Exercise: draw a bird by tracing around a coin

Published on 9 January 2025

Exercise your creativity with a quick drawing challenge, set by Emyr Williams.

The challenge

RA Sketch Club tutor Emyr Williams challenges you to draw a bird by tracing around a coin.

Use the shape of the coin to capture the different curves which make up the bird.

Having a problem to solve can often lead to more surprising mark-making.

Emyr Williams

If you've mastered drawing around a coin, try a new bird by drawing around your phone.

Less of the lunging and stretching and more of the painting, sculpture and sketching.

Find out how you can get creative at the RA this year.