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1. How did you feel about drawing from the photo? What came easily and what was challenging? 2. Was there anything in the photo that you might not have noticed if you weren’t asked to draw it? Would this make a difference when nature journaling?You must be enrolled in the course to reply to this topic.
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I was intimidated to start, but it got easier once I began. Drawing the warbler came more easily than the branch and leaves. I have to fight my perfectionism, and often it feels better if I just approach it a bit more intuitively. If I hadn't have drawn it, I don't think I'd have noticed so much contrast in the leaves and branches.
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It's been a couple of years since my last art class. Looking forward to using my water colors again.
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I felt a little nervous about drawing from the photo, jumping right in as it were. The most challenging part was just putting pencil to paper. Once I got the pencil moving, making short strokes that formed shapes, I could feel things relaxing a bit. The more I relaxed and looked at the photo, the more I was able to notice little details. There were little holes in the leaves from bugs. The warbler's feathers were tufted and soft looking near its legs, whereas the feathers on its back were sharp, layered precisely on top of one another. When I first looked at the photo, all I saw was yellow, but as I drew and looked more, I noticed little fine colorations such as the brown streaks on its breast, black layers in its folded up wings. I also was able to notice how large its eye was compared to the size of its head! Drawing the details makes such a huge difference because it can help with identifying whatever it is you are drawing.
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- The bird was easy to draw. The challenging was to draw the logs, because of the shape, textura and that different kinds of lichen.
- I didn’t drawn the logs and leaves
- I consider write some characteristics of the bird, log and lichen
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1. I have to admit that I was nervous to draw without any instruction as I do not know how to draw. So the entire exercise proved to be a challenge, including overcoming the challenge to just dive in and try to capture the bird's form and expression. I had difficulties capturing its shape and hope to learn how to do this as we make our way through the course but I kept at it. I really want to try and sketch what I felt looked like a smile or smirk on its face. Yes, I'm likely anthropomorphizing but I felt like there was a real liveliness to the bird. I felt more comfortable trying to sketch the branches and leaves but wanted to fully capture those details like the lichen and bends of the branches. The subtleties of the whole photo--from the way the warbler's feet curled around the branches to the vibrant green pouf of lichen--commanded my attention. Now if only my I could gain the artistic skill to render all of it on the page. 2. I likely would have overlooked the way the warbler's feet grasped the branch and the intricacies of its claws. Another detail was the branch itself -- I was really "drawn" (excuse the pun) to its shape and various textures.
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Photos capture the scene in a millisecond! Birds don’t stand still typically, so I can snap off dozens of shots while they flit through the bushes or trees, or hop on the ground. My focus while photographing is on the lighting, focus, and peering through the aperture to frame the subject. While photographing I’m not focused on the feel of the air, or gregarious sounds of the birds, or smell of the woods. And I’m in constant motion. When sketching my ears and nose as well as eyes are activated. I am taking note of scale and position of the bird; its stance, its shape, and noticing detail such as the alignment of the eye to the beak. Could this have an effect on how the bird is able to feed? Yes, sketching opens my mind to ask other questions beyond creating a photo that captures light, color and composition.
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I have usually sketched from photos, so I have a little more comfort there with a still image, and a pencil. The beak was a surprising little challenge - as it was initially wider than the little pincer-like warbler feature I was first going for. I think the thing I really enjoy about journaling over photographs is the labeling of other things - like the lichens, and the tree species (even if unknown). Adding features like time/date/weather, maybe the trail etc. I am most nervous about the real-life drawing in situ - the figure/motion drawings is something I've never done.
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I liked drawing from the photo as it gave me lots of time without movement of the bird. I felt happy tackling this subject. Appreciating the little feet wrapped around the branch. Getting the proportions of the body-head-wings was challenging but taking the idea that the bird structure is geometric -various forms of circles and ovals helped. In particular it was challenging was achieving that slight gesture of the head to the right and the relation of beak to the eye and the eye was the hardest to enliven.
- What drawing helped me notice was the way the wing is buried in the shape of the body. And the neat little toes on the branch.
- What drawing helped me notice was the way the wing is buried in the shape of the body. And the neat little toes on the branch.
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I felt fine about drawing from the photo. It took a long time to get the dimensions of the bird right and I don't have it right yet but I stopped after making 2 copies of it. I noticed the wing structure more and where the wing starts and ends at. I noticed how far back the legs are situated on the warbler. I noticed the placement of the eye in relation to the bill. I tried to notice the relationships in the anatomy of the bird. I find the feathers in the wing difficult and want to simplify it. In a photo I think it's harder to simplify than if I had been copying a drawing. Would it make a difference when nature journaling? Well, good question. That's why I'm taking the course. I want to be more exact in the drawings I make of birds. Wings and feather structures have defeated me and I simplify as much as possible. It doesn't make a difference to my nature journaling in so far as I'm usually trying to tell a story, something that happened and is of interest to me, some behaviour or event I want to capture. Still, I would like to have a better idea of how to draw the bird more accurately.
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I love drawing from photos because you can take as long as you want! I had a little trouble getting the body shape right at first, but once I got it filling in the details was fairly easy. I don't think I would have noticed that some of the leaves have bug bites in them if I had not taken the time to draw it.
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Photos are quicker to take although if you want a nice high res photo, it takes time. Drawings - details! Nov 19/20 - My first yellow warbler drawing.
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It is easier to draw than a real bird because it doesn't move. If I am going to paint or draw something, I often snap a picture with my I phone. I don't think I would have noticed the moss or fungi if drawing in the moment for the journal
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I thought that I had submitted this earlier, but could not find it. I did not mean to submit it twice though. How do I delete one?
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@David I changed journals after this drawing as I did not totally like the course paper I had in this journal.
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Drawing from the photo made me really pay attention to small details. It was challenging to get the proportions right - but fun to try. Thank goodness for erasers! :)
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The photograph allowed me to get a sense of how the bird grips with strength in its legs and to get a closer look at the softest of the feathers and patterns os the feathers.
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It was challenging to get the proportions right. I didn't know how to get the shadings right either. I know that details, such as the color of certain feathers and the striping are important in bird ID but it was hard to get them right in my drawing. The beak I drew was not like the beak in the photo!
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I might not have noticed how the wing flows into the body and the overall balance of the figure. Also the expression of the face, which I was not able to capture well.
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It was hard to get the proportions right and to show shading without using colour. As others have said, because the bird isn't moving it's easier to observe. I want to learn how to do this better because I think I'll be doing this a lot from photos at the beginning
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It was fun! I found it easy to get the basic shape, but I struggled with the details of the feathers, particularly the wings. The feet were challenging too! Drawing helped me notice how the feet are folded around the branch and how the wing feathers are stacked in layers.
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I struggled most with the warbler’s proportions and feet. Also challenging, how do you capture and represent feathers with a pencil? Drawing a active bird in nature I imagine will be a lot harder. One thing I did notice studying the photo was the ring encircling the warbler’s eye.
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I felt very comfortable drawing from the photo as this the predominant way I practice drawing. I find capturing the basic shape and position to be fairly easy, but am more challenged by creating shading, dimension and details without feeling like the drawing becomes over-worked. If I hadn't drawn the photo I would not have noticed the layers and sections of feathers in as much detail, nor would I have noticed the array of lichen present on the twig. If one of the purposes of nature journaling is to understand the subject more deeply, then drawing the subject is a way to be focus to details that would other wise be looked over.
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had lots of fun with this exercise. Hard to give the tridimensional aspect and the wing details.
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Proportions were difficult, as was conveying the sort of tilt of the bird's head, and the color of the bird when drawing with pencil.
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Definitely a fun exercise!I can see how spending more time with a photo can yield greater detail; real-life, maybe not so much given how long the subject stays still :)
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I rather liked drawing from the photo, the bird couldn't fly away! Especially a warbler, they move so fast! The details were challenging, specifically the feathers on the wings. As I was drawing I noticed it looked like the bird was looking back over his/her shoulder at the photographer based on how the body was positioned away but the head was turned. I also noticed so much detail in the branch, the fungus, lichen - I would like to spend time on more identification around that as well as keep up with my bird ID.
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1. I felt challenged to have the bird look like the picture- it was easier since the bird was frozen in time--challenging because I struggle to draw proportionately 2. I noticed the colors on the chest, also the details of the lichen and moss on the branch it was sitting on. This focus helps with seeing beyond the bright obvious subject, also may share details about the environment.
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Drawing from a photo is easier in some respects because the bird stays still and you can take your time looking at details. It is more difficult to see how it behaves and see what the margins of the wings were colored. Proportions are difficult for me. I was interrupted when I started the drawing and when I went back I tried to correct them. Still not happy but not bad for the first time. I am enjoying that sketching slows you down and gives you an opportunity to really notice small details. Photos catch everything all at once but I generally don't spend as much time really looking at them.
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Drawing from a photo was good because the subject didn't move. I could take as long as needed to get the details right. The easiest parts were the items that were in the foreground and were seen head-on or in profile; flat leaves and even the bird itself. I find the items that are at an angle, like bend leaves and things that show different sides, like the bird's little talons, a bit more challenging.
Even though I watch birds all the time, I noticed the various wing feathers more than I might in real life. Yes, it may make a difference; I might annotate the drawing if I noticed them.
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This is my first hand drawing of anything in a long time! Drawing from the photo was definitely easier than from a live bird. I still had trouble with the shapes and proportions of the different parts of the bird (i.e. the bill) and getting the subtle transitions of the coloring on the nape and back. I wouldn't have paid as much attention to that yellow to greenish/gray color transition and the reddish brown striping on the chest if I weren't drawing. I would like to capture as much detail as possible with journaling, it will be challenging to try this in the wild with live birds!
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So, this entire piece was challenging. I was able to block out the branches ok but my proportions were way off. Next time I would do this landscape style. I kind of gave up on the colored pencils after a bit. They made everything muddy and I struggled with details with them. I don’t think I am going to use them for awhile. The leaves and branches were easier to draw but the bird not so much. The legs are the best feature. Drawing from a static image was good because I could zoom in, but it was inside and I wasn’t relaxed at all. Photos maybe good for filling in tiny details later, I think. I am not sure I would have seen the darker and lighter shades in the bird coloring out in the field.
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I noticed leaf shadow and veining and where bugs had eaten lea leaf. I noticed flatness and roundness of the bird but did'nt capture it quite enough. I draw and paint a lot from photos and try to notice all details. I enjoy this game. How can we do that in nature? light shifts, things move away, plus...I'm too far away to see any details. Am I getting ahead of us?
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Drawing from a photo does have the advantage of the subject being still, but I did not feel much connection to the photo. It is much less exciting to see a photo of a bird than to see one in real life. If I had not been drawing the bird from the photo I would not have payed as much attention to the shape of the bird or the subtle color differences between the feathers. I'm not certain I would have noticed the bird's claws wrapped around the branch. Noticing the intricate details about the world around us is part of the point of nature journaling. If you miss those details it is like knowing the melody of a song and only half the lyrics.
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I liked drawing from the photo. The bird stood still, and I was able to see much more than I usually do when observing birds in the wild or at the feeder. I noticed the subtle change from yellow in the face to darker shades on the nape and back. Also the lichen and moss on the branch are things I would not have taken note of if not for drawing. I like "seeing" more, but am concerned bout the 50 minutes it took me to sketch this pretty little bird. Perhaps I need to be more patient, and just enjoy the experience....
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I felt comfortable drawing from a photo, as I take my own photos of birds to draw from. This would make a difference in nature journaling for me, as I love to put so much detail into drawings. It's hard for me to sketch something I see for about 5 seconds.
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- It is my very first drawing! I am very glad to finally start. I could take time seeing the details in the photos. The disadvantage is that I couldn't hear the sound and smell the nature, drawing it in my room.
- I wouldn't have noticed all the details of the bird. Yes it will make a big difference when nature journaling.
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My retirement goals included learning to watercolor and doing creative writing. I am a long-time though casual birder and recently moved to the country in western Washington state, where I live on five acres at the end of a half-mile dirt road. Many birds, lots of natural wonders everywhere I look (see photo below - it mushroom time at the farmette). This class is a perfect fit for where I am. When I was a grad student in the 80s I took a biological illustration course, which I loved. Doing the first sketch assignment after listening to the journalers and seeing their work, I started to remember lessons learned almost 40 years ago, drawing bugs (from specimens) and other critters (from photographs). They held still, like the warbler in this assignment. I am looking forward to learning how to capture a moving subject in some way that not only looks like the subject but catches something about the movement.
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I enjoyed it, the most challenging thing was trying to figure out how to convey textures. I had no idea how to go about the lichen and even just the texture of the branches, ended up being lazy and just coloring it in. Similarly, looking at the warbler's plumage, I struggled to show the soft feathers, the different types of striations, shading differences and just different feather textures. Overall, I was so happy that my warbler looked like a bird!
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I found myself anxious to get every detail right right off the bat. As I kept drawing it was easier to relax and enjoy the process. I enjoyed drawing his little feet and legs a lot. I would not have noticed the details in the leaves and branches, the wispy little underbelly feathers, or the way his beak looks just like a little black oil sunflower seed.
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I liked the suggestion posted about adding labels.. I also added another little section for myself with questions I have.. ie..”how do I add shape and dimension to leaves...how do I get them to look folded?”
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1. I imagine that drawing from a photo is pretty different from drawing subjects in real time. I felt like I had lots of time, but live subject probably won’t be so cooperative. Getting the slightly turning posture of the bird was really hard (don’t think I quite got it) 2. I would not have paid as much attention to shape and proportions and details of markings if I has not drawn it. I think for nature journaling, noticing and capturing details is part of the point.
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1. I was self-conscious at first. I haven't drawn in decades. The face was the hardest to draw. I couldn't get the right shape/proportion. I wasn't sure where to start so I began with the branches so that I would have an anchor for the bird. My shading technique is not good, but it will probably come back to me faster than some other things. 2. So many things I would not have noticed: basic shape, proportions, where the wing starts. 3. Sure I will be more conscious of detail in both what I sketch and what I write about.
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It is a challenge to render yellow and bright colors of the bird using only a pencil whereas light/dark and texture of branches and leaves more fruitful and less challenging.
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I enjoyed drawing the Yellow Warbler. I didn't get the scale of the overall space relative to the bird correct. The bird ended up bigger that it was relative to the branch, in the photo. It wasn't a bad thing, but I intended to get the proportions as in the photo. I hadn't noticed the bird's claws until sketching them. They're really interesting! Photos have the advantage of capturing fleeting details that would be hard to see in a living, moving bird.
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- I think it was a good place to start as you could study at your leisure knowing it would not fly away. Can’t say this was easy. Challenging how to convey textures, curves, proportions. 2. I spent more time looking at textures and how things were put together.
- I think it was a good place to start as you could study at your leisure knowing it would not fly away. Can’t say this was easy. Challenging how to convey textures, curves, proportions.
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Well. He looks like a happy bird...
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I really wish the bird was facing the other direction! Why is this so difficult? Picture later. Still erasing! :(
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I was able to notice a lot more detail. Zooming in on the picture helped. It was easy to see the geometrical shapes, oval for the body and a smaller oval for the head. It was challenging to capture the softness of the feathers. I ended up using short strokes. For some reason the beak was challenging and I had to draw is a few times before I got it somewhat ok. The proportions between the body and the legs are off. I wouldn’t have noticed the little hole in the beak if I hadn’t drawn it. I also wouldn’t have noticed the brown stripes in the lower body along the feathers either. Yes, not getting the hole in the beak would have been an important omission.
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Intended to draw electronically - with a new tool and a new technique. Came out better than expected, but still a long way to go.
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I felt very intimidated, so I started with drawing the branch/leaves. I noticed the shapes/textures of one leaf, the bark and the branch. The warbler is so vivid and dynamic in the photo. As I was drawing, I gained some confidence by focusing on the branch. The most challenging thing is actually posting my sketch!
