• Sarah
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      image
    • Sarah
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      image
    • Sarah
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      Amazing how light plays a role!image
    • Mary
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      Always have difficulty differentiating between light and dark and colour! I need to do more of these drawings! 0BAE6BC6-F344-4B23-9953-ABA703F2ED5B
    • Amy
      Participant
      Chirps: 14
      I think I'm improving but lots of practice will help including color.Screen Shot 2020-03-09 at 9.00.45 AM
    • Amy
      Participant
      Chirps: 14
      Working on my skills i find that some of the pencils I have are too hard.  I need to do many more of these practices before I finally get it.  I'm going to try an apple next.  I can't seem to soften the areas of highlights to make it more realistic.  Screen Shot 2020-03-08 at 9.16.53 AM
    • Geminis
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      20200305_172429
    • Patricia
      Participant
      Chirps: 23
      Shells and rockI tried various shading techniques to capture the 3D aspect of these shells and small stone.  The squint test didn't really work very well, as all three shells are white.
    • Patricia
      Participant
      Chirps: 23
      Mark-makingI'm interested in working on more natural objects gathered from the field.  The squint test is interesting, but how does it work on objects that are all white, such as these three shells?
    • Sarah
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      Please tell me how to submit a drawing. It doesn’t appear after I upload no hit submit.
    • Toni
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      FD1435E5-9C45-4B97-84BC-20F83E5DA97E
    • Toni
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      8A366DDD-9030-4632-9929-FF87D2B78328I’m really struck with the importance of value in creating a 3 dimensional drawing and giving definition to an image. Need to work the most on patience and not feeling overwhelmed by a complicated image! “Where do I even start?!”
    • Mayumi
      Participant
      Chirps: 4
      IMG_2761 It is hard to make the area of "Highlight" stand out. It is also hard to keep pencil light for the area of "Light."
    • D0475ECC-CE68-4A8B-9F74-23226BFBF5B6
      • ruth
        Participant
        Chirps: 4
        wow that pear is beautiful!
      • Gigi
        Participant
        Chirps: 9
        Super impressive! Have you been painting long?
      • Roxanna
        Participant
        Chirps: 2
        I think I am in love with this pear
      • Carol
        Participant
        Chirps: 17
        Same reaction! Awesome pear!
    • 4E6B4626-E77A-42D0-8C86-6BA41C4BEFEF
    • I haven’t drawn in awhile. It’s fun to do this again. I think it’s easier to show chiaroscuro with watercolor than with the mechanical pencil. I’m going to try to upload some of my pictures.6E6DB26A-3365-4F7A-BB78-B424B843A7C3
    • Mary
      Participant
      Chirps: 6
      I used to do all kinds of “pointillism” (stippling) drawings, so I’m familiar with that one, but that takes a LOT of time and concentration, so I can’t see doing that in the field.  And for blending, I need a much softer lead in my pencil.  So, I ordered some 2B lead and some blending stumps.  I tried different techniques with simple shapes, like the apothecia on lichen.  I liked using the pencil more than the pen for most of the techniques.  I found that I tended to MIX the techniques depending on the density of the shadow and color and the texture of the lichen. shading techniques4 I am feeling a bit more confident about laying down shapes and doing shading, but I know I'll need more work to get comfortable with it in the field.  I need more work with fur and feather's too as they seem daunting.  Drawing things likes eggs and lichen seem easy in comparison.
    • Juan
      Participant
      Chirps: 18
      When I started was deiffilcult but then easy. I am feeling more cornmftable with my new marks. I wanna work in the chiaraoscuro. image0
    • Laurie
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      9876705E-C8F1-414D-AE78-4DCAAC7A6A76 This exercise was very helpful. Until I squinted my eyes, I had difficulty discerning the light and dark.
    • katie
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      719FD446-70F8-4EF2-8156-2BB18F19B17D
    • Deanna
      Participant
      Chirps: 8
      I still have some work figuring out what marks are best to depict shadow and light. I've been drawing my cat and while I don't quite get the proportions right, I think I have been able to capture the texture of her fur. Chiaroscuro is something I still need to work on especially the subtle gradient from light to dark and figuring out the shading to capture the shadows properly, but I am awfully happy with how much I've progressed so far, as a total beginner.  The posts by others are both intimidating and inspiring but I love the openness and willingness of everyone who posts for sharing. It's truly inspiring to see what others are sketching. IMG_4640IMG_4645[1]
      • Sally
        Participant
        Chirps: 5
        Wow, Deanna! I think you're doing great. Especially on the cats-- I've always found them difficult. She's a pretty cat, such neat markings.
      • Nancy
        Participant
        Chirps: 11
        Hi Deanna, nice job on the cat, especially.  I've been drawing my cats over the years and they don't generally come out as good as yours.  well done!
    • Curt & Jeanne
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
      sketch2 A small container and two odd rocks. The first rock had some odd dimples and depressions, the smaller rock had some fossil impressions which I found difficult to express on paper. Hmm, should have done the shadow on the container..
    • Sally
      Participant
      Chirps: 5
      I wasn't sure, but a couple people were able to guess that it's a tomato. 20200215_110812 Then went back and did the bufflehead for practice. I'd like to try this one in pen. Someday. 20200215_110719  
      • Christy
        Participant
        Chirps: 5
        Nicely done! I really like the face and that eye!
      • Sally
        Participant
        Chirps: 5

        @Christy Thanks, Christy. I'm enjoying getting back into drawing, but have a long way to go!

    • Paulette
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      my chiaroscuro looks like a sad attempt at a baseball cap :)  Looking at the posts below I am too embarrassed to submit mine--I guess I have a long way to go.
      • Nancy
        Participant
        Chirps: 11
        Paulette, I know how you feel. My tomato looks diseased. We just need to keep practicing.
    • Jann
      Participant
      Chirps: 4
      (whoops, submitted twice)