Nature Journaling and Field Sketching

May 2, 2023, Connecticut. I have been very happy with this Koi watercolor set, and find it quite handy to use in the field. I've noticed in the videos that Liz used the pallet in different positions, so I tried that in my field sketching today. If my sit spot is close to the car I bring a folding chair, otherwise I choose a spot with a large rock or something to sit on. Other than the paints and water brush, I bring a pencil, eraser and my binoculars (and a rain jacket!). I love how simple this kit is. Somebody below suggested the cuff of a cotton sock worn around the wrist for blotting the brush, instead of paper towel (which inevitably blows away!). This sounds like a winner - I'll try it! I'm usually overwhelmed when I sit down to a landscape, and found Liz' suggestion to define the planes and layers you see and to gradually block in the areas of color were really helpful. And for some unknown reason today, I was also able to control the waterbrush better, and get some fine lines. Win, win, win! I loved the dramatic sky, but it changed so quickly. I'm glad I took a photo when I first sat down, because the light was so different by the end. This sketch was start to finish 45 minutes - enough time to capture the mood of the moving river and the heavy clouds before the rain returned!

Does anyone have any tips on what I can use to hold my watercolor paper, palette, etc while painting outside?  I see from the video that Liz has all of her gear propped on something--but what? Thanks, James

Saw some of these by the roadside yesterday, sketched & painted one from a reference photo today.

 I decided to draw and paint the Cedar Waxwing. Yesterday was the first time that I saw one. So, I though that it was a good opportunity to start practicing looking the picture on the video.

I'm laid up with a sore leg, so I haven't done watercolor in the field yet. Drawing is relatively easy, but you can still do a lot of juggling if, like me, you have the journal, binoculars and camera at the same time, not to mention incidentals and water. I have a courier's bag I use for all that. Today I did my first attempt at a landscape while looking over my deck to the woods out back. It was a dreary, rainy, grey day, just perfect for watercolor. Came out pretty nice! The lone evergreen is too green, but that's learning for you. I ended up doing mixed media, I guess you'd call it. I don't have the control to do really fine detail with the brush, at least not yet, but pencil worked great.

I continue to feel clumsy balancing the journal and implements.  Considering investing in a folding chair that includes a side table.  I take photos and complete work at home incorporating additional information.

I like to take the absolute minimum of things that I need to draw. When I did the picture in the photo below, I took a pencil, eraser, water brush, one paper towel, and my 12-colour mini watercolour travel set. It worked pretty well. The only problem was there were about 10 aggressive geese who wanted to eat my supplies so I kept moving around so they wouldn't bite me. I did wet on wet for the water, sky, and grass and feeble attempts at dry brush for the buds on the trees. As you can see I need practice with it. I find it especially hard to do dry brush with my water brush because some water always leaks out and runs down and ruins the dryness! Regular brushes work better for that in my opinion.

1. I quite like working in the field. It takes me 15 minutes or so to settle then I am oblivious to everything other than what I am focussing on.  I am only taking my journal, pencil, paper towel, a small scrap of bond paper,  paint box and paint brush. Today I forgot to fill my paintbrush - good lesson there.  I can manage them okay and find I enjoy the change from drawing to colour when I can start mixing and applying.  I am holding the paper towel and bond paper in the same hand as my journal which seems to work okay and stops them blowing away.  2.  The questions and purpose side of the work comes after I capture (to the best of my ability) what it is I am working on.  That's when I start to wonder.  Before that I am very focussed.  Once I start wondering it is from a higher level because I have much more understanding of the subject than if I had just taken a photograph. Plus there might be notes I wrote that remind me of more than what would be in a photograph.  3.  This is my first water colour landscape, in fact probably my first landscape!  Scary!!   I had trouble with the sandbar especially but otherwise I am pretty chuffed.  Any comments to improve it would be terrific (other than binning it because I won't do that!)  

1. My tip would be to try out watercolor pencils which I used for the page below as they don't require a palette or even water in the field. They can be used as colored pencils and activated later in the studio. 2. For this exercise I used photos and videos I took a few days back. I think that writing notes while I was observing, photographing and filming the swans helped me to later pick the right photos and video frames which showed the behavior I found interesting. I also noted questions which a little bit of googling later answered (e.g. their aggressive behavior is called busking) 3. As for the technique I started with with warm and cool grey watercolor pencils and added burnt sienna for the brownish feathers which appear on the head and neck and ultramarine for the coolest shadows. I mostly used wet on dry, a little bit of wet on wet, some blending and a lot of glazing.

Watercolor is so much fun!! I didn’t know we could get such accurate colors just by mixing what we have. I was wondering how I could get the shadows on my birds, as I didn’t have any grey or black in my palette. But just by mixing, I achieved this shadow color which I am very happy with! The lessons are very helpful! I never did watercolor before and it gave me the confidence and knowledge to achieve something good. I think watercolor is also a good tool to become a better observer of the colors in nature. Can’t wait to try it out in the field!

I find a flat and comfortable spot to sit and either from my phone's photos or from all around me take a pencil and sketch. I always wait to watercolor until I get home because it causes less trouble. This is an older journal page, but more recently I have used gesture drawing a lot more.

I´m really satisfied with the composition that I got for this exercise, because I think is balanced in terms of shapes and colors, obviously according to the season and their different landscapes and natural motifs, otherwise, sometimes its difficult but step by step, I´m achieving to capture the contrasts, reliefs and tones that nature expresses us and I hope, surprised again for how easy watercolors make it. Usually I investigate to identify with scientific names to know more about what I´m drawing and can share it, and to finish specially in details and with all this information, gather each technique learned in the same picture. I love to see how every natural journalist develop these techniques and personalize it, creating and contributing with really differents points of view or interpretations in their blocks, and that's what makes it interesting.    