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1. I need a lot of practice of course! But it looks much better than I thought it would, YaY! The feeling of looking at the small details and trying to capture them in the drawing is fun, interesting, and frustrating all at the same time. How do I make it look like that? is the frustrating part, but I have confidence that I will learn how to improve that in this course. It is really fun to see how much better this looks than I thought it would. 2. I had recently watched the bird identification courses for size and shape, and colors and patterns, and there were some clues in those courses that helped me get some of the proportions better, which I would have struggled with so much more before. For example, the distance from the back of the eye to the front of the head compared to the length of the bill or beak. Is it a bill or a beak?? Hmmm. Maybe it's a bill on a duck and a beak on everything else? Something to look for in the course.
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- This is a very familiar bird to me, and I was smiling as I drew it. The bird was still, in nature this little guy is always moving. I liked all the leaves too. I noticed the shadows on the leaves and the texture of the branches.
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1. Drawing from a photo makes it easier to see details - the bird didn't move or quickly fly away and the lighting was constant. I don't think anything came easy or particularly challenging (I've not artistic training), although getting a three dimensional 'look' to the drawing seemed difficult. 2. I doubt I would have paid much attention to the proportions or the feather markings. And yes, that will make a difference in my journaling.
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When drawing from a photo you don’t have the problem of the subject you are drawing moving. What was most challenging is getting the proportions right and the bird’s head is slightly turned and it is hard to get that effect in the drawing. I would not have noticed the more subtle colored patterns of the feathers. It might not make a great difference in nature journaling to get all the colored patterns maybe just the more prominent ones.
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It was a good exercise & I’m looking forward to improving my skills especially in relation to proportions.
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Hi Mary! I love your drawing. Did you use charcoal for it? Your black is so bold. Great work! Amy
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I looked forward to this evening's warbler foibles... say that 10 times fast! Sketching and painting is the perfect end to a busy day. A full hour of figuring out how my watercolour pencils work. The first bird I've ever done... and I'm a bit surprised at myself... it looks like a warbler! It isn't a Robert Bateman, but I kind of like its amateur folksy quality. There was a lot I wouldn't have noticed without trying to draw it. The nails, the angle of the legs, the ruddy streaks on the breast. I think the attention to detail is wonderfully meditative and it will impact my journalling for the better. It also makes vice-presidential debates much more palatable to listen to... regardless of which side you're rooting for.
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I enjoyed drawing this little guy. I have a background in art, but it's been a long time since I've actually drawn anything. It was a challenge recalling the techniques I had learned along the way. I probably would have not noticed the branches and leaves as much and concentrated on observing the warbler, and that would make a difference in the "story" you are trying to convey of the moment.
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I enjoyed trying to draw this bird, but it was hard to get the proportions right. The beak and eye placement were difficult too! I enjoyed seeing the details, especially in the color patterns and would not have noticed these details if not drawing. Fun!
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Who thought drawing with pencil could be so much fun?! Thank heavens the bird did not take flight and I had an eraser. As a lifelong birder, I have never really drawn birds before. It really solidifies your appreciation for this male yellow warbler....which happens to be migrating thru my neck of the woods right now.
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I noticed a lot more detail drawing the bird than I thought that I would. Little things like the birds talons, and the way the colours are.
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I didn't notice lots of details at first, including the rusty stripes on the bird's breast, the white and orange moss on the branch and the way the leaves attach to the twig, the details of the birds feet etc. Drawing is so much better at making you look.
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In drawing from the photo I don't need to worry about my subject moving. To me at this point most challenging is getting the proportions correct. I always feel my drawing is a little off. By drawing the bird I become very aware of its shape and shading. There are so many things about drawing that increase your awareness and would otherwise go unnoticed,
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I could not resist adding color. I have tried photographing yellow warblers once or twice, but had better luck with Wilson's warbler. Drawing them from life is pretty much impossible. Neat photo and good practice.
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Such great therapy ! Not sure when enough is enough. I zoomed in after I thought I was finished and then saw so much detail I had missed. So much to observe and see . Makes me want to be able to name the body parts correctly - I have some homework to😊
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Jumping into the drawing was scary. However, once I began the sketch, I found myself seeing details in the photo that I didn't initially notice. I was so focused on the drawing that I lost track of time--a good thing. The initial outline of the Yellow Warbler and branches/leaves was relatively easy. What I found most difficult was the level of detail--deciding how much detail to include and how to show the differences in textures and colors with only a pencil. I would not have noticed some of the detail, especially in the branches and leaves if I weren't drawing the photo.
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It was so scary! I have not picked up a pencil in so long and I was anxious. But after just diving in and concentrating it felt like meditation. I can see how practice will bring calmness and a more relaxed style. So much more is seen when drawing, the texture of the branches, the slope of the back, the fluffy and stiff feathers. I am going to love this class! I look forward to adding color.
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This drawing is awesome, I love how how you captured all different feather textures and patterns!
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Getting the proportions right was most difficult. I would not have noticed the black in the wing feathers and the brown on the bird's belly if I hadn't paid such great attention to it trying to capture it. I kept thinking that I probably would not have noticed any of this either, had the bird been sitting on a twig near me, about to fly off any second.
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I felt both relieved the subject wasn't moving, and worried about trying to do everything I could see. The angle of legs and toes is always challenging. If I wasn't asked to draw from the photo I wouldn't see how the toes hang over and curl around the branch. Also the spots on the leaves and just how much lichen there was! I believe nature journaling gives you the chance to find out what interests you most. I can't wait to see how this works in the field!
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Wow! This looks as if you've been journaling for years! Beautiful.
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Drawing from a photograph was easier than thinking about drawing a moving subject! Although - it was still intimidating to try to draw a subject as complex as a bird, branch leaves and multiple lichen/epiphytes! I found it easy to block out the shapes and posture of the bird and legs. I like looking at the outlines of different sections. However, I spent so much time on the bird, that I realized by branch and leaves were out of proportion after the fact. I tried to stop before overworking everything, but still fell into the trap of drawing from memory when I got to the leaves. If actually nature journaling, the subject is moving!!! ah!
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I liked doing the drawing but didn't get the angle of the birds body correct. Drawing makes you look at the details, the feathers, the coloring.
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Very nice!!! I also like that you thought of labelling the colours.
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It always takes me a long time to sketch, so it is easier for me to draw from a picture. I need more practice so that I can move quicker and also with moving objects.
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Drawing from the photo seemed easier at first. I tried to use the circle/ egg shape suggestion from the earlier video. I like the result, although my bird looks a bit fatter! The beak is quite difficult! If I wasn't asked to draw, I probably wouldn't have noticed it in detail. Drawing makes me look at things in another way; a better way; and it makes me want to stay "there", drawing and drawing...
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I'm most comfortable drawing with just pencil, but I am going to try and challenge myself to add more colours to my work. To draw this, I started by drawing the negative space between the warbler and the branches it's perched on. I tried starting with the eye at first but my proportions seems really off. This other approach helped me and trained my eye-hand coordination, which needs more practice too. This was a fun exercise, but I am a slow drawer so doing moving animals is a bit daunting... though, I am excited to give it a try and practice more to improve! I love bird watching and identifying plants so this course will definitely be worthwhile!
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There are 2 of us doing the course together- mama and 13 year old son:) 1. It was really fun. Getting the basic shape of the bird was really easy but the lighting was more challenging. As the adult who doesn't really draw- it was frustrating to try and put down on paper what I was seeing in the photo in an accurate way. 2. The shape of some of the feathers. Striping on the breast feathers.
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Great work, both of you! My kids (10 and 12) might also join me soon :)
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This would be so difficult in the field, I need time to draw and look at details :p
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Proportions were tough to grab, I believe I captured the general shape of the bird. I had difficulty showing the curves and bends in the individual leaves.
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Pretty easy to draw as it didn't move :) Colouring with my son's pencils was challenging (it's Labour Day here, so can't go to the store to buy watercolor, oh well). Loved the details of the "fur" around the eyes, as well as the claws. Not sure I would have noticed had it been a bird just passing by. I would say that these are probably the type of details that are critical to identifying birds properly.
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I enjoyed drawing this bird and felt like it was a reasonable assignment due to it's common "bird shape." Having said that, starting is always the challenge for me and drawing the overall shape was a challenge. I feel like the colors were the easy part. I debated on whether or not to draw the tree branches, but I decided against it. I think it was easier to draw because it wasn't moving. Which is why I tend to draw flowers more! I have a hard enough time identifying birds as it is~
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Drawing from the photo wasn't too difficult, because it is a photo and therefore the bird doesn't move. However, I still didn't get the angle of the face (bill and eyes) right. The claws/feet were also challenging for me. However, I'd say it's a good start and the overall result looks like the yellow warbler (except not colored). I noticed the feet and the bill more when I drew it, as well as the way the wings lay (although mine might be lifted a little). I didn't do the "drawing broad shapes first" approach, but I wonder if it would be faster in the field. Drawing the bird definitely makes me more familiar with the yellow warbler's shape, even though I've seen them so many times.
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Drawing animals is completely new to me so it was interesting trying to use concepts of proportions on a new shape for me. I noticed the rule of thirds for drawing human faces pretty much applied to a birds face which I found interesting!
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I found drawing from a photo gave me time to look at it and notice color, shape, the lines on its breast. After drawing it, I tried using watercolor to add color notes. My experience is with oils not watercolor, and need to realize it has to dry so the darks don't run all into the light colors. Maybe using watercolor pencils will help with controlling this?
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My 6yo wanted to join me in this class and so we went with the bigger pieces of paper, and we both have already learned so much. Ignore the plentitude of zucchinis and zuke bread in the background. Part of why I'm enjoying this so much is a) my daughter is totally interested and is working through some learning curves as I work through my own and b) I'm forcing myself to slow down and look at things in a different way. I love that we all have our own different styles and embrace them all. An image on the computer screen for some reason is more straight forward for me... I can disassociate from the image - the feet with their upturned toes in the back - the different colors in the beak, the beautiful green background - I find it difficult to find the right colors yet, but it is good to sit with an image for a while and try to tease it apart.
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I enjoyed drawing from a photo. I could focus on it seeing details. Drawing it came fairly easily. A little challenging was the intricate lined feather pattern. Also with just pencil, obviously the color was missing, thus drawing with pencil trying to distinguish the different colors black and reddish, was a challenge. I might have not noticed the little clawed feet, the exact proportions of the bird, and the detailed coloring, had I not been asked to draw it. Since birds in nature rarely sit still, these details might be missed when nature journaling.
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It was easy to get lost in the detail and miss the overall shape.
Nice to notice the many layers and different angles of the wings. Thanks to the bird for HOLDING STILL. 😇
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I would have best seen the image in the field but up close. I have learning disabilities galore when it comes to spatial, visualization . Drawing will be challenge but not the writing. I just did a pencil drawing, no color, in effort to draw warbler. As it's in my journal I don't know how to upload, but think I'll try another sketch as mine is so tight and restricted
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1. I typically draw from photo or memory, but looking at a screen too long gives me awful headaches. Getting the tail’s shape right was hard, but the other parts went okay. 2. I might not noticed the many shades of yellow on the chest and wings, but I did a lot more as I colored. It would, for me at least, because it would not be as accurate as I would want it to be.
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the process was daunting, as it has been years since picking up a pencil and drawing. but in another sense, it was exciting as I paid much more attention to the size shape and details, color of the bill and legs, shape of the breast length of the tail shape of the leaves etc. I enjoyed it...rather than worrying about the exactness and outcome.
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How did you feel about drawing from the photo? I prefer to be outside verse at my computer. (I teach online due to covid, and spend too much time on my chromebook! )
What came easily and what was challenging? I feel more confident in plants than birds, I think the dark black lines draw you into this sketch.I could not figure the correct shape or size for the head of this bird.
Was there anything in the photo that you might not have noticed if you weren’t asked to draw it? Would this make a difference when nature journaling? I really began to look at where the tail wad located and the shape of the break. I also began to notice the colors and lichen on the tree branch. The shades of yellow on the bird's feathers.
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I have a hard time capturing the right scale from a picture . It's nice the bird isn't moving! Felt like I captured a "feel" here, not necessarily a scientific sketch. Still working on that.
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The nice thing about drawing from the photo was that the bird was still :) And so close up that many tiny details became visible. All I had with me today was a box of 6 crayon colours so I tried to make do with what I had. Realised that there was a lot to learn and capture in how the feathers in the wings were laid out. Realised the background needed more work to become smooth. Realised I had to learn a lot about crayons. Wondered how to capture the expression in the birds eye. Details may not always be so visible in nature journalling as our subjects will be far away and on the move. Drawing made me pay attention to all the small details and see them carefully .
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I liked drawing from the photo as it allowed me to really look at details. Perspective in regard to orientation of beak and legs did not come easily, and I found I kept wanting to tweak the drawing (my perfectionist side) and finally had to lay the pencil down. Even though I didn't add color in this drawing, I realized how many shades of yellow this "yellow bird" has that I may not have seen if it was on the wing.
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2 The thin lines on the wings 1. The beak was ard
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I am just getting back to the lessons and wanted to pair my drawing with my original reply:I enjoyed drawing from the photo, since I could focus on details without having to rely on my memory or worrying about the bird flying off. The easiest was approximating the general shape of the warbler. The more challenging aspects were reproducing the relative orientations of the different parts of the anatomy: head angle, leg placement, layering of wing feathers, and eye size direction of gaze. My color and color distribution was off as well. There were so many details I would have missed, if I had not attempted to draw the warbler, not that I was able to reproduce them in my drawing. I do think that including sketches in my nature journals would improve them a lot.
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It was difficult to decide where to begin. I chose the branch. The feet were surprisingly easier than I thought and the part that seemed easy at a glance proved elusive. I could not get the head shape right from my eyes to the paper. The proportion fell short and while quick sketching I don’t erase so he has more of a dove shape. In the wild I’m certain to have missed the claws just so on the branch and those burnished streaks on the throat as individual marks. Looking forward to instruction on proportion and pencil techniques.
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I enjoyed drawing from the photo. What came easily was my understanding of the posture of the bird and the relationship of the eye to the beak. I am having difficulty getting the layers of wing and tail feathers as well as how to draw the legs and feet properly. If I took more time I wold have worked on the branch and the lichen of the branch, as well as, the leaves to show where the bird was perched.
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Hello all,
the warbler was a very nice starter project. I enjoyed studying the colorful feathers and their different yellow tones. This drawing was done by color pencil on watercolor paper. In future I want to use watercolor as my previous colors.
I love all the different warblers here in this community. It is always great to be surounded by other nature-addicted artists. Looking forward to more!
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1. I had fun with it - I tried to do it relatively quickly and not to get overly caught up in the details. I find wings to be difficult - appropriately preserving white space. The eye and bill came pretty easily. 2. I was surprised with the shading on the head - unsure if this is just the color of the photo or feathers. Also it made me notice some of the color patterns in the wings which I would not have noticed otherwise.
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Accidental reply :)
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I really enjoyed sketching from a still photo! I started with the branch and lichen because I have practiced drawing those subjects before and then worked on the bird from the feet up. I was a little intimidated by the bird. I struggled with the beak of all things! I'm also working on learning to capture light and shadow. But, in the end, taking the time to slowly sketch from the photo I found little patterns in the wings which I chose to shade in darker to draw the eye to that particular part of the drawing. That wound up being my favourite part of the sketch.
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i love scrolling through and seeing everyone's warbler!
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Putting that first mark on the paper was challenging. I started with a couple basic egg shapes for the body and head then worked from there. The hardest part was the eye and the beak and making it look like a real bird. I would not have appreciated the shadowing and nuances of color if I were not asked to draw it.
