Ravens are clowns.

An unkindness of ravens in the Fairbanks, Alaska McDonald’s parking lot always entertained me as a kid. In the early ’70s eating at a McDonald’s was THE new excitement in town. At the time, it was the not only the newest fast food restaurant—it as the only fast food restaurant.

The ravens didn’t care that sleepy Fairbanks was suddenly booming with pipeline roustabouts making for long lines at the counter; the ravens had come for the french fries, and chuckling patrons obliged. We’d toss extra fries to the ravens just to watch them bob, wiggle and dance trying to entice us to throw more.

Today’s drawing plays up the raven’s ebony feathers. Charcoal and black birds seem to go together. The trick is using a light hand, so you preserve the highlights. I’ll show you some tricks for pulling back on the black, giving your raven a 3D look.