It’s been pretty cold here since I started this course so I haven’t taken my materials out in the field yet. I’m thinking I’ll take a little knapsack with everything when it warms a little. I do take walks and take time to notice nature, snap photos, question etc. I completed my first attempt at a journal page using photos of things I saw in January. I really enjoyed creating the page and trying out all the techniques I learned in the course.  I need much more practice adding value and highlights to achieve dimension as well mixing the right color.  I’ve already made notes on design changes to make for my February page.

I'm finding that when watching birds, doing quick sketches in my field journal while in the field works well but I can't really get something "finished" until I come home and work at my desk. Details are really hard to get on paper with a moving being! This journal page started as a few pages of quick sketches then moved to more detailed sketches and finally on to color.

I am thrilled with the knowledge this course has imparted in both drawing and painting. It has been so rewarding. I have not completed this lesson’s exercise of getting out in the field yet.  This is my practice at making a painting from start to finish, using a photo from an old copy of Birds and Blooms.

Capturing stumps me. The wildlife do not hold a pose, the clouds interrupt the sun and shift shadows and tones, and as a beginner, I'm very slow in drawing. I'm discovering that I should take a photo to continue the rendering later, go back to observe at the same place multiple times if possible, and be patient with myself. If all I get is the temperature, wind, scents and sunlight, the day wins. I trust that I will improve in speed and skill the more I try, and meanwhile I'm enjoying God's good creation. Liz's instruction helps me appreciate it all the more.

1. I have a small zippered pouch to keep my drawing implements in at the field.  Taking fewer items and making good notes to fill in later seems to work the best for me. 2.  My goal was to improve at field sketching, drawing and watercolor painting.  I make sure to always include at least a little background metadata on every page.  I really  want to try to capture the moments and memories spent outside.  I really prefer to create from photos that I take though.  Temperatures are in the 30's now and it is very difficult to draw for more than 10 minutes at a time.  I also have a pandemic puppy that requires my full attention - so I am lucky to be able to snap a few photos while outside and then draw from the computer images later while she is napping!

Using a 24 color Koi water color travel kit with water brush. Fantastic!

I made my first attempt at creating a watercolor from a reference photo combined with observations from my breakfast room window. I have  observed a single Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) visiting my Turk's caps in the front yard. This small gem has visited my yard several times a day during the the last three weeks. I was not successful in obtaining my own photo, so I used a reference photo from someone else. I admire this little bird who visits daily and I know soon, he will be leaving  for his migration. Perhaps I will get another chance to  capture his brilliance. I have trouble with control using the water brush. 

My sit spot is in my back yard watching the birds that come to my feeders.  Right now Ruby-throated hummingbirds are really tanking up preparing to migrate across the Gulf of Mexico.  It is fascinating to watch them protect territory and fend off "invaders".  Also, we were affected by Hurricane Nicholas so I wondered how much that had affected their migration.  I really enjoyed the process of painting one of them at a feeder, but I have to admit, I wasn't too far out in the field so I had a table and everything I needed at hand. I try to be sure I include my observations and questions - even if its about my painting/drawing technique.  I have really learned a lot about using water color, although I tend to default back to colored pencils.

By trying to match the shade for the chrysalis, I realized the importance of using tint. I also muted the leaves with a bit of red because the original chartreuse popped out too much. In trying to add some mottling, I used too much water and that caused some hard edges. Most importantly, this exercise brought me right back to the beginning because what drove this for me was trying to document the fascinating process of the monarch butterfly. During the week I had been observing the caterpillars and thought they were dying. I was very dismayed. Yet, when I started researching I learned about their 5 molting phases. What a blessing to observe this so closely! I also worried that the metamorphic process was coming too late in the year. Now I know there are 4 generations of monarchs that complete the entire journey to Mexico. By seeing them this late in Virginia, this means that what I am observing is the 4th generation that will fly down to Mexico and start the 1st generation all over again!

Practice painting as realistically as possible (for me) based on photo of Olive Backed Sunbird from eBird. This is a bird I often see around home, but they are very active. After spending a fair bit of time on the “realistic” version, just for fun I decided to do quick gesture sketches and add some of the left-over paint.

I love how the watercolor kits are so easy to carry but I once forgot to bring a paper towel for drying/wiping my brush. It made things a lot harder. So now I carry a little pencil box with scratch paper and paper towels to throw in with my personal kit. I find I have the hardest time waiting for the paint to dry and when I don't, sometimes the colors run together, like the yellow in this Seaside Sparrow's face. Also, eyes are hard to get right!

I painted from a photo this prairie warbler. I practiced using negative space, mixing colors, and attempting to keep my brush dry enough for some of the detail. I came out much better than my first attempt at a bird in watercolors! But I still need lots of practice.

I bring my binoculars along with my art materials. Spring is such an amazing time to see returning songbirds and the woods are full of warblers. Even if they don't sit still enough to draw or paint, I will try and commit them to memory for later. Bug repellent is a must have! I also bring water for myself in addition to refilling pens if need be. I try to note anything interesting, or things I want to look up when I get home. Lugging too many guide books can be a hassle. This was my best attempt at a landscape; a view off an escarpment atop Browns Hill.

Organizing material: Preparing my tools in a special bag helped so much. I had everything I needed and I was ready to go. While outdoors, I needed an extra empty bottle to discard used water. I will include it for next time. Responding to observation with drawing and water color is challenging and fun. It is exciting to mix colors to match with nature. I became more curious and tried to find answers to the questions I had during my observations. Below is my trial of capturing very nice trees. It is amazing how you see things differently when you draw and paint. Water color is a wonderful medium, because it is transparent and works well while painting outdoors. Negative space helped so much. I managed to correct proportions and draw more accurately.