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1. I felt pretty nervous about drawing from a photo! The hardest part was starting. Once I had started I found getting the proportions challenging. It was also tricky to work out how I would draw the feathers - so much detail. It was easier once I agreed with myself that mistakes were okay and I wasn't trying to recreate the photo in all it's detailed glory.
2. I hadn't appreciated the diversity in feathering until I focussed on the photo to draw it. I hope with journalling and this course I will learn to focus and see/appreciate things in a new way.
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Drawing from a photo means that I had more time to notice details that I might not have noticed on a moving subject. Getting the proper proportions correct was a bit challenging. Also, using a pencil, shading to indicate both color and shadows was difficult.
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Drawing animals isn't something I do often so I felt a tad bit apprehensive. Jumping in and getting started was easier than trying to copy something from an image. I would not have noticed the details of the branches and which way they were growing and that some were broken off. Noticing the bird details was not as critical since I'm a birder. Yes, noticing branches and things that aren't specifically the topic of interest makes the images look more interesting.
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I found it somewhat easy to copy this, my first attempt, though it was very small and I felt quite stiff. I say relatively easy since with a photo your subject is static which gives you time to start, stop, erase, start over. I was pleased with my first attempt and I am encouraged to plow ahead. In the photo, I think the shading is more noticeable than through observation, and the lichen might have been missed. However, i don;t think those details this would would be my main focus but overall observations.
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I feel like it was much easier to draw from the photo than trying to draw a bird in nature (which may fly away any moment). There was more time to look at it closely and make more detailed observations (in addition to looking at it really closely). I'm excited to learn how to draw more accurately (and be able to add more details) and how to use watercolors in the field!
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It was a challenge to work in the Yellow Warbler because it usually takes me a lot of time to paint a bird. This time I tried to work fast, and to make a detailed sketch, I haven't received my journal yet, but I am very excited to work in my classes.
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Beautiful detail Victoria!
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The anatomy of the feathers was hard for me to draw. I also have a problem with beaks. They are ether too small or too big. Drawing birds from photo is a good exercise for me to draw birds from nature later.
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1. I enjoyed drawing from the photo, since I could focus on details without having to rely on my memory or worrying about the bird flying off. The easiest was approximating the general shape of the warbler. The more challenging aspects were reproducing the relative orientations of the different parts of the anatomy: head angle, leg placement, layering of wing feathers, and eye size direction of gaze. My color and color distribution was off as well. 2. There were so many details I would have missed, if I had not attempted to draw the warbler, not that I was able to reproduce them in my drawing. I do think that including sketches in my nature journals would improve them a lot.
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I like drawing from a photo because it gives me time to study the object I want to draw and notice details that would not be apparent in the brief time you get to study a moving object like a bird. It was easy to get the overall scene but getting proper proportions was challenging. Drawing the yellow warbler made me realize that even the legs and feet of the bird are yellow. I would have missed that just looking at a photo. When nature journaling I want to train my eye to notice what is actually there, instead of what I assume might be there.
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Yellow warbler was fun to draw. Looking at the photo gave me time to know the bird and take my time looking into its shape, color and some details. It was easy to depict the main shapes of the bird. The challenging part was showing balance. Drawing from photo made me notice the bird nostrils on beak which I didn't identify from the photo at first glance. Also, the wings, tail relationship. This drawing helps to master some simple techniques that will make drawing the real bird on site a bit easier. Hopefully ! I did start working in my journal. Below are the pages about the Yellow warbler :)
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Drawing from the photo allowed me to look and reexamine the bird over and over again. Each time I looked at it I noticed something new...like the feather details and tiny talons. Drawing the shape came easier than the details. My drawing seems flat and more of a caricature than a real bird. I think nature journaling will require faster reflexes on my part and perhaps making note of details the first time rather than taking my time as I did with the photo.
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This was very hard but I loved the exercise. I would not have noticed much of the detail and shading had I not tried to draw it. The shading was especially difficult. I look forward to stretching my skills more!
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Color shading was the hardest. I wouldn't have noticed it's little feet/claws and how close it's eye is to its beak. I also don't think i realized that birds eyes don't have pupils?
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I feel like my drawing looked a bit generic. I noticed the many yellow colors in the bird when I drew it as well as noticing the body shape more.
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This was my first time using the portable water brushes and I feel like I went a little too wet at times. I found that getting the details like the stripes on the belly and shading of the wings was hard with watercolor, but I'm glad I tried it. I certainly wouldn't have noticed how the claws grab around the branch but loosely in some parts and the shape of the beak. I tried so many times to make the beak look just right!
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I really enjoyed the entire process because it made me pay close attention to the moss, the shape of the head, the beak. The feet and expression of the bird came easily, whereas the sticks, feathers, and leaves were more challenging--probably because they required some very minute details, and I was more interested in the birds head and feet. All of this would be so useful with field journaling because it is what I pay attention to when it comes to nature--the utility of the claws around the branch, the form of the beak for pecking, etc.
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drawing this bird from a photo was interesting because of the Possebility to look closely at each little detail. Drawing the legs was most challenging because you have to find out where exactly they are bound to the body. And it makes me curious to birds anatomy.
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Drawing this bird brought up a memory: Last year, I rented an old gas station in rural Utah to use as an art studio. I bought a small kiln for firing ceramic sculptures and set it up on the concrete floor of the main room, where they once sold candy bars and heat-radiated hot dogs. Since kiln firing took between 12-14 hours, I had a habit of loading it up at night and then camping behind the building in the back of my truck. One of those mornings, waking up at dawn to the sound of the neighbors letting out their horses, I went inside to check on the status of the kiln. It had completed the firing cycle, but still needed time to cool down prior to unloading. I decided to take the opportunity to stroll down to the trucker cafe for some watery coffee and a breakfast burrito. On my way back, I came upon an unmoving yellow bird laying on the sidewalk. It was still alive, so I cradled it to my chest and brought it back to the gas station, where I called my birder sister for advice. We identified the bird as a yellow warbler. She told me that it was possibly in shock, and the best thing to do would be to keep it warm and hope for a revival. Luckily, the lid of the kiln was the perfect temperature for bringing birds back to life, or so I hoped. I made a small bed out of plastic tupperware and an old shirt, and snuggled my unresponsive patient into the recovery room atop the kiln. I spent the next hour in a state of worry, periodically peeking in at this sweet and brilliantly-colored new friend. In time, the bird righted itself into a sitting position and began to blink. When it seemed ready, I brought it outside for release. It seemed as though the bird sat perched on my finger for a long time before suddenly taking flight to an elm tree. Sweet sweet sweet she's so sweet, I thought. May she be singing today.
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Loved the anecdote. Thank you
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Thank you for the wonderful story.
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@suzie What a great story. Thanks for sharing.
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disfrute dibujar utilizando esta foto- pero se que sin movimiento es mas facil. Nunce he podido dubjuar ni pintar los aves en vivo porque muevan tanto- hasta lo deje intentar. Fue facil capturar la forma del cuerpo, pero los detalles mas finos como de la rama, o como dejar espacio blanco tambien fue mas dificil.
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I used to draw as a child and now that I am in quarantine I tried to pick back up the habit. At first I was scared because of the time that I haven't draw and that I never draw "real" stuff, just animated. For me the most challenging part was drawing the details and getting the proportions right but drawing the bird as a whole was fun. If I wasn't asked to draw it I would have never noticed the wing proportions; this might help for nature journaling just to get the details right for differentiating species.
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I enjoyed drawing this bird and am looking forward to learning techniques that will allow me to do so with more attention to detail, shading, and composition. I thought the beak was difficult to draw well and am hopeful to improve that over time. I think my drawing lacks the "expression" of the bird in the picture. I guess I think this drawing is kind of flat, but I had fun doing it, so it's all good. I don't think I would have noticed all the details of the feathers if I wasn't asked to draw this bird. In my past drawings I sort of scribble wings, but this time I counted them before I drew them (of course, the number drawn may still not be reality!). This was a fun exercise, and I'm looking forward to learning more and getting better.
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Lesson One's photo drwg: I wasn't satisfied with this, the eye and beak are wrong, etc. So what I realized was I was already too critical with the process, and must try to be patient. The basic layout came quickly, the composition was already figured out by the photographer. I found the sketchbook page too small so I think I'll get the larger book recommended. I want to develop a quicker, tidier journal handwriting style. I noticed the positioning of the bird better, where it was on the branch, where the leaves were by drawing it. Practicing this should make things go faster for moving targets.
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Getting started with drawing from a picture is a great way to get started. Understanding how to draw the different textures was very difficult. Nature journaling will allow me to observer greater detail that I have not noticed previously.
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1. Yellow warblers don't pose, so it was good to have one hold still in the photo. It was all pretty challenging. I decided to try the pens that I got for the course. I think pen is less forgiving than pencil because you can't erase or shade. I tried to draw the whole scene and getting the texture of the bark was quite difficult/impossible. Plus, my bird looks 'flat,' not round. 2. I would not have noticed the shading around the head and back of the bird without drawing. Nor would I have noticed the 'stripey' look to the wings. So a nature journal would make you stop and look more closely.
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The beak was challenging for me. I think I really notice the proportions when I have to draw something. I think that is the advantage of drawing for a nature journal, you are forced to look at all of the details
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Since this is my first serious try at drawing anything I think I did ok. I found drawing from a photo not as difficult as I thought and that I paid more attention to the detail of the bird than if I was taking a photo.
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Yes, I think you did just fine!
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I find drawing from a photo reference gets me in a very meditative state. However, when it comes to drawing from life, it gets you in this fast mode action & fun you get to use all your senses it really develops the muscle memory & makes you faster. I never tried drawing a moving bird I find it quiet difficult cause they are very active, birds would fly in a second, which makes it hard to capture. On the other hand I'm familiar with figure drawing, you get the chance to capture a human movement, cause humans tend to take their time waiting for their coffee or texting on their phones it would be easier to capture the gesture than a flying bird or other creatures. When it comes to color it is more accurate from life for sure, than a photograph, but the lights & shadows will keep on changing, which I think why photos would be easier if you want to make an accurate painting with shadows & lights. Drawing from life would be great for developing your gesture drawing skills, building your observation muscles & remembrance maybe. I think painting or drawing for nature journaling would be easier on still objects but the challenge would be the accuracy of the lights & shadows & the feeling, which will change depending on the time of the day, weather, how fast the object moves & how long you take on the painting. when it comes to anatomy you can always go back & study from a reference photo and redraw what you've already drawn on your nature journal.
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I love this little painted card.
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I thought using a photo was much easier to see the detail and capture something because the subject is frozen. It was a challenge because I do not know bird anatomy very well, had to sketch what I saw without knowing the parts. The photo has so much detail that it seems nearly impossible to capture the likeness of a bird without suffering lots of ugly's in real life. I may spend some time practicing sketching other pictures I have taken of birds to get more familiar with the parts. Hard to describe where the color is without the vocabulary. Seems like using photos and sketching in the field will benefit creating the Nature Journal. Pat
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I was able to take my time so I guess it felt easier than nature journalism. The texture was less challenging than what I thought but the form was challenging. I would´t have noticed the different levels of the wings or the subtle orange stripes in the body. Yes, I think it must be quite different To catch details and poses in live movement,
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It is much easier to draw from a photo. It gives me time to notice lots of details and work to make my drawing more accurate. The more details I add to my drawing, the more I learn about the subject and the better I remember the experience.
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While drawing I realized that I do not know bird anatomy very well so I was drawing what I saw without understanding what it was or how it works, this can be a + or - to the overall picture. Drawing from a photo is easy tho I am very rusty. I did use my eraser a few times. I liked the talons wrapping around the branch and want to draw these again in close-up. Pixel, my rat terrier, is glad that I'm done drawing so my lap is available.
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I find that drawing from photos gives you time to correct proportions and enables you to see more details. I have found that coloring is not always correct with photos compared to life. When the natural light hits whatever it is that you are drawing it gives different and more subtle changes than you get in many photos. I think in life you can draw more 3d looking pictures with capturing more natural movements. It is definately more challenging to draw from life in the elements and with light ever changing than it is to sit in front of a photo and draw and correct and take your time.
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I prefer drawing from a photo, it gives me time to study the subject. For me the most challenging part of drawing is getting the sizing right and keeping it similar on the page. When sketching in the field I tend to pick objects that don't move to much or can't fly away, like a grass, flower, tree or a scene. I am hoping this class will help me to overcome the reluctance I have to sketch living things in the field.
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Drawing from an image was fine. Drawing while they are flying is very difficult. What came easily was obtaining the shape and size of the warbler. It was adding the details that was more tricky because I tend to go overboard. I should have drawn the complete branch and leaves. Perhaps I would add details at home instead of in the field.
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Here is my Warbler drawing. Sorry that it's not very clear, my computer camera isn't very good.
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Drawing from a photograph is fine - it allows me to take my time drawing, however, it feels like “flat”; a 2D image is being copied. It is good if i cant stay outside for long due to the weather conditions. The joy of observing is not there though.
I noticed the texture of the Podotheca as well as the form of the beak. Noticing the details is very important in nature journaling; it us part of sensing the bird being watched. It is of importance to point that observing bird’s behaviours for a while is enriching our visual memory. So that when we sketch it from a photograph -even if the photo is a bit blurred due to its fast movement- we will still be able to draw it accurately.
After uploading the image, i noticed that I forgot to add the name & information of the bird ^_^;
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Drawing the Yellow Warbler helped me generalize what I Thought a yellow warbler looked like. I paid more attention to the shape of the body and to the details of the red stripes. Also, I saw how the values such as dark and darker helped define the wings, the beak and the eye. I'm aware how much easier it is to paint something that doesn't keep flitting around! I'm not sure a yellow warbler would hold still for me if I saw it in a bush!
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I like drawing from the photo. I'm slow, and given that the image is a photo, the image moves much slower than I ... Getting the proportions right is a challenge for me. I really made attention to how the skeletal and the muscular structure is present in the photo. For example, I tried to imagine how the beak was not an appendage, but was an extension of the bird's skull. As well, I wanted to capture how the upper part of the covert of the wing had some contour. This exercise sharpened by observation skills. - I'm excited to see how I hopefully improve over the course.
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I've always loved just sitting and observing nature. I've done a bit of journalling on some journeys I've taken in my VW camper. I'm not feeling very confident about it, but still when I look at the sketches or watercolors it brings back such wonderful feelings. I want to learn more about how to do this and have it become so natural that I don't hesitate to do it often. I love writing down what I see, but I don't necessarily do it in a very organized way. A nature journal at this time seems perfect for me. I loved seeding the examples of what other people did. I'd like to practice quick sketches of birds that show impression, behavior, posture, etc. I'm hoping by drawing birds and adding details it will help me recognize them when I see them in the field. I'm so excited to be doing this now! It keeps me from feeling stuck in my townhome! Laurie
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1. Just by chance over the last few days, before I joined the course, I had tried to draw a couple warblers from photos so I was thinking, okay, I've done this a couple times already; I can do this. However, I tried to draw without too much erasing because I felt in the field you may have to draw faster before the bird flies away. This made it challenging to get the proportions right. I wanted to include the branch because I feel that adds interest to the drawing but when I looked at my finished drawing I realized the bird was proportionally much larger than the branch. And the proportions of the bird are a little off.Since I have been paying attention to the warblers and the parts of songbirds recently I feel it came a little easier to figure out the details of the feathers.
