First, I really enjoy everyone sharing their sketches. It's nice to know that my struggles seem to correspond with most of yours. I would appreciate any feedback you might have. I started sketching the wren using the upside-down method. When I turned it right-side up, I started correcting the obvious errors. The body is still too short, but maybe next time, I can get it closer.

I wanted to challenge myself with this project and I think I may have challenged myself a bit much.  I really think that doing gesture drawing off of a picture is not a strong skill for me.  I have been practicing on the birds around my house, but am drawing the same birds repeatedly (especially hummingbirds.)  I think attempting to get proportions correct is coming along, and I am trying the measuring technique and it is helping a lot. I need to learn which features are important to get correct and which I can just give an impression of. I also need a lighter touch on the pencil. I know this picture still needs a lot of work, but you should see the original. Haha  

I found using my pencil to get general measurements and angle helpful to get the general shape and negative space and shading to fine tune it. 

The short sketchy lines are getting easier, as well as erasing as you go! Proportions are still difficult as well as marking and getting textures right. 

It took me several tries to get the wings of this great blue heron to my satisfaction. What I have learned from this module of the course really help!

The first picture is the gesture drawing of my wren. Second after putting in more details. I almost gave up the bill. I had to redraw it several times. I am proud of how patient I am becoming and motivated to try over and over. After finally figuring out the proportions I am super happy with how it turned out. Thank you so much for all of this great tools! I noticed such a big development in my drawing skills through this course!

negative space was a game changer for me

  Learned a lot from the exercise. Took breaks and looked with a fresh eye when I started again, and spotted wrong negative shapes, or relationships or light areas missing. Lots of erasing. Still to learn to press very gently and not darken too soon for more clarity of shadows and lights. Great exercice. Learning a lot!

Love this course. It's putting the foundations together

As I go through these steps, I’m getting better at judging size and shape, but it is difficult to create white space when the outer lines of the wings are white. I was trying to refine a duck drawing, and the intricate wing patterns were extremely difficult to capture due to the mix of white, grey, and black feathers that crossed over layers of other feathers. It’s the detail that is frustrating to capture. I know that will take a lot of time and practice.

Proportion and details are becoming more natural. However getting the angles accurate is still a challenge. Drawing upside down and focusing on negative space have been the most helpful.

Chipmunk started out as a quick sketch not knowing how long it would sit still.

1. The easiest technique, for me, is the gesture drawing. The technique that comes to me most naturally is also gesture drawing. 2. The gesture drawing, overall, has won my favor. Although it seems crude in the face of prim lines, it is the easiest and most freestyle, allowing you to draw without stressing the details.

thank you for a very good lesson,  I’ve just about worn out the paper from erasing but I’m getting there.

Suggestions on how to capture the 3 dimensional look of this flower?  I’m very new at this!  Thanks, Rebekah

Revising a gesture sketch is something I've never done before. That aside, I find I was really looking for the negative spaces. This gallinule cries for color, however - can't wait!

This exercise was difficult but I think it came out reasonably well.  I tried the fox and it did not turn out so well.  I can see where drawing from life instead of a picture is going to be very difficult.

SCHLITZ AUDUBON CENTER: Holds a photo shoot every year. Photographers come from all over the country to participate. They also have   a raptor program every few weeks. Participants can sketch, draw, paint or photo the birds. I have a few quick sketches from one of these events. My photos are better than my sketches. I have been attending the Audubon's painting classes and hope to improve/ learning a lot about the resident 'Birds'.

I see that I need much more practice here!  I made an improvement over my 60 sec sketch but not quite the quality I hoped for.  Looks like 3 yr old drew it!  Creating darker shading will help to create depth.  I think my original was so out of proportion that it would need to start over completely......but I tried! I