The weather has been marginal to terrible this week.  I haven't seen the mountain I want to use for my landscape in days...feels like Denali!  As a result, I'm not getting out in the field much and end up painting a view from my window.  I'm not real happy with my landscape, but I feel like I learned a lot doing it.  I really have focused on my observational skills everywhere that I go, and think about how I would paint various scenes, how I might apply the techniques we've learned, what I need to work on and do differently.  I do think I will take an extra paintbrush with me to use for dry on dry, the water brush is not working for me.

1. I am not managing my materials well in the field, I am pretty much a kit explosion.  My watercolours come in tubes so that doesn't help.  Having said that, I am enjoying the process.

Getting deep colors with lots of value was challenging, but repeated layering (and drying time between layers!) helped a lot. I also used a "stippling" technique with points of color on the tip of the brush very useful. Initial sketch and watercolor painting based on recent cover of Birds & Blooms.

I painted this from a photo on the Birdwatchers of NH Facebook page.  Still working on balancing values but progress.  I attempted using white pencil for some feather features some show up but not all.  I had fun with this and am happy with the eye details. The bird is a White Throated Sparrow.

This has been a challenging attempt to draw and paint a female cardinal.  I used  mainly wet on dry technique in most of this  picture with layering of color in the body. Used some dry brush on the branches and layering over them.  I tried to create the shape by varying light wash on body .  

I picked a picture of a tufted titmouse from a magazine; this was different for me as I am used to using regular watercolor brushes and take my time and usually would take me at least a month to paint a detailed picture. I went outside my boundaries and did this in 3 days. so it is not very good, but okay.

I haven't done anything in the field yet. But here's my first line and wash from a reference photo that I took from my bird feeder. I struggle with not worrying about every detail and trying to make it look photo realistic. Although I enjoy working that way, for my field journal I want to keep things more simple and loose. One effect I want to achieve is keeping the focus/ detail/ colors on the main subject with the light wash and sketchy surroundings. I definitely have room for improvement, but for now I'm happy with my first try.

My attempt at a Yucatan Vireo (Vireo magister) based on a photo on the BOW account for the species. I often encountered this species while conducting fieldwork for my master's thesis, studying the Black Catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris) in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and on Isla Cozumel. I even found a few nests, which formed the basis of a manuscript that I just submitted. Working on that manuscript and thinking about vireos made me want to try painting one, and this piece is the result. This sketch/portrait is the first time I've produced something in color that I was pretty proud of. For a long time, I've found making art in color daunting, probably because I didn't have the patience to experiment more and find the exact effect I wanted. I always dislike the resulting texture of colored pencils and never wanted the mess of other painting media. Liz's art and this class have shown me the media I was missing: watercolor. I still want to refine some techniques and pick up more tricks of the trade, and I'm looking forward to tackling more projects. I have my eyes set on a Greater Ani group portrait in the near future :) Thanks, Liz!

This is from a photo.  I have enjoyed this class.  I hope to do field sketching when spring arrives and I can get outside to sketch.  Also hoping to improve my watercolor painting.  And sketching birds which I enjoy doing.

I did this from a photo since I was painting a 5am before the sun came out, it’s not super accurate and I ran out of time for more detail.  I did the left half of this scene.

Getting outside.  How to add white lacy rime frosted branches in front of dark trees?

Feathers are difficult!  And, overworking is a problem.  I am using the 2020 Cornell bird calendar for reference photos.

I copied this painting from a photo and used the wet on dry technique. (For the background I used wet on wet).

I love and see amazing sunsets and sunrises...now I have to practice to get those colors right! My first watercolor painting. I like how it feels to let go and just paint even if it's not a work of art - it's my work of art :-)

1. To help have less stuff to manage when in the field, I tried putting the paper towel to dry my brushes in the upper hinged section of my paint box. I used that trick of making a pencilled frame for my painting on a single page, using the edges outside the frame to test the colours. I also found it helpful to have two waterbrushes, one wet and one dry, as when  I tried to use a dry technique after a wet one with just one brush, the bristles didn't dry enough, even without squeezing the body of the brush. 2. I think I have got too focussed on the drawing/painting and have forgotten about the recording/questioning side of my observations! Will need to leave more room too. 3. These are my first watercolours; a tomtit from Ulva Island and my local beach, Butterfield's Beach on Stewart Island, New Zealand. I have a long way to go but wouldn't have thought I could do anything like this so pretty excited!  

I'm really trying to pay attention to proportion, value, and negative space.  I'm pleased with how my pencil sketch of this Eastern Bluebird came out, though I can see the bird's eye needs to be bigger.  I'm going to try to sketch it again more loosely so I can add color.  This drawing is from a photo I took yesterday when five bluebirds appeared at my deck feeders.  Such a treat!  Because it's cold and snowy I'm doing a lot of drawing from the photos I take - and then I research/add notes about my subjects.  What a great way to learn!

I bought a little fold up tripod chair that fits into my tote bag, along with my materials.  I have a large leather pencil case for my pencil/eraser and it fits the watercolour set nicely as well!  I also have on hand my phone and binoculars, and some herbal tea :).  I use the tote on my lap to raise my sketchbook, and it all works nicely. Adding colour helps you observe even more!  When doing this landscape below, I was noticing how the reflection was much darker, and I imagined that the images become sharper and more colourful if the lighting is brighter.  I wondered about humidity, and atmosphere. Its winter here now in Ottawa so my drawings and paintings will most likely be from computer images until spring....but I'm definately building skills regardless. 

Now that I see my photo, I can tell that my water color needs much more pigment. The shades should really all be darker. I seem to always have little droplets at the end of my brush strokes, so I think I have too much water in my pigment. Perhaps I squeeze as I paint, releasing more water from my brush! Also, there is no black in my pallet, so I tried to color a big black spot with a black water color pencil and then add water to it, but the best it gives me is a dark gray. Hard to do the mask of a waxwing with no black :( And again, too much water on the red of the wing. also, I did not do the eye yet - waiting to get some real black!

yesterday I drew & painted my Northern Flicker from a photo I took a few days ago. I enjoyed using some purple wash for shadowing on the bird’s chest. I realized how right Liz was about getting the bird’s eye right. I found the wrong location or size of the eye really detracts from a drawing so it was worth erasing & trying several times.