2. There are several things I might not have noticed from the photo if I didn't draw it:
- the black color in the wings;
- the gray shading on the head and back,
- the different colors in the bill; and
- the different colors and moss (?) on the branch
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Hello Nancy, This might be off topic but your minimalistic way of sketching reminds me of the Finnish artist and illustrator Emmi Jormalainen . In fact, your drawing made me consider going back to the ink sketching instead of colouring the birds. Sometimes, black and white sketching forces us to think deeply into the details. Best, Alyazia
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1. Wow, that went better than I thought! I remember looking at it and thinking "wow, I can't capture these fine details" and then I ended up drawing the bird, without more of the foliage than the branch it is clinging to, and getting more of the bird's details than I expected! 2. The overall shape went better than I expected, but the gaze and facial expression absolutely eludes me. The result is kind of charming, but it's not the look the warbler is giving to the camera, at all. Also, without the color, it's really hard to convey with strokes the complexities of shading of this bird's feathers. I haven't ever seen one of these warblers in real life, but I found myself using the anatomy I've learned from bird books and from a long ago ornithology class, to capture what I did of the different feather groups and their coloration. Then again, I just realized that by choosing to focus on the bird I really haven't captured a bit of which plant this bird is perching on, and in my mind's eye I don't have a solid guess as to what sort of tree or shrub it is. When I scroll back up, there's lichen, and I can begin to make a guess, but I just hadn't focused on it at all while drawing. And if I look down, I see other people _did_ try to play with color, and now I can't wait until my watercolors arrive. This was a lot of fun to do.
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Not bad for my first attempt at drawing in several years. Even after several rounds with the eraser I still didn't get the shape quite right, but it's definitely recognizable as a bird, and maybe even as a yellow warbler. Drawing from the photo gave me an opportunity to see all the features and identify which bits were shadow and which were actual markings, and I don't think my observations would have been nearly as detailed if I weren't drawing. Obviously birds in the wild generally aren't going to sit still for this kind of observation, but I think practicing this kind of drawing from photos might train me to see those kinds of details more quickly when I'm looking at a moving target.
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I have to say I felt a little intimidated looking at the photo. But after sketching and using the water colors, I felt a lot more confident. I will be focusing on getting more detail out of the paint, I feel this is most challenging. I didn't spend a whole lot of time studying the photo, I seemed to have focused mostly on the Warbler.
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I think you did a really good job with the overall shape of the bird and the colours. I love the way you captured the dark black of the eye (with the little white dot of reflection) and the black in the wings and the tail. The notes regarding the color or other characteristics is a good idea, especially in the field, when the bird may fly away before you get to finish the painting.
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@Nancy Thank you Nancy, This was the first time I used watercolor paints. I always thought of myself as Not a painter, I always used pencils, felts in the past when making pictures.
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1. The drawing itself was not that difficult for me. I draw birds since my early childhood... But the most difficult thing is to put watercolor on my drawing. My medium is acrylic or more than watercolor. I try to use a yellow wash above olive-green back of the bird (on the greater, medium, and lesser covers). The eye is not exactly round because the head is a little bit turned. I always try to paint some little point around the (= eyering) around the eye! I directly saw from where the light is coming on the photo and put shade under the right-wing and not far from the tail. Drawing from a photo is easy because I can always look precisely at it and see what is correct or wrong. I only concentrate on trying to represent the bird the best I can. I know how to paint a branch and increase it's roundness take into account the shade and light! 2. If I had to paint that bird for nature journaling, I think I might to try to draw the bird faster and put only a little bit of color (with water colored pencils more than watercolor). I probaly will add some details of the lichen and leaves...
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Hi Géry, what are the type of colours used in your drawing? btw, i liked the lynx as well :)
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1. Some of the proportions were difficult among the various objects. 2. When drawing, I noticed more detail in the branch and what was on it besides the warbler.
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I was asked to write an article for an employer's social media post, and I decided to focus on sketching (though I don't mention the sketching part until the end.) Some novice sketchers might appreciate my struggle! https://operaflute.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-stay-at-home-order-sketches-on-dining.html
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I was afraid to tackle the watercolors, but that probably would have been a better option than the pencils.
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It was more difficult than I thought it would be to capture the posture of the little bird and I was a bit confused as to what details to add. I am really enjoying working with the watercolor pen but it will take a while to master. Right now I'm overworking the color and want to try experimenting with some other techniques.
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I enjoyed the fact that the Yellow Warbler wasn't moving! I needed to look at the details over-and-over and revise-revise-revise the sketch when something didn't look right (e.g., eye placement). I was fortunate to have several living (YEWAs) encouraging me along outside my cabin as I worked. I hear them all the time but getting a look is a challenge. I wonder if I will every be able to draw from a glimpse... Feather placement on the wings would have been extremely difficult without the photo. I could have spent hours trying to get them right but this was a supposed to be sketch. Compared to photography, I really liked to be able to annotate my drawing. John
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It's surprising how much fear arose every step of the way on this drawing, the first mark, erasure, adding color, adding ink. I think that's why I've put off starting the course. I keep saying I'm to busy, but that's probably just masking the fear. (The supremely organized sock drawer isn't terribly fulfilling.) And I learned so much just by staying with this image for a few days, the parts of the wing, the loose grip of one claw. The yellow warbler is olive and amber and black!
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This is the 2nd time I am taking this class - thought it was a great idea to try everything again. It is alot easier to draw from a photo, much easier to take the time to see the shape and colors of the bird. I do like drawing from nature, though. It is nice to be outside and there is something organic about drawing on the fly. My yellow warbler drawing did not turn out as nice as the 2d time I drew it from taking the course the first time. Oh well, some days I am better than others at drawing.
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This was a fun exercise.....and I took my time to try to capture proportion and some detail. It will be fun to compare at the end of the course. The photo was beautiful to work from, plus you have the luxury of time. Drawing live in nature will definitely be more of a challenge (:
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It is difficult to decide when to stop! Should I keep adding details or call it quits? It begins to look overworked, the longer I keep painting. I think/hope painting directly from nature will allow me to capture more of the personality, or movement will make it more interesting. Comparing my work to the photograph is defeating. This first attempt did not achieve results I had hoped for. My warbler does not look alive.
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Oh, Karen, please don't feel defeated! You have so much going on in your drawing and painting.The colors, the proportions, the crooks and curves of the leaves and branches, and curves in his feet make it all look alive! And , remember, this is what you are to compare your last drawing of him to at the end of the course! Enjoy!!!
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Hi Karen. Yes, like Cynthia said, please do not get discouraged or defeated. Know when to stop is hard, but I am pleased with the results of your drawing and how your use, especially the shading and blending, of the watercolors was done. They give depth and contrast to the bird’s features.
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This turned out much better that I expected! The hardest part was getting started, but once I did it was sketch-erase-sketch-erase-sketch and I enjoyed it. Knowing when to stop is also hard, but since I was working on it while my baby slept, he helped me break away when he woke up. ;)
Working from such a high quality photo was good for studying proportions and detail. I will probably download some more pictures like this from the Mckauly library so practice on days when we can get outside!
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I was surprised and pleased at the end, though I think I went through more eraser than pencil during the process. There's lots more observation when you draw. I think of photographs as a memento -- something captured rather than reproduced.
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Great job on the feet!
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I felt anxious about starting to draw until I listened to the lesson again and understood that this was like a baseline and that everything after it would stand a chance of being better! The overall proportions and the bill were most challenging.
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When I began to draw the warbler, I realized how difficult it was. I thought it would be easy. I didn’t know where to start. Should I start drawing the bird first or branches first? As I began to draw, I started to notice the brownish fine lines on the breast, black on the edge of wings and the posture. As I nature journal, I believe details will make a difference.
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The shape of the bird was hard. I wasn't sure what to draw first, the bird or the branches. And if the bird, what part of the bird? For me, I really started to notice details on the wing. The folded primaries and secondaries I may not have noticed unless I was asked to draw it. Unfortunately, birding in the field is hard because the birds are fast and rarely sit still. With drawing I think we can pay more attention, check other sources, and study the birds rather than just see enough field marks or hear the songto get an ID.
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I loved the challenge of looking carefully, of trying to capture the “essence” of a Yellow Warbler and what makes it different from other birds. I had trouble with the beak - I think I have one bird shape for every bird I have ever drawn! This time I tried to think about what warblers eat so erase the seed beak. Drawing made me think about the many parts, feathers, legs, feet, beak, streaks on breast, etc. and how they go together to make a warbler.
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Okay...the drawing of the bird made me pay very close attention to very detail of the bird and the branch and leaves. I was really paying attention to detail. It was really fun!
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Getting shape, color and correct length and size ratios was difficult. What worked was that as I drew I noticed more and more about the anatomy of the bird. The longer I drew the more questions about what I was seeing emerged. This process really allowed me to "see" better and required more engagement in observing and thinking (clearly better for a nature journal).
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1. I feel much more comfortable drawing from a photo because my subject won’t move & I don’t feel like I have to rush. The drawing layout (composition) is set, I have a reference to look back at, which comes easy. My challenging part is size-perspective & drawing the fine details of feathers and textures, to give a 3-D look instead of the flat 2-D drawing.
2. Maybe the moss & lichen on the branches.
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It took a lot of erasing and about 1 1/2 hrs, but I enjoyed the process. I’m just now posting this! Some of you folks are already amazing!
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Yesterday while I was birding, I saw and heard a yellow warbler way up in a tree. Although I had a good look at the warbler up in the tree, seeing a photo of it and then drawing it while paying attention to the shape of the bird, as well as the coloring detail, will help me to remember those characteristics of the bird, making for easier bird identification in the future.
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The photo had more detail but doing my drawing made me focus more on the parts of the bird. I learned more about the anatomy of a bird leg and how the claws worked. I also saw way more color when I needed to paint it.
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The photo had more detail but doing my drawing made me focus more on the parts of the bird. I learned more about the anatomy of a bird leg and how the claws worked. I also saw way more color when I needed to paint it.
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Drawings have an advantage over photos because the camera can only capture when the device's lens is told to get, which can be blurry or miss part of the whole picture, while when drawing you can take longer to capture as much detail as possible, go back and correct mistakes and improve upon it.
Photos have an advantage over photos of being able to capture a moment for later reference and do so much quicker then drawing that moment, which you might miss some action with your head down at a sketchpad instead of up with your eye looking through a lens.
1- It was ok drawing from the photo. The general shape and appearance of the bird was fine, but trying to get feathers to look lifelike and faces and heads the right proportions are always difficult for me.
2- I don't think there was anything in the photo that I didn't notice if I wasn't going to draw it and at this time I don't know if that would make a difference when nature journaling.
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That was fun! I look forward to seeing how it'll change as I work through the course. Basically, I was just drawing what I see for this.
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I found the general shapes to be easy to get down but when it came to filling in the details it got a bit muddled with only the pencil at this stage of my drawing skills. Hoping to get better with coloring in features when having something to color with isn't an option. I'm a big fan of black line art so hoping to incorporate that a lot into my journaling. I did notice some growth on the branch in the form of lichen/moss/mold, thanks to a book I just finished reading, that I might not have noticed otherwise. Here's my Yellow Warbler to kick off my journaling experience beyond just taking notes on the bird species I see.
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Love the fact that the bird stays still - you can take your time and try to capture how it really looks. It was fairly easy to get the basic body shape, but capturing the angles of the legs was hard. It's also difficult to "suggest" the feathers without drawing too much detail and muddying the picture. I noticed the complexity of the little guy's feet and how they grasped the branch. Not sure I'd notice the feet when out in the wild, but overall drawing draws you into what you're seeing so much more than just looking or trying to photograph. (pun not intended.... ;)
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Drawing from the photo was way more convenient than doing it out in the field would be (I've never tried that so this is only a guess). Photos let you see details you'd miss otherwise and offer clues in how to identify the birds so drawing may improve my birding. Win, win - or that's the hope. I could easily tell the photo was a picture of a yellow warbler, but I can't say the same for my drawing. :-/
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I liked drawing from the photo. I could take as long as I liked. The head was the easiest part for me, but I had some trouble getting the tail and the feathers that flood out to look right. If I hadn't had to draw the bird, I probably wouldn't have noticed all of the intricate lines, and how much black there is in the picture. Overall, I enjoyed it.
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I am not very familiar with water colors and I feel like I have a lot to learn about how to use them. I didn't like the colors that much that I used but I don't know how to mix them. You definitely note a lot more detail when you draw from a photo. When you are drawing from nature you miss a lot of detail unless the object you are drawing stays still for a long time which is unusual.
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First drawing of a bird. A little rough, found the proportions hard to recreate. However not a stick person (:
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I found it started looking like a zombie or otherwise frightening bird pretty quickly. It's the eyes. I also got lazy about the plumage and wings, and it probably would have been better to just suggest more. My son, who is six, said "head is same, wings kinda same... body is not same."
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I love this! The symbolism is wonderful! The hungry little zombie lying in wait for the feeder to be filled! Haha! Good job actually. It's a lot of detail. With practice, you will be able to pull it all together!
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I felt apprehensive at first but accepted the challenge of drawing the bird. Getting it to look three dimensional or pop out of the page was difficult. Mine looks flat and you can't tell the curvature of the bird. I also found it difficult to draw the branches to look like they were proportional and adding depth to them was hard too. What I noticed were the beautiful diversity of life on the branch! The lichen and the bluish colors, orange on the branches and different textures all along the branch. I also noticed the black lines on the feathers more detailed as well.
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My initial drawing was good, and then I put it down for a day or two, and came back to it later to color it in. I had initially meant to do it with watercolors, but I don't have good paper for that at the moment, so I used a regular sketch book and then I decided to color it with colored pencils. So then, rather than simply coloring in my drawing of the bird, I had to locate all of my colored pencils and make sure all the sets were complete and arrange them correctly by color and number and then sharpen all the ones that weren't sharp...
Five hours later...
I clearly have a procrastination issue. During that process I decided to use watercolor pencils for a compromise. I think it came out ok, but I will use better paper next time.
I take too long to do a drawing to be able to draw something like a bird before it flies away...I think I may consider taking photos of things like birds and other things that might run off while I'm outside wandering around and making drawings of them later, and draw things like plants and rocks that stay put in person.
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I wanted to capture the character. Most difficult - to capture the bird's proportions.
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For some reason my note didn't accompany my lousy picture. The exercise helped me get past the tyranny of the blank page. Sketching teaches me how to see and commit details to memory. I have zero experience (well, not since kindergarten). Sometimes I kept my eye on the Yellow Warbler while moving my pencil, as if the hand was powered by the eye. Other times I shifted my gaze up to the photo and down to the journal. Is there a right or wrong way?
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I had a lot of fun drawing this picture! I hadn't done watercolors for a long time and I never thought I was very good in it to begin with. But all the videos from the previous step of the course gave me motivation to try anyway.
Drawing the tree branch was surprizingly easy, I had a lot of fun trying to capture the texture. The bird was harder, I still don't have a full grasp of bird anathomy :) If I wasn't asked to draw the picture, I don't think I would have noticed all the colors of the tree branch. I was surprised that I defaulted to "trees are brown" and didn't even think about it. Noticing the real colors behind things will be really useful from now on!
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Getting the shape down at first was challenging, but filling in the details came easier.I noticed way more about the bird now that I had to draw it. I've identified this bird multiple times in real life, but I don't think I could have fully described the bird's appearance until now, after I have drawn it. I hope this is one of the many benefits of nature journaling.
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Photos are much faster. Drawings let you see way more detail. I don't think I would have noticed the dark edges on the wing feathers if I didn't draw it. I was looking for details to put in the drawing. Also, once I started, the drawing drew me in. I found getting the proportions within the picture somewhat challenging.
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Hi Anna, I just wanted to say I’m in MI too. Looking forward to lots of fun with this course. Theresa
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After 65 years of birding, 30 years of FeederWatch, I immediately noticed that this process made me see details and even general appearance that I rarely noticed. Being adept at GISS, color, habitat and movement, I didn't have to see fine details of the living appearance. This is wonderful.
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It's a challenge for me to take the time to observe, sketch, come back and observe again. By drawing, I took more time to see the picture, beyond the beautiful colors. Still waiting for my own watercolors/sketch pad to be delivered, so just pencil for now.
