The Cornell Lab Bird Academy Discussion Groups Nature Journaling and Field Sketching Drawing What You See – Upside Down Drawing

    • S
      Participant
      Chirps: 32
      IMG_20191229_140525250  I like this exercise.  Did this when I was in art school - years ago.  This course is wonderful, making all these gests come back.
    • Molly
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      This was a wonderful exercise. As a self described person with drawing-deficit disorder, I was surprised that a technique like this could produce a pretty decent image! It took quite a while to complete but I was happy with the results. It required a bit of mental yoga to keep redirecting my brain to think of shapes rather than feet or feathers. It was fun and I’ll use this technique in the field. 5C454147-8E70-4E44-AEC3-47CD09437264
    • Rebecca
      Participant
      Chirps: 5
      This was easier  than I thought.  It actually turned out  well.
    • Cristina
      Participant
      Chirps: 5
      Such a great exercise! it helps to look more at the details WhatsApp Image 2019-12-19 at 8.13.32 PM
    • Denise
      Participant
      Chirps: 14
      I found that I was checking the negative space more often. All the lines in the breast were difficult. You are correct my brain just wanted to squiggle.image
    • Elisabeth
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      IMG_3596I enjoyed this more than I had anticipated.  I had to keep forcing myself to only look at what was there and not go freelancing.  I'm happy with the result.
    • LM
      Participant
      Chirps: 5
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    • Amy
      Participant
      Chirps: 6
      1384DC54-7814-40FE-B015-47CEA54A52D5I didn’t even realize that one of the he claws was behind a plant thing!67F400C5-EFD7-4AF6-95A7-E0E857A995A4
    • Constance
      Participant
      Chirps: 26
      IMG_2089 (1)This was difficult AND fun. I tried to draw the subject as a collection of shapes, and it worked out pretty well! I don't know how I judged the tail to be too short. I really tried to work with negative space and proportions. I'm pretty pleased with the results, as I am a beginning sketcher.
    • Kim
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
      This was a great exercise for me.  It really forced me to forget about what I was trying to draw and focus instead on the process of drawing.  It worked!image0
    • sondra
      Participant
      Chirps: 21
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    • Martha Davis
      Participant
      Chirps: 18
      IMG_4954 My right-side-up (drawn up-side-down) song sparrow. No doubt about it--this exercise forces us to really look at what's right in front of us, not necessarily what we think we're meant to draw. Very helpful.
    • Isabelle
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      image
    • Erin
      Participant
      Chirps: 8
      Fascinating exercise. It was fun; I did notice my attention flagging over time and the drawing shows that. From the example, I enjoyed using the shapes and one-to-another approach. This was the only way to make progress, even though my brain kept (unhelpfully) trying to process the whole.   I then tried again using a photo.   On all sketches, I start with pencil but I am terrible about eventually rubbing the lines. Because of that, I eventually go over the sketch with a pen, trying to make small adjustments as I go.  For now, the repetition feels like a good way to try to gain reps. upside-down exercise
    • Amy
      Participant
      Chirps: 22
      The opposite of gesture drawing! This took me three sittings, a bit at a time, and really broke in my eraser. Eventually I was able to surrender to the process, and I’m happy with how it came out. I remember the upside-down drawing exercise from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain—that’s what took me from stick figures to thinking, Oh, that’s how you draw! This was a lot more exacting, much more of an exercise in patience. Worth it, too. F6A7E58D-1670-4046-B591-1175315A2D98
    • Tom
      Participant
      Chirps: 20
      I really liked this exercise. As I often do I start the video and then stop right away and try to draw what Liz is drawing before watching the video. then after watching the video I apply her suggestions and techniques, and then compare the two drawings. I was liberal with my eraser because I wanted to get the shapes that she used to render the coloration in the body. When I did my first drawing I had no idea how to suggest that colorization on the bird. My post drawing analysis is that I am much happier with the proportions and especially the tail and beak. I hope to have the confidence or fearlessness to render colors on a bird as shapes as I really like the results.IMG_20191119_070520
    • Mary Jo
      Participant
      Chirps: 12
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    • William
      Participant
      Chirps: 10
      This was a good exercise.  I found that I was looking more at the shapes than the subject.DSC_9464
    • Linda
      Participant
      Chirps: 12
      This was fun to do although challenging when it involves patience and self control. I found it difficult to adjust proportions. Everyone has such beautiful post. image
    • Barbara T.
      Participant
      Chirps: 16
      2019-11-12 bird drawn upside down
    • Steve
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      • imageNot sure how to get vertical, but a really useful exercise and one I will repeat
    • Jean
      Participant
      Chirps: 4
      This was very difficult. I tried to use proportion tricks from the last lesson but really struggled. The chest markings werevery complicated to includeupside down bird
    • Carrie
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
      This was fun to do, but I did find it to be a little difficult.  I ended up not getting the wings so well, but I think I started to hurry as it was taking a good deal of time.  The part I didn't rush I was quite impressed with.  This is such a great technique to learn to look beyond what the mind sees!  Love this course!
    • Christy
      Participant
      Chirps: 8
      This was fun, but difficult.  The feet were really hard. I was able to view the subject as a collection of shapes and lines.  I have never drawn anything but stick figures - I hope I can get better with practice. I love this course.a1KEk%ywSuuQyPsjDEMbEw
    • Shirley
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
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