I tried to recreate a sunrise landscape of Mt. Rainier I took yesterday. Crows often join me.  I included 2 more crow poses from other photos in the sequence. The photo scene generated a lot of energy I tried to capture. I’m overall happy with the composition, colors & remembering to add a blue wash at the end.  I’m becoming more comfortable using a water brush.  I can take my little journal, tiny paint kit & what I need anywhere I go meaning I can’t wait to take them backpacking. This class has taught me so much about painting & drawing, especially birds.  

I am challenged when I go into the field to sketch and paint.  I over pack just in case I want other equipment.  I have a small field kit for just painting, but, I have a bag with all the possible equipment I may want depending on how far I will be walking to get to the location.  if I can paint from the car, I have a chair, I usually like to have my camera, cell phone, binoculars, water, and snacks, in addition my sketch pad and paints.  I usually make the choice between my painting/sketching or photography and birding.  It takes effort to focus on a composition in the field, but I do like making notes.  My journaling will most likely be worked as a memory project where I will develop a theme and use a combination of all the material I have done on site.  I have attached 2 paintings using my photographs and 1 of a landscape on site. Pat

          I started using a light wash of pink that I thought I would overpaint with swashes of darker color to get highlights on head.  Same as back of bird only I used a teal.  I kept darkening the teal as the light wash didn't work.  I couldn't manage to get the effect I wanted so I started using thin brushstrokes (feathers) in dark red and black.  It seemed to work but it was not what I wanted.  I also went back over the head with white thin strokes for highlights.  Again, not what I had hoped to do.

My landscape was from the middle of the lake.  I took a picture and painted it later.  I am not sure what caused all the circles but am guessing it was water on the camera lens.  Again I am still struggling with the water colors.  I left the white white but needed a few white highlights and could not get them.

Went to Balboa Park and sketched the Cabrillo Bridge with the San Diego Tower.  Clouds in the sky, 70*, Light breeze.  I carry my supplies in a back pack in a ziplock bag.  I usually have a heavy sheet of plastic to sit on if there isn't a bench or other perch. This was fun to do.  Took a little over an hour to do.  

Managing my materials is no problem.  While my husband fishes I sit and sketch so I have a bag ready to go at the drop of a hat.  Now I just need to include my paints.  The sketching is going really well. I feel I have really improved.  sketch of the stellarjay turned out so good and then I started painting.  Watercolors are really frustrating me.  I cannot get the colors write and I cannot paint in the details.  I gave up after trying multiple times for detail.  I like the facial expression but the rest ...I give up.

Painting from a photo exercise--I used layering of colors.  I found this technique useful but time consuming. Its hard to wait to get to the next color. I think you would definitely need  a photo to complete in the field journaling if you want to be detailed.  I enjoyed this exercise but don't always have the time it takes....

It is very useful to work small and leave enough space to test the colors

This is my practice using my own reference photo of a Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher. This is one of my first birds using only watercolor and I erase the pencil lines.  I test the colors before aplying them on the bird.

This was my watercolor practice from a reference photo. Overall I am happy with it, had problems with the beak, but the eye turned out pretty good. I am not at present able to go much beyond the backyard (gearing up for knee surgery), so haven't put together my field supplies but really appreciate all the hints and ideas.

I’m coming back to this lesson and this work with entry(ies), but this is my attempt at building up 3D form through color and shading while using reference images. This snow bird (Arctic White Ptarmigan) seemed like an obvious choice to try to make standout through subtle shading and minimum coloring.

Beginning to work with color provides all new challenges plus, also, new fun.

Two common German birds!

Material management, well lets just say I currently have a lot of sand in my pallet. I have a zip bag that I keep my field sketching supplies that allows me to quickly take my supplies for a bike ride or a weekend getaway. In the bag is : a jar to hold my erasers,  a brush holders that holds my brushes and pencils,and pens. The lose in my bag is some was-hie tape. Then I have a small on the go watercolor pad my husbands makes with 300lb hot press.

This being my first landscape in color it was a task i used a complimentary colors.

Here's my practice from a reference photo of a Blue Jay.  I like the head and neck which took a lot of layering to get right.

Today I didn't have the time to go to some of my favorite observation/journaling spots. This is a Japanese maple in my back yard, and a place I love to sit. This particular tree has led me to many questions about tree structure, functions, patterns, etc.

Did this from  a photo I took while out hiking.   I found the thistle difficult to get the colour accurate and the spikes were challenging.    I’ve never used water colour before, I really enjoyed it.      I’m happy with how the bumble turned out.  

I have a little backpack that fits everything and I did bring a water bottle to fill up my water brush. The paint set I have (not the recommended one...l already had a few) didn’t have white so I brought along a Lyra Aquacolor water soluable crayon in case I needed a tint.  Another brand I have is Neocolor II. It was a good solution. I also found, since I had a small place to mix paints, that using tints, tones and shades of the same colors, just adding the same blues, greens and complementary colors back in as needed, saves space. It was pretty sunny and my paints dried quickly so I could glaze over areas and the colors were related. Image of my finished landscape and the water soluable crayons (available at many art stores without having to buy a whole set. I think a watercolor pencil in white would work too.) 

This is an island where my dog and I go for a run. I pack sketching pencils and paint kit in a backpack along with a camera. The things I often forget to take are a test paper and something to wipe the pen on to dry it so now I just use another page in the sketch book. Usually an hour is all the time I want to sit in one place so it helps to take photograph of the scene. When I get back home I can focus more on adding the details. Capturing the colour of the water, its movement and the sense of white water are areas that still need practise.