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1) I felt a little apprehensive about it at first, but I loosened up after a little bit. Actually, it didn't turn out as bad as I thought. What came easily was some of the basic shapes, especially the curve of the branch the warbler is sitting on. What was more difficult was the thicker branch toward the bottom of the picture, as well as the bird's stance and trying to make it look accurate. 2) If I weren't asked to draw it, I wouldn't have noticed the bites and marks on of the leaves as well as the way the bird's legs are positioned on the branch. I think this would make a difference when nature journaling since you would loose some valuable detail in your drawings.
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It was easier to copy the image than attempt to draw from the living bird. I tried drawing the birds coming to the feeder this morning and it was very challenging but the results can be made to work with time and practice. I am 81 years old and would love still to learn to paint. I was going to register in another class but when I saw this offer I decided for my coming birthday to accept the challenge. Francisco.
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I liked being able to add additional information to images. "Alternate leaves", "Red streaks on yellow", etc. Pencils work well for me and the idea of color and brushes is daunting, and exciting.
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Hi Michael, I really like the way you labeled the key identifying features of the Yellow Warbler . . . “red streaks on yellow” for its underbelly, for example. It makes the drawing and learning process more interesting and more scientific. Now you’ve motivated me. Thank you!
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I felt somewhat comfortable drawing from a photo because it is stationary and does not move. I was able to look at the lines and angles of branch, leaves and the yellow warbler. Drawing the branch was easier because of the lengths of the lines and being able to see where the leaves were attached to the branch in comparison to the whole branch. The most challenging was the birds feathers. The wing is so like the rest of the body. The chest of the bird was particularly difficult to get the right angle of slope down to the feet. I probably would not have noticed the moss and what looks to be some type of lichen on the branch had I not been trying to draw it. I would think the details would be very difficult to do in nature journaling because there are so many details in nature! Overall, I am I am excited to get started!
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1. What came easily was the overall image but what was challenging was the colors within the bird and getting those right. Defining the wings were challenging too. 2. I noticed all kinds of things when drawing this warbler -- the wing bars, the faint mark behind the eye, the 2-tone black of the beak, the long legs. I think the advantage of nature journaling is how it generates a sense of wonder and awe.
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I have not drawn in a while, so I was a bit nervous, but once I started it felt good. The hard part for me are the feathers, especially the very fine, fluffy ones on the upper back. You definitely pay more attention to the details when you have to draw something - especially the color combinations in the feathers. I only drew this with pencil, though, so I could only hit the light and dark tones. But I like that drawing forces you to spend a lot of time on the details, this could really help you remember how to identify a species.
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You did a great job on the face! Sweet!
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I like drawing from a photo because it stays still, but at the same time it lacks the life of a drawing out in nature. Here I can pay attention to details. I liked sketching the beak and feet, something I may not have been able to observe carefully when drawing outside. I wondered about their shape and functions. I found the lychens to be challenging, especially the large one, because it doesn't have the same definitive shape and shading.
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Drawing from a photo is easier than in nature because I have time to compare spaces and angles. I have a lot of trouble with beaks because I haven't practiced enough. I always see things when drawing that I never saw before. Nature journaling makes me much more aware of my surroundings, whether it be a bird or a bee, a person or a tree.
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What a sweet picture. Love your presentation.
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With a still photo, it is easy to focus on the details and perhaps spend more time than one should on a quick sketch. The biggest difficulty I had was in proportions. I could not quite get the sizing right from bird to branch to background. I was not able to show well in my sketch that the warbler's head was turned to the viewer. I do feel like my sketch shows some of the vivacity of the bird and I like that. Drawing is another way of remembering so I hope that in doing so, it will cement some of the field marks for these species in my mind.
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I prefer drawing from a photo because you have time to study the details. You miss the movement and behaviors, but you can see the light and feather patterns better. It was difficult to represent the shiny bill and the multitude of colors with pencil, but at the same time forced me to pay attention to overall light and contrast of the whole composition. If I drew this again, I'd pay closer attention to the proportions of the breast, head, and eye. They have a flattish crown and a bold brow, which I didn't capture as well as I'd have liked. The eye is too far back from the bill giving him a bit of a woodcock look! Looking forward to learning more techniques and seeing the redo at the end of the course.
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I enjoyed trying to draw the yellow warbler from the photo and did not feel too embarrassed That my drawing was such a poor image. Everything was a challenge, especially proportions. I didn’t know if I should draw while looking at the image or if I should look at the page while I drew and keep looking back at the photo, alternating. I would not have noticed the details of the foliage or the shading on the wings. Details like these hone my sense of sight and memory for journaling.
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As a photo, I would notice the details only in broad strokes...yellow bird, green leaves, stick. Drawing it caused me to take note of many details about the bird, the shape of and the light on the leaves, shape of the branch, the lichen and the moss on the stick...even though not detailed in my drawing.
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Yours is my favorite drawing of the Yellow Warbler. I like the way you were able to create dimension on the bird by showing us the tip of its left wing. And on the branches and leaves with shading and leaf positioning. I’ll keep following your drawings, because I know good things are coming!
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Oh boy. For me this was challenging even capturing the larger gestures and my poor warbler looks like a zombie. I haven't worked with watercolors much at all so I opted out. But I can see that spending a little more time with the context will help. It's very "sketchy" and like one of the other students I always start lightly in pencil but often fail to go in and darken where it needs darkening. I also need to spend more time when I can. I get frustrated when my proportions and relationships seem off - sometimes its a matter of playing with that lineweight a bit. I was fascinated by how the warbler's feet gripped the branch and could study the foot - thank goodness it was a photo!
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Drawing was, interestingly, the easy part. I just completed a beginning drawing two-day class at my local arts non-profit's studio, so I rendered it first in graphite. However, using watercolors never, it was another interesting process capturing the details of what I had drawn from the photo. This presketch/watercolor is not finished, obviously, but now I definitely know exactly what I don't know. It was all sort of meditative and I am very much looking forward to the rest of this course during which I anticipate learning techniques that advance me from an aspiring Audubon or RTPeterson wannabe to a status closer to apprentice.
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For me, the easiest part was to respect the proportions, I thought it would have been more difficult. The biggest challenge was the wing with all the thin lines. To represent the different textures in the feathers is not easy. I noticed so many details during the process! For exemple how the wing is built in layers and the very subtle circle around the eye. After completing my first drawing, which took me long, I tried to do it a second time now sketching it in two minutes or so.
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Hello Liz, here is my drawing. I really liked the picture of this cute bird and enjoyed drawing it. I don't know how to render the shades and the form of the feathers, and I would like to learn how to go from a simple sketch to an actual drawing. Thank you for your nice videos.
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Laura, I like your bird's stance and the glint in the eye. Nicely done. Enjoy the class and take your time and savor each activity. That is what I am doing...I want it to last forever so I take time to practice and do many examples for each lesson before moving forward as the class is self-paced. Just wanted to take a moment to welcome and encourage you as you move fwd through the class. Happy Nature Journaling and Field Sketching through your days.
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Off and running! So glad to finally be putting pencil to paper and giving this a try. I liked sketching with a still photo so I could take my time and really focus on trying to get the proportions right - still have some work to do on that, but not horrified by my first effort. The heavy paper and graphite pencil were so easy to work with. I think I'm going to like this!
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The hardest part of drawing is getting the proportions and scales correct. I struggled with the wings and the main branch of the tree.
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Drawing from the photo gave me time to notice details and attempt to get them in my drawing. I do wonder about working with live subjects! Plants will stay put, mostly, but light will change. Critters, if I ask kindly, will they stay put just a little longer? Guess not... It seems that for now, if I want to really capture details, I may need to work from photos. Getting the drawing down with pencil was easier than I thought it would be. Paying attention to the detail in the bird was easy. I loved the close observation work. I think I wouldn't have noticed the close details in the plant if I were focusing on the bird while working outside. And if working outside, I don't think I would have as much detail in the bird. I'd have been making text notes to come back to fill in details in the drawing later. Thank you for sharing your photos and comments. We do learn more when we share our experiences.
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Really love this!
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I'll try to insert the image later - I haven't been able to download the image from my phone. I liked drawing from a photo - it didn't move, unlike birds. You could look back at the image and see something new almost every time I looked. Getting the proportions right was really tough for me and I tend to draw lightly with a pencil first and (after lots of fiddling around) got to a place that seemed pretty good. I didn't think anything came easily. I added the branches and leaves as an afterthought - which helped. I didn't notice that the bird had cocked its head until I read someone else had discovered it - that was brilliant. I probably wouldn't have noticed the amount of non-yellow in the Yellow Warbler if I hadn't been trying to draw it. The difference that journaling will probably make is I will learn how to identify which details are important. I wonder if it is possible to find important details to include and still draw more freely. I already learned that I enjoy playing with color and tend to spend a lot of time looking at detail.
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I definitely struggled with drawing this photo. I am not great at drawing period, and with my kids around I really struggled to pit in the time I wanted to. However, my drawing was better than I it would be, so I am proud of myself in that sense. I think something I really noticed was the wing patterns, or any patterns in general are a huge benefit when you are drawing.
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I loved trying to draw the warbler. I like using a photo as a reference. But I am most used to color pencils and was trying to use watercolor pencils for this one, since I thought maybe that's what would be used in the field. I noticed that the bird wasn't really looking sideways, he is somewhat looking toward us and I couldn't capture that. I noticed the black and yellow alternations in his wing feathers and that the steaks on his chest have some redness to them and are uneven..
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I have a bit of a mental block about sketching, so this course will help me with that. I'm think I'm most interested in sketching plants, so it's great that the first project was NOT plants, but something that is likely harder, i.e. this bird. I do love bird watching! This was fun.
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First I tried watercolor but found it difficult to get fine detail. So I then drew with graphite. It will be interesting to compare before course/ after course drawings!
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LOVE the watercolor!
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Drawing from a photo makes it easy to check proportions, but I still didn't get her all on the page. Missed off half her tail. Noticed that feathers tend to follow the shape of the body and that there are fare more tones in the bill than I thought. Starting doors make you look, especially when the drawing doesn't look right, and you try to figure out why.
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Forgot to insert my image.
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I enjoyed the opportunity to truly study the bird with depth, but I found it challenging to capture all that I wanted to in especially in terms of proportion and perspective. However, drawing enabled me to see all the variations in color and the exquisite detail of its feathers and the different sections of feathers that I may have overlooked if I was just looking at a photo. I could see how drawing what I see will make me a more keen observer.
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I'm glad the course has us dive in right away and get to drawing. I couldn't quite get the tilt of the bird's head but I like drawing from photos and focused hard on not being too precious with it. I don't think I would have noticed the difference in the wing feathers as much. I also never noticed how much black striping there is on the wings, despite having photographed Yellow Warblers several times before.
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1. I did like drawing the leaves first and the bird afterwards. It came easily, the body of the bird was challenging to get the right measures. In addition, I found my bird is smaller than yours. 2. I did not notice a piece of wood, when I made the photo bigger, i have noticed it. I believe it depends on the time and experience. I wanted to draw nice leaves, but they are not nice for me. I guess I do not have a technique yet, but it will come. I have added the information on the previous page about the day, time and weather conditions. I did not want to color it because I am too curious to see another video tonight.
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Apprehensive to start but then found it absorbing and enjoyable. What was easy was that the image was static, fixed, and thus there was no pressure of time or memory. The difficulty comes with selecting what is important to include or emphasize and what can be omitted ... I would omit detail in the surroundings of the bird, unless they were important data. I find it hard to get the proportions and shapes to come out right. I hope the course will help me with this skill. And the shading due to the play of light is a challenge, not so much in this exercise as the light is directly behind the observer and so the bird is fully illuminated, but often, that is not the case.
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I always draw from a reference photo so there is no change there for me. I usually draw either flowers, butterflies, or comic book characters so the bird itself was something new. I gave myself an hour time limit because I know that in nature I won't have unlimited time with subject. So, leaving it as a sketch instead of a finished drawing was in itself a challenge for me. If I had taken a photo of the bird instead of taking the time to draw it I would not have noticed that the lower beak seems thicker than the upper half of the beak.
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I enjoyed drawing the yellow warbler and was able to observe some of the finer details such as the red streaks on the breast and the veins on the leaves . Also , challenging to get the right angle of the branches and perspective of the bird in relationship .
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The drawing forces you to really look at the details. I tried to get the correct scale. My drawing is probably too detailed for journalling, but I enjoyed doing it. The bird was challenging but you do see the beauty in the bird's feathers. It is interesting to see how the feet are gripping the branch.
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Your drawing is so beautiful !
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Rendering in pencil reminds me to be sure to note the colors of the features. A fun and challenging exercise! Anxious to try watercolor. Scrolling down I realized I will need to go back and include the branch and leaves like the others students.
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Connie, I think you are okay. The directive said to sketch this bird with no directions and that you will be asked to sketch it again at the end of the course using the techniques and skills you have acquired during the course. I like your sketch. I think everyone is on varying levels of skills. I understand your thoughts as was doing some thinking myself as to whether I needed to even be in this class judging by the expertise of others. Then I thought it is okay....I am here to learn at my own rate. Just have fun and enjoy each step of the way. You really captured the glint in its eye.
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Rendering in pencil reminds me to be sure to note the colors of the features. A fun and challenging exercise! Anxious to try watercolor. Scrolling down I realized I will need to go back and include the branch and leaves like the others students.
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I have lots to learn! I am overwhelmed how to capture the variations in color and shading on the branch. I definitely needed the photo to understand the variation in shading of the wings and the chestnut brown striations on the belly. I am really excited to see what I can learn from this course. I have no experience with art instruction and look forward to adding this as a goal of a new activity to connect with my natural surroundings.
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Drawing from a photo seems somewhat easy; you can look several times, find details (even if you don't include them!), etc. I wasn't perfect, but you can estimate distances (where the bird is on the branch, how far the leaves are) etc. It easy to miss things: the moss on and fungi (?) on the tree branch. Interestingly, I didn't draw those because I think I don't really know how! Haha! I haven't really done "nature journaling", but I have spent time with a not so spiffy camera, with a slow motor. It taught me to watch closely/look closely, but I still think I miss lots of details. This was a nice start. I look forward to what's coming.
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Drawing ANYTHING seemed like a real challenge! I found the head region the most difficult, and did not worry much about getting the leaves done accurately. After the initial sketch, I tried adding color with my brand new pencils. I liked the result, then looked at the others posted here. I have a lot to learn!
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I had the same feeling. "I have a lot to learn!" I love the soft look you achieved with the pencil strokes.
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I normally focus only on the bird itself, so adding the leaves was different and actually I think they are the best thing here.
I tend to try and capture the overall 'feel' rather than details so it's a bit naive in execution, maybe because I'm lazy or impatient.
I didn't quite get the bird right - in the photo he is angled toward the camera and in my picture he's more flat and 2D - capturing depth is something I want to be better at. I think this lacks personality because of that. Also the yellow really isn't right but I have a very limited palette of watercolours.
I did enjoy doing this though. And I love seeing other people's pictures.
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- I had to erase and redraw so many times and the proportions are still off. I find I have a hard time maintaining proportions, even when breaking images down into basic shapes.
- It was still fun and I enjoyed concentrating on something like this!
- I noticed the belly/chest bumps were more pronounced and segmented than I originally thought.
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I tried to use the technique from one of the journalists in the introductory videos that said to look at the hidden circles within the bird to complete this sketch. The difficulty was that I saw way too many circles and then triangles, rectangles, trapezoids and so on! I got lost in the shapes and finally just went with my gut. What was most frustrating was that I kept jumping around the page and then settled on completing the bird last and spent more time with detail. I got overwhelmed with the level of detail that everything required and didn’t want to invest the time required so I budgeted accordingly. I just wanted to get it done! Overall, I am impressed with my first attempt and am looking forward to the skills I’ll learn along the way in this course. I love sketching but feel I am horrific at painting and watercolor. I’m really hoping to learn some helpful tips for that, but am terrified at the thought of attempting them at the same time.
