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01/30/23 Barn Swallow. There is much to improve upon.
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Those wing feathers - oh my goodness I don’t know if I’ll ever see those correctly My eyes were crossing!!!
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Your eyes may have been crossed but I think your drawing is realistic and nice. I enjoyed looking at it.
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Wow! I am getting sludgy--it looks better in real life! My scanner croaked at the better image (not shown here) and refused to upload. This was really really difficult, and I find it hard to not do details. I notice others are facing this challenge. I didn't hold this up to the light at all, but relied solely on the reference photograph, and again, on the instructor's final rendition, in conjunction with the feather layering images. Difficulties included facing challenges as I'd erased the 'maximum' marks that framed the original drawing, and trying to shorten the body once the negative space was considered (the body remains too long even with adjustment). The clarity that I anticipate we need to transfer the image is here somewhere. I'm hoping I can ignore a lot of the lines when this is transferred to watercolour paper. At least it looks like a swallow. My partner told me he could identify the bird, but he was looking at Jane Kim's image not mine. So I am having fun mixed in with a few groans.
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Individual flight feathers quite a challenge - I have never tried to draw in such detail before. It was interesting to trace the reference photo then lay it over my completed freehand drawing and see where the differences were - despite all the careful measurements. But I think this captures the essence of the bird well enough to progress to painting.
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Such a helpful lesson!
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Well done!
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Thank you Jane, for unraveling the feather group 'mystery'! This lesson and practice has been very helpful (and still the upper wing required a bit of fudging... :)
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This lesson is so complicated! I am having so much trouble understanding the overlapping feathers. But I am not giving up in despair. 😊
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Hang in there, Lucy! I felt the same way and I'm not sure if I got them right but it's close enough. Love your name, by the way... my toy poodle of 17 years is named Lucy and so the name is very dear to me. Looking forward to seeing your drawing!
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@Kaliopi I think a 3 dimensional model would have helped understanding. I agree that “close enough” is sufficient for most of us.
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I agree! The feather overlapping; midlines, front and back of feathers - what a challenge to see! But with practice I hope it comes more naturally. Thanks Jane!
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@Lucy I found it really helpful to first use trace paper over the printed image (against a back light surface like a window) to figure out where the feathers overlap/connect and see more clearly the shapes they make. Then I took that trace outline and used it as a reference to look at when drawing in my feathers on the freehand sketch. It simplified the actual image significantly. I hope this helps!
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@Ria This is an interesting tip. Like you, I did number the feathers, but instead of the pointed end of the feather I numbered the negative space between--this helped in getting the shape between the feathers and sent up 2 lines from the intersection (instead of a space). If I'd numbered at the tip like above, I'd just round the space instead of sending the lines up to the coverts. I also found it helped to draw in the shaft of the feather, although this was not in the instructions, nor will it be useful when transferring to the painting class next up. Thanks for sharing ideas. Jenny.
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Wow! I am getting sludgy--it looks better in real life! My scanner croaked at the better image (not shown here) and refused to upload. This was really really difficult, and I find it hard to not do details. I notice others are facing this challenge. I didn't hold this up to the light at all, but relied solely on the reference photograph, and again, on the instructor's final rendition, in conjunction with the feather layering images. Difficulties included facing challenges as I'd erased the 'maximum' marks that framed the original drawing, and trying to shorten the body once the negative space was considered (the body remains too long even with adjustment). The clarity that I anticipate we need to transfer the image is here somewhere. I'm hoping I can ignore a lot of the lines when this is transferred to watercolour paper. At least it looks like a swallow. My partner told me he could identify the bird, but he was looking at Jane Kim's image not mine. So I am having fun mixed in with a few groans. 
Individual flight feathers quite a challenge - I have never tried to draw in such detail before. It was interesting to trace the reference photo then lay it over my completed freehand drawing and see where the differences were - despite all the careful measurements. But I think this captures the essence of the bird well enough to progress to painting.
Such a helpful lesson! 
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