       

I posted before an attempt to paint a watercolour piece - BUT I spit water one it by mistake ! I didn't want to move forward without posting something here that I'm well satisfied with. So, I followed the video. I lost control while using the water several times (I don't know why I lose it alway while brushing the right side!) The original plan was to paint the background, however, I forgot that and went straight forward to the bird. Didn't want to take the rest and ruin this piece too. I lost the side fruits as well >.>

1. I create a special place for all my materials so it is easier for me to find them and start sketching. I set a place that it is easier to remember so I can find it immediately. 2. I have learnt that I tend to move forward from the focus and create something different with various colors as you can see from my pictures. Observations are really good, I enjoy hearing the sound of the water, I observe flowers and try to observe them deeply and longer. I do enjoy watercolor very much. I struggle with animals and birds. I truly dislike to draw them, I love drawing trees, and I enjoy watching the different types of trees.

While Painting

• The first thing I noticed when comparing my “outdoor sketch” with the photograph is that the horizon line was not right.  I corrected my sketch and planned my painting layers ahead before mixing the colours.

• My goal was not the sketch nor the scientific knowledge built from the observation, instead, I was focussing on experimenting with the watercolours and the brushes. I planned four layers: -1- the background; wash the sheet with the required colours and waited till it dried. -2- used dry brush for some parts and add some bright colours for the details. (Then I stopped! I just stopped and I don’t really know why!) Here were the incomplete sketch waited for me:

• The following was the “planned layers” -3- apply the glazing technique for the background and a hint of glazing for the foreground. -4- finally add the details lining and texture.
• HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP FROM THIS EXPERIENCE   Never move your sketchbook/sheet colours and change your location WHILE painting — a simple thing might happen:

 

• I full cup of water poured over the painting — I didn’t noticed that until I went back to continue the work. P.S. the water was from the brushes container not a regular cup , I totally forgot to empty it >.<
• now I don’t feel like finishing it — I’ll have to have a better mood or maybe I’ll go back to sketching then I’ll get back to the watercolours (I really really really wanted to finish this piece - it was going to be my first completed watercolour piece)

By the way, I have to say that I couldn’t use my notebook for the watercolours .. the water ruined its pages, thats why I used single watercolours sheets. (another tip!)

I’ll divide my reply to this discussion into two. First: before painting. Second: while painting. Before painting I went to paint a still-life outdoor, just before the sunset. Although I had all my watercolour set with me, the humidity was high - what I’ve done was to get  a quick sketch of what I see. Tried to write a colour code (to paint it indoor) but I thought it won’t be good enough so I took photographs after finishing the sketch. I made sure to have colours of the sky as well as the details. So, I took several shots: When I went back inside to paint, I felt I need to create a reference sheet. I sticked with the basic colours only (I know I have ready colours but mixing colours has a much deeper feelings which I liked). The reference sheet was done - and just before that I lost my motive to paint, therefore, I left the sketch for the next morning.

  1. I keep my supplies (Sketch Box of Colors, Pencils, Pens, Erasers, Paper Towels, Water Brushes, & a variety of Binder Clips) in a quart size Ziplock Bag or an old small tub with my Sketchbooks. That wayI can easily grab them to put in my purse, backpack, or whatever I’m using to travel with. I use the Binder Clips to hold down pages in the book, paper on my clipboard or to hold my sketch box of colors to my clipboard. 2. After learning these drawing and watercolor techniques, I’m finding I can now add more detailed data to my science practices and experiences. It gives a deeper understanding of knowledge gained and found in my observations.

This is my first try at a landscape in the field.  I was actually so focused on trying to paint the landscape, keep all my materials handy, mix colors, and keep the flies and sweatbees off me that I forgot to make any other observations.  I really need to work on that.  I also realize that I should pick a focus area because there can be a lot to look at in a landscape.  I do like the wet on wet technique because it gives such a loose feel to the painting.

This is a sketch from a photo that my husband took. The momma deer had just given birth to her fawn hours before we came across them in the early morning.

This was a fun project, and although I see some areas that could have been better, I am happy overall with my first attempt at watercolor from a photo.  I chose a great blue heron because they have been at the lakes on the conservation area I have been visiting lately.  They are quite interesting to watch.  Their beak is like a dagger.  Anyway, here is my painting, and, as you can see, I smudged the eye and dragged the color through an area I wanted to be white.  I tried to add water to lighten it, but didn't want to mess up the paper there.

Went for a walk this morning. Thinking of sketching, but maybe not, it was super bright and getting hot. Came to this Datura, which I have always walked past because it is too complicated to try.  So I did walk past, but I came back, encouraged by what I have learned and by what you all do. Unfolded my little three legged stool and sat down, determined to show one of the hundred blossoms on the five foot wide plant.  My goal was to paint what I saw, not what I thought as normally happens and which usually ends in frustration. Because of a few trips outside to sketch I am slowly learning what I think I need, and I am filling the many pockets of a birding/artist style vest. After I drew with pen and ink I started coloring with the goal of showing the white blossom and stages of the plant.  While it is far from perfect, I did accomplish some of the things I hoped for.  Thanks for looking, and we can do this.

For my first attempt at watercolor I think I did ok.  I still have trouble with proportion and I’m too impatient, so some of the paper got a little overworked. I really enjoy the courses they are a challenge.  Everyone is very supportive so that also adds to the pleasure.

I keep my materials all together in a bag as well.  I have only begun painting outside and I think I need  a few weights to keep things from blowing away.