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I really like this. You got the shapes and proportions spot on and you captured the angle of the bird really well - so you really get that sense that he's looking at the camera like he is in the photo. Thanks for sharing!
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I felt absorbed and interested. The shape of the bird was not so difficult but the subtle shading took a lot of re-doing and checking. The shading, in fact, I might not have registered consciously at all if I hadn't been asked to draw it.
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Kathy kfoh57 here. Tried to add a comment with sketch, didn’t work. Was tricky getting started. Voice in my head said, you can’t do this, pursued anyway. Trying to keep it simple. Was a good lesson.
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I am totally new as well! Each time I sketch, I go from hopeful, to discouraged, to enjoying the process exploration, discovery, and greater understanding of the subject. It's that last leap that is hardest, and I have to make a conscious choice to make it! I hope I can continue to do so. The wildflowers in my yard are extraordinary. I feel the pressure to sketch each variety (and there are so many!) before they are gone. Beauty can be so transient.
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@Paula Paula. Why not stop and sketch your wildflowers while they are there. Wildflowers are nature and can add spark to your journal. You can apply your skills to the flowers. Anything you sketch is another step to sketching the bird you might want to sketch later. Your bird could be in a field of wildflowers or by a wildflower or two. The class is self paced and you can take as long as you want. I just read a Japanese proverb that said ,"Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid of standing still." I want it to last a long time and am pacing it out. I have sketched more things that are not for the class than I have for the class. It's Easter so many Easter sketches, a Carolina chickadee feeding its young on a tree branch, a lady sitting in a comfy chair, etc and yes, flowers, too. Just have fun with the class and back away when it is not fun or pleasure. Thanks for sharing your desire to sketch wildflowers and I hope you share a few with us.
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@Shir @Shir - Thank you! I am doing exactly that! I takes me a LONG time to even draw one blossom, but that is not reason not to try capture what I can, now and at my current skill level. I will have another year before I have THIS particular opportunity again. (Though I have plenty of photos should I choose to go that route.) I am both a bird-nerd and a food nerd and now I want to draw all my ingredients, too! For now I photograph them so they don't spoil awaiting my attention. Everything in the world is so interesting. It's a good "problem" to have. I'll try to attach a few food photos to show why ingredients capture my eye! This morning: "quick snap a mushroom photo before the butter melts in the pan!!"
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I enjoyed sketching this bird! It was a little challenging drawing the head! But I am surprised it turned out to my liking. I am a real beginner but looking forward to what I will learn in this course.😊
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The nice thing about sketching from a photo is that you have all the time you need. Creating texture in the branches was more difficult for me. Nothing about drawing is easy for me. I am a newbie at this, although I've attempted it from time to time over the years. As far as noticing details, being a lifelong birder has trained me to notice details. Making it happen on the page is another story altogether.
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I am trying to add my photo and will come back to this portion as soon as I get the image to load!I liked sketching from a photo as it gives me plenty of time to get the proportions right. I am a slow sketcher and that is my biggest challenge... I can achieve the results I am aiming for when I take it slow but am hoping to become faster and more proficient. Also, challenging for me are some watercolor techniques and I hope with more practice (I have been sketching and watercoloring since last June) I will get better at gauging the right amount of water to achieve certain looks. I am enjoying the process enormously and look forward to more exploration.
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Kathy, I like how you combined ink with the watercolor because you can illustrate finer details. Very pretty. I tried to do mine with all watercolor pencils. Not really sure how they should be used but I could not sharpen them and there were not enough suitable colors to blend to get the shades I wanted.
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I was reminded of an additional difference between photos vs. drawings today. Of course, it is more easy to create an exact replica of a subject with a camera than a sketch pad, but this is not always the best way to capture an experience. For example, when photographing the wildflowers in my yard today, I captured the flowers, but not the experience. While my mind focuses on the rich colors and wide variety of flowers, the camera can also capture an imbalanced background or poor lighting, for example. When I improve my sketching skills, I hope I will more easily capture the essence of my experiences.
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Couldn’t upload this with my post below - not sure why?
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I enjoyed drawing from the Warbler photo, though it was challenging. It’s so much easier to draw from a photo than drawing birds from real life, though, because the bird doesn’t move! I photograph birds all the time, but rarely keep up with my nature journaling, because it’s so much easier and quicker to use my camera. When drawing from a photo like this, I can spend a lot of time looking back and forth, checking details and proportions, erasing, and editing over and over, noticing so much more. I’d really like to become more intentional and committed to journaling in the field. I spend a lot of time outdoors in natural areas, mostly near marshes, ponds, and wetlands of all kinds, and worry that I’ll miss a good photo opportunity if I get “sidetracked” with my nature journal! But when I do take the time - and my sketchbook - I learn so much and SEE so much. I’m hoping this course will help me be more consistent about journaling.
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I am trying to add my photo and will come back to this portion as soon as I get the image to load! I liked sketching from a photo as it gives me plenty of time to get the proportions right. I am a slow sketcher and that is my biggest challenge... I can mostly achieve the results I am aiming for when I take it slow but am hoping to become faster and more proficient. Also, challenging for me are some watercolor techniques and I hope with more practice (I have been sketching and watercoloring since last June) I will get better at gauging the right amount of water to achieve certain looks. I am enjoying the process enormously and look forward to more exploration.
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Yes! I am slow, too! I have to allow myself MUCH more time than I think, otherwise I will get frustrated. I find myself wanting to go to my back yard and sketch a single flower as a 10 minute work break, but my skills are not up to that task at the moment. (This is all new for me.) But if I allow myself enough time, I can cross from hopeful, to discouraged, and back to enjoying the process of "understanding" whatever little wildflower is my target for the moment.
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First drawing of the class! I put most of my effort into the warbler and got lazy with its perch. I always tend to focus more on the bird than any other part of the scene. That's one of the things I want to move away from in my nature journaling. Even though I am curious about plants, other animals, and phenology I've never tried to document them with the same intention I put towards documenting birds. I found the foliage and details on the bark (the lichen, shading, and rough texture) to be the most difficult to draw. Those shapes and textures are so different from bird shapes and feather textures, so I never know how to really capture them. I liked drawing from a photo first to have time to take in all the details, but I want to get better at drawing quick sketches from short encounters that are more likely to happen in the field.
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I loved how it was a simple picture but still very engaging. The head and the beak were the most difficult. Drawing the bird Meade me see the details of its wings and see how dark it’s eyes were. Yes it makes a big dierencrematorium in nature journaling, its important to see the details.
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The advantage of photography is, with a good photo, you can see a great deal of detail of the item you focused on. This can be reviewed later. In the meantime, you’re focusing on light, settings, background blurr, composition, etc. You are in the moment with your piece of technology. Hopefully, you’ll catch the moment and then remember to look at the product someday and be thrilled. You can also catch a quick happenstance that, even if blurry, can provide essential information. The advantage of drawing is that you can focus on what is most important, though you won’t have the detail one can catch in a photograph. You can add portions of the background important to you, or write it beside the drawing, to include vital environmental factors, behaviour, sounds. Lighting is less important. You are engaged with your subject, rather than technology. It was helpful to work from the photo because it gave me time to get shape and catch important details. My issue came when I had “finished”; then I magnified the photo. “Oh, look how soft it is. Look at those little feather details.” Then I tried to adjust the drawing to include them, and I lost out. I had already included the vital bits and they got lost in the result. I would have been better to do a focus circle for some, and write text for others. If I hadn’t drawn the warbler, I wouldn’t have noticed the fine detail of the feathers, bill, the plumpness of the bird or how it grips the branch. I may not have noticed the blackened back, leg colour or the soft eye ring.
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It definitely helps having a still photo to reference to, with the different feather patterns. When nature journaling it will be helpful knowing the species you are journaling to grasp a better visual memory of your subject. Helpful tip: when you have a colored pencil that keeps breaking, place in the microwave for no more than 5 seconds to soften up the wax. :p
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I am not an experienced artist...I usually take photos. I find getting perspective and proportion especially difficult, and in particular with wildlife. I think if I can master this skill, drawing from a photo will allow more character to shine through, both for the subject and me ;-)
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I really enjoyed drawing and painting the Warbler from the photo! The beak and eye were difficult for me, though, and I had to erase and re-sketch that area quite a few times. Drawing the bird helped me notice the different colors of the feathers. I decided not to get too detailed with the background.
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Observations:
This took a lot longer than I expected! I did this over three sessions, stopping when I got "stuck," and picking it up again later.
Leaves = hard!
For me, the shape of the bird was more difficult than the shading.
I probably would not have noticed the interesting different types of lichen on the branch. I didn't spend a lot of time drawing them, but the act of sketching definitely made me more aware of them.
I find myself wanting to draw all the wildflowers in my yard.
I look forward to being able to add color. I love color!!
At some point you have to call it done, and move to the next lesson.
I will be learning more than sketching in this course. ;-) I was not far in before I realized I had to make a choice between enjoyment and discouragement. I chose enjoyment. I hope I can continue to do so!
(I'm had trouble uploading when using Firefox, even though my photo was a jpg and is only 136kb. I would say 100% uploaded, but then gave the error message. It worked on Chrome.)
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How will I ever draw from real life? That's what I'm currently wondering.
I enjoyed getting to see the details of the warbler's feet. I admired the still image because of the details.
Working with watercolors and drawing are new for me, so I can't wait to see how I progress as time goes on.
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It's a relief to concentrate on one thing for a moment! The photo helps render line in 2D, and so makes translation to a drawing a bit easier. I wouldn't have noticed the differing textures of feathers without drawing them--and they were a challenge to do. I struggle a bit with moving from color to black and white (I only used pencil) in terms of showing hue as value. My bird looks a little too round and happy; I don't think I got the sense of energy of the photograph.
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I am pretty comfortable drawing/painting from photos. Proportion is the hardest for me. I try measuring the image to find a mid point for both hieght and width to try to get my proportions right. It would be much harder to do with a live creature that may fly away.
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I was excited to draw the bird. It was hard to get the shape of his head right and the angle of his eye. I wouldn't have noticed all the lichen and mosses on the tree branch if I hadn't been asked to draw this, because the bird is so vibrant, so I can see this is a definite advantage to nature journaling.
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I felt nervous about drawing from the photo because the photo is so exact and I have never drawn a bird before. I have a little trouble with figuring out how to layer watercolor, so hoping this course will help me with that. The photo helped me notice where the secondary and primary feathers end, and the shading of the yellow that isn't just overall one color as you might see with a glance.
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Difficult capturing the details and depth. I noticed more Variance of color studying the bird.
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Getting the shape right was challenging. (I’m used to doodling where shapes appear and then are Developed). Watercolors got muddled I lost the beautiful yellow. Didn’t figure ou how to paint background. Yesterday never got foto to show up, get inserted. Will try again today
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Getting the shape right was challenging. (I’m used to doodling where shapes appear and then are Developed). Watercolors got muddled I lost the beautiful yellow. Didn’t figure ou how to paint background. Yesterday never got foto to show up, get inserted. Will try again today
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First a note to my fellow students who have replied. I am truly inspired to learn where you are and why you are taking the class. Thank you, all of you, for sharing your thoughts. It's so exciting to know we are from all over the world and sharing this connection. May you fare well in this surrealistic time.
It is very reassuring and inspiring to see everyone’s work!
I enjoyed drawing from the photo. I drew on 4 different days. First a sketch, next a background watercolor wash. Then I did two days of green and yellow. The original pencil helped with some grey tones on the shoulder and parts of the wings. The top photo is of the 2nd to the last painting day, while the bottom photo is my epiphany day.
I used the strategy of looking for geometric patterns of distribution on the whole photo, and parts of the bird and trees. I found though I started with overall shapes, I was identifying smaller and smaller shapes without end! I also had trouble judging the spatial relationships and proportions.
I did the first drawing on 3/28, and now it is 4/4. I realized I'm procrastinating about "completing" this assignment because the work is so "unfinished."
Then I had the revelation that my goal is to make progress towards learning more about sketching from nature and refining my sketching, coloring, and watercolor painting skills.
I also tried sketching some birds at my bird feeder, and realized that I need a lot of practice to hold an image in my memory long enough to sketch even a part of a bird because they move quickly, even at a bird feeder.
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I wouldn't have notices the brownish patches if I didn't have to draw it.
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I am impressed by your insights, and attention to detail. I too wanted to make sure I captured the lichen. Most of all I am hoping to achieve the accurate detail and the exacting proportionality you have achieved. Your work is inspiring. Thank you.
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My 6yo son is taking this class with me! He said the photo made him feel like he was outside. For him, the easy part of the drawing was the background and the challenging part was the bird because of the feathers and the tail. For me, drawing from the photo gave me a chance to really look at the Warbler instead of trying to draw it like I thought it should look. I felt the easiest part was trying to get the general shape of the bird, but the most challenging part was to shade the markings, especially tying to distinguish between the black and brown markings. I never would have really looked at how the bird’s feet were gripping the branch if I had not had a photo to look at. Out in nature, I am sure I would never have noticed small details, as there just wouldn’t be the time.
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Hi Jeanie, I am happy to hear about your six year old trying his hand at this bird sketch. I love children's art work and how they see and represent what they see. In teaching young children, I always tell them I love children's art work and that if I wanted perfect I would have just given them a color sheet. Keep encouraging his creativity and not comparing to perfection. Tell him I loved his bird. A note about photos in comparison to the real bird luckily this is a wonderful photo but not all photos capture the details. Seeing the bird and an intense close-up photo almost lets you feel it, the fineness and softness of the feathers, the wrinkles in the feet, the detail of the eye circle, etc. A bird really is not all smooth like in a photo. Would be great to look at a real bird as a model but a good photo is next best for sure. If you don't have it already consider putting a bird feeder fairly close to a nice window - not so close that the squirrels can jump on it from the roof and be sure to baffle it so the birds can enjoy it peacefully. That way your son will get to see birds very close up. Happy sketching and birding to your son.
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I too was so pleased to see that you are taking the class with your 6yo. What a fantastic time to share with him. His work shows he sees the overall geometry of the bird, branches, and background. I am learning from your drawing too. It seems spare, but captures the bird perfectly! Thank you both!
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I can't seem to upload my photo, but I really enjoyed the process and didn't expect to this early on in the course. The videos of different types of nature jourals helped because it really implied that there are no rights or wrongs. I love slowing down and noticing, being more mindful because not only is the process more appealing and meditative, but I learned so much more about the bird than I would looking at a photo including angles body and head, details like the rust streaks on the breast or the delicate foot and positioning.
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This was challenging, but I enjoyed it. The leaves were harder than the bird. Maybe when I color it in it will help with the details. I would not have looked at the lichen so closely if it were not a photo.
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An interesting start. Working from a photo gives the luxury of time that I doubt we would have in the field! Good practice, all the same.
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Hi Sarah, Your attention to detail is amazing here! And, you've reminded me that I wanted to keep notes in the journal! Thank you!
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I had problems with finding image to paint and then to submit. . too frustrating. Turned out too muddy. Inspired me to try another and don’t see the one 8 “submitted. It was too big. Will try again. Tried 4 times doesn’t work big or small. Disappointed
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Hi Anna, I too had problems inserting my image. It took me 12 times to do it! I tried so many different ways, and finally enlisted my husband who saved it as a jpg, sent it to me in an email. I then downloaded it to my computer, and uploaded it from there. Still, I want to say that stopping when you are frustrated is a good thing to do. I was about to do the same when I lucked out in sending it. You've shared your experience, and I'm sure others will be encouraged to start again. I know I will. I'd rather spend the time drawing than wrestling with technology!!! Don't be disappointed, you learned many things, and I learned from you to cut my losses sooner!
