaling adventure trips, my approach changed completely. Instead of starting with the “outline,” I learned to start with a simple gesture line that captured the direction the bird was leaning, flying, or perching.
One day, while sketching a group of sandpipers at the beach, I realized I was able to capture the bent legs, the alert head posture, and even the “lean” into the wind—all with a few quick strokes. It felt effortless because I wasn't “guessing” anymore; I understood their skeletal structure and balance.
It's one of the best feelings I've had with drawing in years, and it made keeping a nature journal way more enjoyable too.
Is The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds good for beginners?
Absolutely. It's one of the most beginner-friendly yet deep resources I've ever used. The book starts simple, helping you build confidence before tackling more detailed bird anatomy. It's a great companion if you're also learning about nature journaling supplies and want to set yourself up for long-term success.
How does this book compare to The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling?
Both are fantastic, but they have different focuses. The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling covers a wide range of natural subjects—plants, landscapes, mammals, etc.—while The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds dives deep into birds specifically. If birds are your main interest, start here.
Can this book help me if I want to sketch birds while traveling?
Yes, 100%. Many of the techniques taught are perfect for quick field sketches during hikes, birdwatching trips, or even international nature journaling adventures. It's all about capturing movement and life rather than perfection.
Do I need special supplies to use this book?
Not at all. A simple sketchbook and pencil are enough to start. That said, if you're curious about building a field kit, check out this guide to creating a nature journaling bag.