This was fun and I learned much from it.  I have a century plant blooming in my yard.  The stalk is higher than my house and loaded with buds. Every morning a Gila Woodpecker comes and announces his presence with a sqawk.  Until the desert heat hit, I love sitting and waiting for his arrival.  I think my biggest takeaway from this is to really make sure the paint is dry before adding another layer.  It also showed me how tough it is to know how dry or wet to get my brush.  I think I need to play with the paint more to get a feel of that.  Thanks for all the good demos and teaching

For question #1: I have a separate little drawstring bag I keep my field journal and watercolors in so I can throw it in my purse or backpack when I want to do some nature journaling. Having everything in one smaller pouch makes a big difference for me to keep things clean and organized. For question #2: I love having a smaller pair of birding binoculars handy when nature journaling. For #3: I’m sharing a few of the wildflower watercolors I’ve done recently to capture some of the more unique flowers that grow in Texas.

Liz makes painting outdoors look so simple! I had my first experience painting in my garden, perched on a stool, balancing my pallet between journal pages; clutching a folded paper towel and trying not to drop my water brush or drip paint on my leg. My first obstacle was finding a location where I wasn't looking at the bright whiteness of sun or dancing tree shadows on the page, and still had an uninterrupted view of my subject and was out of the wind and drifts of white pine pollen.  I did manage a half hour outside getting the basics of my "St Francis " garden, before a rumble of thunder chased me indoor to finish. The result looks like I forgot most every technique Liz taught us while her words ring in my head; "Art is a skill--whatever you put into it is what you'll get out of it--the only reason I'm good at drawing (and painting) is I do it every day."  I'll keep at it until painting outdoors becomes a breeze!  Kathy B.

I haven't taken them yet to the field, because you know... the whole situation right now. But I got really happy with the results on putting all the skills together to draw animals. I mostly used wet on dry, given the paper I'm using is not as sturdy as I would like to hold lots of water. I wished Liz would go a bit more in detail on good paper to use for different sorts of works, since I know paper in watercolours is even more important than the paints. On and all I really appreciated this module and I'm only sad that the course is ending!

I found that the water brushes don't work for me but regular water color brushes. I loved painting this and it's by far my best watercolor painting...ever. Putting it all together worked well. 

I have been working with the water colors trying to create depth with just the color, instead of the pencil.  I came across this delightful photograph and I just had to draw it and color it.  

Liz - I want to thank you for these lessons in watercolor.  I haven't started working on them yet, but I've learned so much in the past few days of watching how to blend colors, doing palettes and watching the start to finish video.  I took a watercolor course a long time ago and gave up on it because there was very little instruction and I felt like I was really out of my element.  Since that time I've always felt that I was color challenged and wouldn't be able to do watercolor.  After watching these videos, I feel that I may just be able to do this!  Your instruction is very, very helpful!  Thanks for giving me a boost into watercolor!

L

Advantage of a rainy day - I decided to attempt to use the metallic/florescent watercolors that I received when I first ordered to see what I could do. Others have mentioned they also got this pallet by mistake - it doesn’t contain a black or any flat color. Our only local hummingbird is the ruby throated, and it has iridescent colors, so that was my pick. This was from a photo in Stokes Field Guide - I found I could add some darkness with my pencil which I wouldn’t have tried if I’d had the regular color palette. So a good experiment.

It’s been pouring rain the last couple of days so no outdoor fun. I went back to one of my earlier journal entries to fill in a picture of the Caspian Tern - we see a lot of them flying up and down the Lake Michigan shore, and I’d seen several that day. My journal is more wordy, lots of text, little room for pictures, but filled this in trying to use some of the new water color techniques I have been learning. I’ve got to work on the wash technique. I needed to keep a lot of white for the tern. Adding the blue sky after the fact was tricky and it’s uneven. I also used a reference pic from Stokes Field Guide. Definitely need to practice watching the real thing!

I haven’t taken my kit outdoors yet because it’s peak migration season here and I’m moving around too much.  But I did make this journal page from a reference photo I took in the field.

And another.  

Here is another.  

I finally got brave enough to try color on my drawings, actually copies of my drawings, copies onto watercolor paper.  I am not totally pleased with them but here they are and I would like suggestions from any  other students.

Still working on figuring out the techniques to get the right depth and natural textures. Seems like I need to work on the consistency (pigment to water ratio). Appreciate any tips!

Just as you say, the first one won't be the best one, but I have followed you during the video and this is the result:     Also, I went out and took notes on how this flower dry's up, it was pretty exciting putting what we have learn into practice

I can’t get over how great this color set is, how portable , and how neat the water pen/brushes are!  I’m struggling to get the detail, but it’s super fun- something I look forward to, yes, the calming and focused joy of art, what a wonderful course ! Thank you!  

I finally got around to drawing the cedar waxwing with berries. It was a challenge to get the subtlety of the colors and forms of this beautiful bird.  Trudy Here is my attempt:

first watercolor attempt ever- lilac breasted roller- one of my favorite birds.  Really enjoyed this- I have learned so much from this outstanding course  

kind of amazed how successful I’m feeling with this course!!! I *see* much better, and I depict what I’m seeing a fair bit better. Good lessons and exercises.

I am finished the course now and loved it.  I learned a lot and feel much more comfortable with watercolour now.  Even drawing these little bitty birds and flowers.  I feel the look of my journal is emerging.  I am heavy on the images, poetry and commentary, pretty lax on the scientific stuff. Keeping track off all the tools and equipment is a challenge for me.  Nearly every sit spot claims a pencil, eraser or a pen cap, some of which I do find at a later time.  I spend a lot of time close to home as I love my comfy folding chair but it is very awkward to carry.  So my garden and my bird feeder are the focus of my pages.  In this time of Covid 19 I am staying home a lot, most of the time in fact.  This course has greatly helped me to fill my days and to get me outdoors to do it. I continue to draw from photos but do practice the gesture drawing from time to time and it gives me ideas if not particularly good drawing that I work on to the finish.  Hope to see that improve over the summer. Forgot to take a picture of the very first bird but there is considerable improvement over the time of the course. So thanks to Liz for her really great classes.  It was especially helpful for me to see her actually doing the drawing and painting.