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I’m glad my first drawing was from a photo; it gave me plenty of time to study details. It was ‘easy’ to put my pencil on the paper to draw but challenging to make accurate lines, to get dimensions correct and to shade in the various density of color. I wasn’t sure just how much time to spend on refining my drawing. I noticed small details such as lichen, leaf ribbing and the slight turn in the warbler’s head. It’s very unlikely I would notice these things when nature journaling vs. drawing from a photo.
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1. I felt unqualified to start drawing without any training, but as I began I realized I have more skills in my tool belt already than I realized. It was easy to get the general shape of the bird, but the details were more challenging for me. I tried to upload a photo but it was too big. Also the main challenge was learning how to manipulate and correctly use the watercolor pen. I'm going to watch a few youtube tutorials (or maybe it's covered in the next classes?) to learn. 2. I don't think I would have noticed all of the dark colors and the crisp lines especially in the beak, eye, and wing. I think that when you pay attention, that's when you notice the true details.
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Nothing came 'easy', as I was suddenly overcomed with a sense of 'this's stupid, I can't draw'. But in a few seconds this sensation dissipated, and I realised I was quite enjoying just paying attention to the details. Photos can take instant recordings of details, but it takes a sketching eye to pay attention to those. Looking forward to the next moments of flow!
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I like the vibrancy of the photograph (this one in particular!) and the fact that I can zoom in on the photo if I need to look at more of the details. Drawing from a photo is a great way for me to look at these details in a way that I would not normally do when I see a bird. It will be interesting to see how sketching from a photo will help when we are in the field with a moving "target". I enjoyed just being in the moment with this exercise, thinking of nothing but sketching the bird.
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HI Lauren, Somehow your sketch captures a lifelike quality. The warbler seems to be pondering the viewer! I am so taken with him (or her).
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Very challenging for a first assignment and I think that I drew a goldfinch instead of a yellow warbler!
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My late night try at the little yellow warbler. I wrote my comments on my sketch page actually. Thanks for the opportunity to share.
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I am charmed by this sketch. Did you use a drawing pen? Thank you for sharing it!
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@Cynthia Thanks, Cynthia, I did use a black pen the type I sketch with - Precision V5 RT Extra Fine 0.5mm Black - I love this pen. Thank you for commenting and inquiring.
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1. I am okay with my drawing, but think there is lots of room for improvement. The proportions and details of the wings took a few tries to get right, and I still have no idea what to do with the feet. 2. I definitely would not have noticed the subtle patterns on the bird's back feathers, or the texture of the leaves surrounding the bird.
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I love your drawing Charlotte! Somehow you've captured its essence without overdoing details.
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i enjoyed drawing from the photo - the bird didn't move or fly away! I noticed the birds feet and long claws. Those are important details that indicate what action the bird might do in the next instant.
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I found it daunting at first but then enjoyed it. The bird was easier than the leaves. I wouldn't have noticed the layering of the wing feathers or the fact that some of the leaves had been partially eaten. Yes, drawing definitely made me more observant.
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My drawing is medicore. It was easy to make a quick sketch but adding details were difficult. Also, difficulty in adding depth. I noticed more details of the bird and foliage.
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I really enjoyed this activity. I am learning from home because the schools have closed and this will be my art project. It was challenging to do it with no instructions. I can’t wait to get outside and start drawing.
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Midnight Star, I love your bird drawing and neat notes all around. I did do that for my morning note but did not upload that but filled the page. Neat journal page with great research info. Thanks for sharing.
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I've always felt like I have no drawing ability whatsoever but this first attempt did not come out as dreadful as anticipated! I'm keen to see how my (lack of) skills progress during the course. 1. I'm glad we were drawing from a photo so I could keep referring back. My eraser got a workout! The general shape was easier than trying to get the shading and details added in. I need to find some watercolor paints. 2. I've seen yellow warblers many times but don't know that I've noticed all the subtle color variations. also, the structure of the claws as they wrapped around the branch was really interesting.
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I like it, I have never seen a yellow warbler in real time just pictures. I do have a beautiful yellow rump warbler and a pine warbler that visit my feeder especially in the winter. Once I was birding with a lady that knew her birds by sound and she heard the Prothonotary Warbler. It looks very much like the yellow warbler in ways. Pronounced pro·ton·o·tar·y. I was able to get a photo even through the leaves. It's not a great photo but was exciting to get a photo of a new bird. It was taken on April 19, 2015 so perhaps we might see one soon.
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This was a really fun exercise, and I can't wait to learn techniques and tricks to make my drawings come to life. My main take-away was that it's going to be much more challenging to draw a creature as when we see it in nature, because I had to refer back to the photo dozens and dozens of times to try to get it right!
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I felt that I could have done better, but I can't be absolutely perfect. Though I'm still satisfied with how I did. Figuring out the shape of the bird came along quite well, but the details on the bird, on the wing, especially, were quite difficult, and I would like to improve in that area. If I hadn't drawn this photo, I wouldn't have noticed all of the colors that this Yellow Warbler really had. Still, this was a very fun activity.
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It was very difficult to get the shape just right. Oh and the beak is terrible. I hope I improve. I used some colored pencils but am looking forward to using water colors. More and more subtle colors are needed. I could see the details but just couldn't duplicate them. However, I have to say I liked the challenge.
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The most difficult part of this exercise for me was getting the proportions right. Drawing it made me focus on the layers of feathers which I hadn't really analyzed before. I would like to be able to show the different kinds of textures on the bird - soft, fluffy, sharp, shiny etc. but I have no idea how to do that. This type of exercise makes me slow down and look at details in a way I don't do when I'm taking photos.
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This was a fun challenge because I haven’t made a sketch in many years! I don’t think any of it came easily...except maybe drawing the leaves. All the proportions of the warbler were challenging to me, and I’m not so pleased with the head/ bill. Also, I have not used this type of pencil before, so discovered how easily the lead is smeared when adding color. 2. I would not have noticed the subtle lighting on his eye and bill if I hadn’t been asked to draw it..nor would I have noticed the soft feathering on his belly. Such a sweet little bird. I don’t know that this would make a big difference in nature journal, since I am trying to capture a memory. However, the details are most helpful when trying to make identifications.
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I really enjoyed drawing this yellow warbler. Drawing a bird really opens up a whole new experience and perception of them. You really start noticing things like texture, posture, expression, identification features you may not have noticed before as well as the surrounding foliage. You may never notice these things to the same extent if you just take a photograph. This definitely gives drawing in the field an advantage for noticing and appreciating what you are seeing in front of you. A picture does have the advantage of exact proportion and colouring. I found getting the textures right while doing this drawing challenging; such as the soft feathers on the upper back of the bird and by the birds legs as well as the twig it stands on.
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Lovely sketch Tallula. Were these charcoal pencils or graphite?
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1. Woof. I probably shouldn't have looked at other drawings before responding. My anxiety about drawing really came out. By comparison, I feel a bit like a toddler and I've never used watercolors before so I just stuck with the pencil. I'm a big advocate of the "drawing to see" method in ethnography but I also recognize that drawing is not easy, especially for adults who have never drawn before. Nothing came easily but I do feel like I thought about the photograph more than I normally would, simply by having to draw it. The feet...the feet were so challenging for me. And proportions too, I guess? I was trying to think about how this drawing might work if I was standing, where I normally birdwatch; just a quick sketch in the corner of my journal. 2. Definitely the sharp, perfectly round and glassy eye. Watching Liz a second time really helped...happy to share because, well, maybe it'll be a glow up warbler.
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This is so challenging! I'm pleased that my Yellow Warbler is at least recognizable and that I'm actually willing to share it. It took me forever and this is my 1st attempt at using watercolors. I'm not sure it would be recognizable without the yellow (and oops splotchy red breast streaks). I'm a pretty serious birder and have been birding off and on all my life and love iPhone photography - for birds through my spotting scope, but I'm hoping to find more time to slow down, be still, and be more observant of behavior and details; partly with a goal to become an even better birder. This is the perfect course for coronavirus isolation, though getting out in nature is a bit more challenging. I probably wouldn't have noticed the leg color and details of bill size and shape if I weren't drawing this. I love Yellow Warblers and have spent a lot of time in willow thickets in the Sierra with dozens of them during breeding season while my husband was flyfishing.
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Easy : ( adavantage with photo) no movement , and I can take my time
but , no context, no memory associate
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I like drawing from a photo as the picture doesn’t move and you can go back and make corrections when you see something you hadn’t noticed earlier. I didn’t use any color on this drawing which I probably should have done as I see by the work of the other artists. I did this drawing last Oct. 10, 2019 at 7 :45pm.
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I wasn't entirely happy with how this turned out, found it hard to get the proportions right and spent too much time fiddling with it. Found it difficult to get the angle of the beak right and the positioning of the legs - details that I probably would not have observed so closely had I not been trying to draw it.
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I was nervous about it at first, but once I got going I got more comfortable. I photograph the birds in my backyard a lot. What noticed about drawing/painting is paying more attention to small details. But of course the advantage to photography is it is quick. My goldfinches would be long gone by the time I drew them!
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I love the color and how delicate the bird looks. 🤗
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I love this!
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My proportions were a bit off - I made him a bit slimmer than he actually is, but it was fun to get back into drawing. I found the ability to see small details for a long time was great, but it would also be nice to incorporate notes about behavior, interactions, etc. It was also great to notice the leaves, and the different color variations of the bird.
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My sketch came out better than I expected, I'm happy with it and it'll b interesting to see what it will be like later. Easier part of the sketch for me was filling in the sketch/shading of the bird, the hard part was getting an outline with proportions! Details of the wings are hard as well. I probably wouldn't have paid much attention to the birds feet/nails in such detail and definitely wouldn't have noticed the type of leaves or the lichen on the branches. I think noticing the little details can make a difference in nature journaling as it's these details that can give you a better idea of the subject you're looking at and its behaviors. Any additional details gives more information to the big picture.
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The color matching was difficult. I noticed movement more through drawing.
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1. I got this new paint and brush set and I’m still getting used to it. I overloaded my brush a few times and got my sleeve in some paint so there are some splotches. 2. I think I had to look a lot more carefully at the colors in order to paint it.
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I, too have the watercolor packet that you have in your picture. I find it very portable for day trips. Your color matches look good!
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1. Working with watercolor is hard for me. I always end up using too much water and my colors all bleed together.
2. Because I was trying to draw it, I counted the number of black and yellow stripes in the wing, the softness of the feathers around the shoulder, and the curve of the fingers around the claw. I didn't capture all of those details accurately, but I looked at it much more closely than I would have otherwise.
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1. I felt terrified. Where do you start! I was also worried it would not turn out well and I would lose confidence in my abilities. Reflecting afterwards – I am my own worst critic, it turned out better than I thought it would. I am still nervous to post it, but thats why we are all here right! Overall I am excited to see what I improve on when this course is finished. The body outline seemed easy. I enjoyed the lichen patterns too. I felt the texture of the feathers where hard to capture. 2.I really tried to pay attention to what feathers where black vs yellow in the wings. I was thoughtful on my lichen, trying to distinguish the different types. I think in journaling in real life it will be hard to capture all the colors, patterns, and details of the bird. Warblers are not in one spot for very long! I will have to learn to take a good look and try to remember as much as can.
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I felt not very confident going in to this, but the results turned out pretty well, although I am more accustomed to drawing larger birds. A detail that I Would have missed would most likely be the feather detail. This would make a big difference.
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I love drawing from photos because you can take as long as you want! I had a little trouble getting the body shape right at first, but once I got it filling in the details was fairly easy. I don't think I would have noticed that some of the leaves have bug bites in them if I had not taken the time to draw it. 
I felt very comfortable drawing from the photo as this the predominant way I practice drawing. I find capturing the basic shape and position to be fairly easy, but am more challenged by creating shading, dimension and details without feeling like the drawing becomes over-worked. If I hadn't drawn the photo I would not have noticed the layers and sections of feathers in as much detail, nor would I have noticed the array of lichen present on the twig. If one of the purposes of nature journaling is to understand the subject more deeply, then drawing the subject is a way to be focus to details that would other wise be looked over. 
Definitely a fun exercise!I can see how spending more time with a photo can yield greater detail; real-life, maybe not so much given how long the subject stays still :) 
Drawing from a photo is easier in some respects because the bird stays still and you can take your time looking at details. It is more difficult to see how it behaves and see what the margins of the wings were colored. Proportions are difficult for me. I was interrupted when I started the drawing and when I went back I tried to correct them. Still not happy but not bad for the first time. I am enjoying that sketching slows you down and gives you an opportunity to really notice small details. Photos catch everything all at once but I generally don't spend as much time really looking at them. 
Drawing from a photo was good because the subject didn't move. I could take as long as needed to get the details right. The easiest parts were the items that were in the foreground and were seen head-on or in profile; flat leaves and even the bird itself. I find the items that are at an angle, like bend leaves and things that show different sides, like the bird's little talons, a bit more challenging.
Even though I watch birds all the time, I noticed the various wing feathers more than I might in real life. Yes, it may make a difference; I might annotate the drawing if I noticed them. 
So, this entire piece was challenging. I was able to block out the branches ok but my proportions were way off. Next time I would do this landscape style. I kind of gave up on the colored pencils after a bit. They made everything muddy and I struggled with details with them. I don’t think I am going to use them for awhile. The leaves and branches were easier to draw but the bird not so much. The legs are the best feature. Drawing from a static image was good because I could zoom in, but it was inside and I wasn’t relaxed at all. Photos maybe good for filling in tiny details later, I think. I am not sure I would have seen the darker and lighter shades in the bird coloring out in the field. 
I noticed leaf shadow and veining and where bugs had eaten lea leaf. I noticed flatness and roundness of the bird but did'nt capture it quite enough. I draw and paint a lot from photos and try to notice all details. I enjoy this game. How can we do that in nature? light shifts, things move away, plus...I'm too far away to see any details. Am I getting ahead of us? 
. I am looking forward to learning how to capture a moving subject in some way that not only looks like the subject but catches something about the movement. 
I found myself anxious to get every detail right right off the bat. As I kept drawing it was easier to relax and enjoy the process. I enjoyed drawing his little feet and legs a lot. I would not have noticed the details in the leaves and branches, the wispy little underbelly feathers, or the way his beak looks just like a little black oil sunflower seed. 
I liked the suggestion posted about adding labels.. I also added another little section for myself with questions I have.. ie..”how do I add shape and dimension to leaves...how do I get them to look folded?” 
2. I spent more time looking at textures and how things were put together.
Intended to draw electronically - with a new tool and a new technique. Came out better than expected, but still a long way to go. 
I felt very intimidated, so I started with drawing the branch/leaves. I noticed the shapes/textures of one leaf, the bark and the branch. The warbler is so vivid and dynamic in the photo. As I was drawing, I gained some confidence by focusing on the branch. The most challenging thing is actually posting my sketch! 
I looked forward to this evening's warbler foibles... say that 10 times fast! Sketching and painting is the perfect end to a busy day. A full hour of figuring out how my watercolour pencils work. The first bird I've ever done... and I'm a bit surprised at myself... it looks like a warbler! It isn't a Robert Bateman, but I kind of like its amateur folksy quality. There was a lot I wouldn't have noticed without trying to draw it. The nails, the angle of the legs, the ruddy streaks on the breast. I think the attention to detail is wonderfully meditative and it will impact my journalling for the better. It also makes vice-presidential debates much more palatable to listen to... regardless of which side you're rooting for. 
Getting the proportions right was most difficult. I would not have noticed the black in the wing feathers and the brown on the bird's belly if I hadn't paid such great attention to it trying to capture it. I kept thinking that I probably would not have noticed any of this either, had the bird been sitting on a twig near me, about to fly off any second. 
Drawing from the photo seemed easier at first. I tried to use the circle/ egg shape suggestion from the earlier video. I like the result, although my bird looks a bit fatter! The beak is quite difficult! If I wasn't asked to draw, I probably wouldn't have noticed it in detail. Drawing makes me look at things in another way; a better way; and it makes me want to stay "there", drawing and drawing... 