I know I have improved.  Painting from a photo taken in the field seems to be the easiest option for me now.  Too cold and snowy right now to find a warm sit spot.  This fox surprised us on the golf course.  Its not as good as I'd like - practice practice practice!  But better than I ever could have done several months ago.  

It was much easier painting from a picture than in nature.  I noticed that the shadows changed before I was finished, I tried to use all of the techniques learned to date on these drawings.

Oriole I saw in my yard, found a picture in one of my bird books to sketch, then watercolor.  I tried to use most of the ideas that have been shared.  how to get proper proportion, color matching, and trying to pay more attention to detail and the eye.

It is definitely going to take practice to learn to control the watercolors. This is a brown headed nuthatch I copied from the Merlin photo. Not too bad for my first solo attempt.

Sketching and painting the Steller's Jay that I was drawing took a long time, though I thought it wouldn't take as much time as it actually did. Though this was a really fun experience, and I would love to keep on doing this!

Working from a photo.  My niece's cat Caspi.

My sketches took me a lot more time then I was expecting. I was forced to draw and paint from photo, but I did both in my backyard without furniture. I sat on the floor so I can experience doing this in an unconfortable position. I noticed something i wasn't expecting: in the Northern Shoveler the speculum is more visible in the reflection than in the actual bird. I never notice that before. I'm used to ID directly from the bird but maybe I can search for "clues" or field marks elsewhere, like reflections.

For a few years I have tried to photograph the tree swallows with no success. But today was different. While weeding quietly I noticed these birds accepted me and put on a show. They fed their young in the nesting boxes. They chattered with each other. I love the way they fly - just swoop on buy. I only see them in the Spring and the Fall. They are never at my bird feeders. I discovered later they are insect feeders. But what I love most about them is their color. Their dorsal side is this iridescent blue green color, while their belly is a vivid white. Sometimes when they sit on the fence they remind me of mini penguins because of their color contrast. This was a perfect Spring day in E. TN. Temps were in the 60’s with a slight breeze blowing.

I have been taking advantage of beautiful weather here in Boquete to spend time in the garden and observe the many birds and flowers.  The woodpecker is a rare sight and the pink ginger is changing everyday as the flowers open and put out new blossoms.  This course has been helpful in raising my awareness of how quickly even the flowers change from day to day.

It's still too chilly here in Northern Indiana to go sit out back and sketch, so I've been working on copying some of my birding photos. I'm pretty encouraged given I hadn't drawn anything since about the 5th grade - close to 60 years ago. The hardest thing for me is mixing colors. I suspect it will be even more difficult once I head outside.

I'm am very happy and suprised with the way this turned out! I think I found my niche!

I’m using a quart-sized Ziplock bag to hold my tiny Winsor and Newton watercolor travel palette.  I’m using a 6B pencil, water brush, and 130 lb watercolor paper cut to size to fit in my Nature Journal.  All of this fits in my quart bag, which I carry in a daypack when I’m out in the woods. I’m really happy with what I’ve learned from this course about gesture drawing and color mixing.

A Vulture/Condor. Reference photo and interpretation. Some mixed medium, to finish the outlines at the end of the sketch. Fine Markers, almost all W.Colors.

Belted kingfisher from a reference photo. I feel like I know so much more about this bird from having spent so much time studying every detail and proportion in the photo. I love the way it is so totally absorbing. One problem with doing this in my journal was not being able to go onto another page while it was drying as I wanted to have more than one drawing/painting going at a time. Any ideas how to handle this? I guess I could have more than one journal!

This is my watercolor of Mountain Lake, a small lake in Sullivan County, NY.  I loved drawing this because it brought some level of peace in this crazy time.  I haven't drawn landscapes before and I found the video really helpful.  I tried to make the big tree on the right the focal point but I guess I could have also spent more time and detail with the smaller tree in the middle left.  Once I look at a scene, I'm not sure exactly how to figure out what should be the focal point, but it was fun to draw this place which is a special place to me.  --Trudy

I drew a goldfinch but didn't do the best job in capturing the subtleties and shading. One problem I ran into is the color yellow.  I have problems shading it and not muddying it.  For me, it's a really challenging color.  I would like to add more background as that might add some contrast so the yellow doesn't look so washed out.   -- Trudy

Practicing with Reference Photos This is something that I could definitely practice a lot.  Perhaps I should have started with something a little easier.  I soon discovered that there were lots of aspects of this bird that were very tricky, like all the streaking, barring and chevrons.

While weeding outside in my garden, I noticed how delicate this plant is. It is only 2 inches across at the base and 6 inches tall. I really enjoyed its rosette form and the purple in the stems.

This wasn’t from a field observation but rather from an book.  Used the same general technique as in the lesson.

organizing my supplies is not so hard for me, I just keep it all in my backpack and try to bring a few sheets of paper towels with me.   As far as recording my observations I definitelybneed to integrate that more as I have been focusing in improving my drawings and practicing painting.

I just got back from vacation at a VRBO in the woods that had a nice variety of birds come to the deck to feed.  I was there every morning when they came for breakfast taking photos with my phone, which weren't very good but good enough to get the postures.  For each type of bird I saw, I sketched from my photos and then found a nice, clear image on line to paint from.  I love sketching but watercolor makes me tense.  I hope to overcome that with more practice...I have a lot more birds left to sketch and paint!

Did these two pages for this lesson. The squirrel is from a photo near Yellowstone last summer. I started with a quick sketch, then went back in for the details, then got the watercolors going. Fun to mix the colors to match the photo. Really helpful to use the color guide on the box since they don't always look the same dry as wet. For the outdoor portion I walked down by our nearby river with my journal and pencil and did a quick sketch of an old cottonwood along with a couple of doug firs and some shrubs and grass. As there were snow showers in the area, I took a photo and went back inside to do the watercolor. Looking forward to a nice day to take the whole production outside.  It turned out to be more of a landscape than a nature study, but I did observe that the needles on firs and pines seem to be little disks or blobs of green overlaid on the branches. Still trying to get a good watercolor technique for that, along with the trees up on the ridge. For the snowy background, I like the dry on dry technique to get interspersed white patches.

1. I have difficulty organizing materials in the field. I have bags and tins for each item, but I find myself digging in those organizers for the colors or tools I need. 2. I've used the watercolor to roughly sketch in the colors I see in the field. I must draw too small or need a finer point brush for the details. I find I'm mixing color pencils into the watercolor sketches to get the details into the image. However, what I do love about watercolors is the wash for backgrounds that are out of focus. It give you the impression of the background. It's a nice effect. 3. I'm not thrilled with my results here. As I mentioned, I struggled with details.  

1)I do have trouble organizing my materials! At least, I have dedicated a bag for supplies so they are easy to grab. I would like to get a small board to clip everything to as a base for holding paint and my journal--artist friends have recommended that. 2)I think that one of the benefits of painting in the field is that it makes me slow down, listen, and think. For example, why are some ducks in breeding plumage now, but other duck species won't be in breeding plumage until much later?

I used a reference photo. The sky is wet on wet. Some of the fur is brushed with a drier brush. It is easier on good watercolour paper- I find the mixed media paper is thin. I used a fine marker for the black areas. It is not forgiving when you make a mistake. It was a challenge with the shades of fur so it was good practise with refining colour and tones and shades. Using the negative space and the proportion tricks was very helpful!  

I've been enjoying this course and learning so much about water color(you have to let it dry, try a paler color than you think at first and just enjoy the process).  I haven't been outside to try and paint a landscape but looking forward to trying that.

Working on adding color and using references, this one still needs more layering but getting there.

First watercolor sketch in the field. I highly recommend a thermos of tea for chilly days! I wish I’d remembered to bring a paper towel or rag, but otherwise I was happy with my kit. I enjoyed the process immensely. Working in color, I see things I wouldn’t notice if I were just drawing or writing, like how much moss was on the gnarled oak that is the focal point. And it’s fun mixing colors, though I quickly ran out of palette space. If I had it to do over again, I think I would use dry-on-dry for a lot of that tree, different layers of different colors. I have a lot to learn before I can get sketches out of the ugly duckling stage in less than an hour, but looking at it now I realize how much the sketch brings back: not just the tree but the feeling of sitting right next to the creek in the damp air and hearing all the birds around me. This little creek is a tiny ribbon of woodland in ag fields and the birds, well, flock to it.

I was going to go out today and sketch but the windy 18 degree F weather sent me back inside.  My paint would have frozen faster than it dried.  Outdoor nature journaling is a challenge in New Hampshire this time of year.

First I painted the chiminea, then I came back and added the foreground and background.  I haven't had time do a landscape  at my favorite spots yet.  But I'm looking forward to increasing my skills.  I'm having a lot of fun especially mixing the colors.  I'm looking forward to adding color to my journal.

A comparison study with color added.

After having gone back to the same area many times to practice gesture drawing I decided to compose a journal page with a few of the birds and squirrels that I had watched and drew. What struck me was all of the different journal pages that I would enjoy doing just at this one location. One of the things that is always a struggle for me is depicting the horizon in a realistic manner.

I had a fun time painting this experience at Big Sur, California. I love going by the coast, and I particularly like it when it's overcast and the water transitions into a darker color than its usual blue/green color. I'm excited to practice in different environments and experiment with all the colors in my palette. 

Two drawings from the same sit spot. I am finding these exercises are helping me loosen up and work faster, not paying so much attention to detail, but rather focusing on composition, shape, and gesture. Just getting used to juggling my materials in the field.

Mixing the colors was fun. I’ve been to the zoo a couple of times, doing some sketching there, and also taking pictures for later. I need more practice with negative space; yellow frog came out a bit crumpled. In a backpack I carry little bottles of water around as well as my paint set and brush and paper towel. Also a little stool. Sketching and painting from a photo is way different than real life—I was trying for a buffalo outside, but it started to snow, and my wet sketchbook would accept neither pen nor pencil.

Learning to draw and using watercolors for the first time has been a fun experience. Here is my first crack at watercolor (from a postcard I received from Germany) and I'm mostly happy with it. I need to make a bigger effort to set aside time everyday to practice drawing and mixing colors!

i maybe cheated a little, i painted this from my window, so i was able to have all my supplies out on the table. i need to come up with a way to have a clean water cup while out in the field. my paint tin is fairly small, so it's easy to carry around. i really love using color to capture shadows, more so than just with pencil.  

Over all I'm pretty happy with this with this first try. I do think the edges of black on the wings and tail feathers could have softer edges and the body outline could be better. I see that practice is still needed!

I see the value of planning the page layout, yet I do enjoy just letting it happen!

This is my first water color effort. The loon was pictured in a calendar. The class has been a joy especially in the chilly Minnesota fall. I have a lot of questions about going forward, but look forward to discovering the answers. 

This is my backyard, It is so green Because Its the rainy season. The leaves are big and the color is amazingly bright.

Practice painting from a photo: maintaining fine white lines on the edges of the tail feathers was a challenge. Maybe with lots of practice this will become easier :)

It was a bit complicated to have all my materials in the field. The best is to get the water tank brushes! I took a folding chair with me, it also helped. Constructing a complete journal has been a challenge for me, because I never remember to take complete notes, If I draw and colour, I forget to take notes. If I take notes and draw, i do not have the time to add colours.  I imagine that skills come with time and lots of practice. Before I share my journal, I will try to make my journal page more accurate and including the subjects learned in the course.

This was based on a reference photo, and inspired by my first guided bird walk, hosted by the local Audubon Society.   The kingfisher who was perched over a pond, took my breath away.  I feel that the colors were OK, but I have a lot to learn about how to capture the pose and demeanor of the bird.