I'm most comfortable drawing with just pencil, but I am going to try and challenge myself to add more colours to my work. To draw this, I started by drawing the negative space between the warbler and the branches it's perched on. I tried starting with the eye at first but my proportions seems really off. This other approach helped me and trained my eye-hand coordination, which needs more practice too. This was a fun exercise, but I am a slow drawer so doing moving animals is a bit daunting... though, I am excited to give it a try and practice more to improve! I love bird watching and identifying plants so this course will definitely be worthwhile! 
I enjoyed drawing this bird and felt like it was a reasonable assignment due to it's common "bird shape." Having said that, starting is always the challenge for me and drawing the overall shape was a challenge. I feel like the colors were the easy part. I debated on whether or not to draw the tree branches, but I decided against it. I think it was easier to draw because it wasn't moving. Which is why I tend to draw flowers more! I have a hard enough time identifying birds as it is~ 
It was easy to get lost in the detail and miss the overall shape.
Nice to notice the many layers and different angles of the wings. Thanks to the bird for HOLDING STILL. 😇 
How did you feel about drawing from the photo? I prefer to be outside verse at my computer. (I teach online due to covid, and spend too much time on my chromebook! )
What came easily and what was challenging? I feel more confident in plants than birds, I think the dark black lines draw you into this sketch.I could not figure the correct shape or size for the head of this bird.
Was there anything in the photo that you might not have noticed if you weren’t asked to draw it? Would this make a difference when nature journaling? I really began to look at where the tail wad located and the shape of the break. I also began to notice the colors and lichen on the tree branch. The shades of yellow on the bird's feathers.
I enjoyed drawing from the photo, since I could focus on details without having to rely on my memory or worrying about the bird flying off. The easiest was approximating the general shape of the warbler. The more challenging aspects were reproducing the relative orientations of the different parts of the anatomy: head angle, leg placement, layering of wing feathers, and eye size direction of gaze. My color and color distribution was off as well. There were so many details I would have missed, if I had not attempted to draw the warbler, not that I was able to reproduce them in my drawing. I do think that including sketches in my nature journals would improve them a lot. 
It was difficult to decide where to begin. I chose the branch. The feet were surprisingly easier than I thought and the part that seemed easy at a glance proved elusive. I could not get the head shape right from my eyes to the paper. The proportion fell short and while quick sketching I don’t erase so he has more of a dove shape. In the wild I’m certain to have missed the claws just so on the branch and those burnished streaks on the throat as individual marks. Looking forward to instruction on proportion and pencil techniques. 
Hello all,
the warbler was a very nice starter project. I enjoyed studying the colorful feathers and their different yellow tones. This drawing was done by color pencil on watercolor paper. In future I want to use watercolor as my previous colors.
I love all the different warblers here in this community. It is always great to be surounded by other nature-addicted artists. Looking forward to more! 
2. I hadn't appreciated the diversity in feathering until I focussed on the photo to draw it. I hope with journalling and this course I will learn to focus and see/appreciate things in a new way. 
n nature journaling I want to train my eye to notice what is actually there, instead of what I assume might be there. 
I really enjoyed the entire process because it made me pay close attention to the moss, the shape of the head, the beak. The feet and expression of the bird came easily, whereas the sticks, feathers, and leaves were more challenging--probably because they required some very minute details, and I was more interested in the birds head and feet. All of this would be so useful with field journaling because it is what I pay attention to when it comes to nature--the utility of the claws around the branch, the form of the beak for pecking, etc. 
drawing this bird from a photo was interesting because of the Possebility to look closely at each little detail. Drawing the legs was most challenging because you have to find out where exactly they are bound to the body. And it makes me curious to birds anatomy.
Drawing this bird brought up a memory: Last year, I rented an old gas station in rural Utah to use as an art studio. I bought a small kiln for firing ceramic sculptures and set it up on the concrete floor of the main room, where they once sold candy bars and heat-radiated hot dogs. Since kiln firing took between 12-14 hours, I had a habit of loading it up at night and then camping behind the building in the back of my truck. One of those mornings, waking up at dawn to the sound of the neighbors letting out their horses, I went inside to check on the status of the kiln. It had completed the firing cycle, but still needed time to cool down prior to unloading. I decided to take the opportunity to stroll down to the trucker cafe for some watery coffee and a breakfast burrito. On my way back, I came upon an unmoving yellow bird laying on the sidewalk. It was still alive, so I cradled it to my chest and brought it back to the gas station, where I called my birder sister for advice. We identified the bird as a yellow warbler. She told me that it was possibly in shock, and the best thing to do would be to keep it warm and hope for a revival. Luckily, the lid of the kiln was the perfect temperature for bringing birds back to life, or so I hoped. I made a small bed out of plastic tupperware and an old shirt, and snuggled my unresponsive patient into the recovery room atop the kiln. I spent the next hour in a state of worry, periodically peeking in at this sweet and brilliantly-colored new friend. In time, the bird righted itself into a sitting position and began to blink. When it seemed ready, I brought it outside for release. It seemed as though the bird sat perched on my finger for a long time before suddenly taking flight to an elm tree. Sweet sweet sweet she's so sweet, I thought. May she be singing today.
disfrute dibujar utilizando esta foto- pero se que sin movimiento es mas facil. Nunce he podido dubjuar ni pintar los aves en vivo porque muevan tanto- hasta lo deje intentar. Fue facil capturar la forma del cuerpo, pero los detalles mas finos como de la rama, o como dejar espacio blanco tambien fue mas dificil. 
I used to draw as a child and now that I am in quarantine I tried to pick back up the habit. At first I was scared because of the time that I haven't draw and that I never draw "real" stuff, just animated. For me the most challenging part was drawing the details and getting the proportions right but drawing the bird as a whole was fun. If I wasn't asked to draw it I would have never noticed the wing proportions; this might help for nature journaling just to get the details right for differentiating species. 
Getting started with drawing from a picture is a great way to get started. Understanding how to draw the different textures was very difficult. Nature journaling will allow me to observer greater detail that I have not noticed previously. 
The beak was challenging for me. I think I really notice the proportions when I have to draw something. I think that is the advantage of drawing for a nature journal, you are forced to look at all of the details 
I was able to take my time so I guess it felt easier than nature journalism. The texture was less challenging than what I thought but the form was challenging. I would´t have noticed the different levels of the wings or the subtle orange stripes in the body. Yes, I think it must be quite different To catch details and poses in live movement, 
It is much easier to draw from a photo. It gives me time to notice lots of details and work to make my drawing more accurate. The more details I add to my drawing, the more I learn about the subject and the better I remember the experience. 
While drawing I realized that I do not know bird anatomy very well so I was drawing what I saw without understanding what it was or how it works, this can be a + or - to the overall picture. Drawing from a photo is easy tho I am very rusty. I did use my eraser a few times. I liked the talons wrapping around the branch and want to draw these again in close-up. Pixel, my rat terrier, is glad that I'm done drawing so my lap is available. 
Here is my Warbler drawing. Sorry that it's not very clear, my computer camera isn't very good. 
Drawing from a photograph is fine - it allows me to take my time drawing, however, it feels like “flat”; a 2D image is being copied. It is good if i cant stay outside for long due to the weather conditions. The joy of observing is not there though.
I noticed the texture of the Podotheca as well as the form of the beak. Noticing the details is very important in nature journaling; it us part of sensing the bird being watched. It is of importance to point that observing bird’s behaviours for a while is enriching our visual memory. So that when we sketch it from a photograph -even if the photo is a bit blurred due to its fast movement- we will still be able to draw it accurately.
After uploading the image, i noticed that I forgot to add the name & information of the bird ^_^; 
![IMG_1062[11213]](https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/706137/vfmr4kz3j0ixbi67d7orz464taywrjdr.jpg)
Since I have been paying attention to the warblers and the parts of songbirds recently I feel it came a little easier to figure out the details of the feathers.
2. There are several things I might not have noticed from the photo if I didn't draw it:
Not bad for my first attempt at drawing in several years. Even after several rounds with the eraser I still didn't get the shape quite right, but it's definitely recognizable as a bird, and maybe even as a yellow warbler. Drawing from the photo gave me an opportunity to see all the features and identify which bits were shadow and which were actual markings, and I don't think my observations would have been nearly as detailed if I weren't drawing. Obviously birds in the wild generally aren't going to sit still for this kind of observation, but I think practicing this kind of drawing from photos might train me to see those kinds of details more quickly when I'm looking at a moving target. 
This was a fun exercise.....and I took my time to try to capture proportion and some detail. It will be fun to compare at the end of the course. The photo was beautiful to work from, plus you have the luxury of time. Drawing live in nature will definitely be more of a challenge (: 
This turned out much better that I expected! The hardest part was getting started, but once I did it was sketch-erase-sketch-erase-sketch and I enjoyed it. Knowing when to stop is also hard, but since I was working on it while my baby slept, he helped me break away when he woke up. ;)
Working from such a high quality photo was good for studying proportions and detail. I will probably download some more pictures like this from the Mckauly library so practice on days when we can get outside! 
I was surprised and pleased at the end, though I think I went through more eraser than pencil during the process. There's lots more observation when you draw. I think of photographs as a memento -- something captured rather than reproduced. 
When I began to draw the warbler, I realized how difficult it was. I thought it would be easy. I didn’t know where to start. Should I start drawing the bird first or branches first? As I began to draw, I started to notice the brownish fine lines on the breast, black on the edge of wings and the posture. As I nature journal, I believe details will make a difference. 
to get an ID. 
I 
1. I feel much more comfortable drawing from a photo because my subject won’t move & I don’t feel like I have to rush. The drawing layout (composition) is set, I have a reference to look back at, which comes easy. My challenging part is size-perspective & drawing the fine details of feathers and textures, to give a 3-D look instead of the flat 2-D drawing.
2. Maybe the moss & lichen on the branches. 
It took a lot of erasing and about 1 1/2 hrs, but I enjoyed the process. I’m just now posting this! Some of you folks are already amazing! 
Drawings have an advantage over photos because the camera can only capture when the device's lens is told to get, which can be blurry or miss part of the whole picture, while when drawing you can take longer to capture as much detail as possible, go back and correct mistakes and improve upon it.
Photos have an advantage over photos of being able to capture a moment for later reference and do so much quicker then drawing that moment, which you might miss some action with your head down at a sketchpad instead of up with your eye looking through a lens.
1- It was ok drawing from the photo. The general shape and appearance of the bird was fine, but trying to get feathers to look lifelike and faces and heads the right proportions are always difficult for me.
2- I don't think there was anything in the photo that I didn't notice if I wasn't going to draw it and at this time I don't know if that would make a difference when nature journaling.
That was fun! I look forward to seeing how it'll change as I work through the course. Basically, I was just drawing what I see for this. 
Love the fact that the bird stays still - you can take your time and try to capture how it really looks. It was fairly easy to get the basic body shape, but capturing the angles of the legs was hard. It's also difficult to "suggest" the feathers without drawing too much detail and muddying the picture. I noticed the complexity of the little guy's feet and how they grasped the branch. Not sure I'd notice the feet when out in the wild, but overall drawing draws you into what you're seeing so much more than just looking or trying to photograph. (pun not intended.... ;) 
I found it started looking like a zombie or otherwise frightening bird pretty quickly. It's the eyes. I also got lazy about the plumage and wings, and it probably would have been better to just suggest more. My son, who is six, said "head is same, wings kinda same... body is not same." 
My initial drawing was good, and then I put it down for a day or two, and came back to it later to color it in. I had initially meant to do it with watercolors, but I don't have good paper for that at the moment, so I used a regular sketch book and then I decided to color it with colored pencils. So then, rather than simply coloring in my drawing of the bird, I had to locate all of my colored pencils and make sure all the sets were complete and arrange them correctly by color and number and then sharpen all the ones that weren't sharp...
Five hours later...
I clearly have a procrastination issue. During that process I decided to use watercolor pencils for a compromise. I think it came out ok, but I will use better paper next time.
I take too long to do a drawing to be able to draw something like a bird before it flies away...I think I may consider taking photos of things like birds and other things that might run off while I'm outside wandering around and making drawings of them later, and draw things like plants and rocks that stay put in person.
I had a lot of fun drawing this picture! I hadn't done watercolors for a long time and I never thought I was very good in it to begin with. But all the videos from the previous step of the course gave me motivation to try anyway.
Drawing the tree branch was surprizingly easy, I had a lot of fun trying to capture the texture. The bird was harder, I still don't have a full grasp of bird anathomy :) If I wasn't asked to draw the picture, I don't think I would have noticed all the colors of the tree branch. I was surprised that I defaulted to "trees are brown" and didn't even think about it. Noticing the real colors behind things will be really useful from now on!
Photos are much faster. Drawings let you see way more detail. I don't think I would have noticed the dark edges on the wing feathers if I didn't draw it. I was looking for details to put in the drawing. Also, once I started, the drawing drew me in. I found getting the proportions within the picture somewhat challenging. 
It's a challenge for me to take the time to observe, sketch, come back and observe again. By drawing, I took more time to see the picture, beyond the beautiful colors. Still waiting for my own watercolors/sketch pad to be delivered, so just pencil for now. 
![IMG_0291[1300]](https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/695226/50ism7qfnyh2ltkxj9ys1qlaude1qnn0.jpg)
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Forgot to insert my image. 
I'm glad the course has us dive in right away and get to drawing. I couldn't quite get the tilt of the bird's head but I like drawing from photos and focused hard on not being too precious with it. I don't think I would have noticed the difference in the wing feathers as much. I also never noticed how much black striping there is on the wings, despite having photographed Yellow Warblers several times before. 
I normally focus only on the bird itself, so adding the leaves was different and actually I think they are the best thing here.
I tend to try and capture the overall 'feel' rather than details so it's a bit naive in execution, maybe because I'm lazy or impatient.
I didn't quite get the bird right - in the photo he is angled toward the camera and in my picture he's more flat and 2D - capturing depth is something I want to be better at. I think this lacks personality because of that. Also the yellow really isn't right but I have a very limited palette of watercolours.
I did enjoy doing this though. And I love seeing other people's pictures. 
I had to erase and redraw so many times and the proportions are still off. I find I have a hard time maintaining proportions, even when breaking images down into basic shapes.
I tried to use the technique from one of the journalists in the introductory videos that said to look at the hidden circles within the bird to complete this sketch. The difficulty was that I saw way too many circles and then triangles, rectangles, trapezoids and so on! I got lost in the shapes and finally just went with my gut. What was most frustrating was that I kept jumping around the page and then settled on completing the bird last and spent more time with detail. I got overwhelmed with the level of detail that everything required and didn’t want to invest the time required so I budgeted accordingly. I just wanted to get it done! Overall, I am impressed with my first attempt and am looking forward to the skills I’ll learn along the way in this course. I love sketching but feel I am horrific at painting and watercolor. I’m really hoping to learn some helpful tips for that, but am terrified at the thought of attempting them at the same time. 
The nice thing about sketching from a photo is that you have all the time you need. Creating texture in the branches was more difficult for me. Nothing about drawing is easy for me. I am a newbie at this, although I've attempted it from time to time over the years. As far as noticing details, being a lifelong birder has trained me to notice details. Making it happen on the page is another story altogether. 
I liked sketching from a photo as it gives me plenty of time to get the proportions right. I am a slow sketcher and that is my biggest challenge... I can achieve the results I am aiming for when I take it slow but am hoping to become faster and more proficient. Also, challenging for me are some watercolor techniques and I hope with more practice (I have been sketching and watercoloring since last June) I will get better at gauging the right amount of water to achieve certain looks. I am enjoying the process enormously and look forward to more exploration. 
I really enjoyed drawing and painting the Warbler from the photo! The beak and eye were difficult for me, though, and I had to erase and re-sketch that area quite a few times. Drawing the bird helped me notice the different colors of the feathers. I decided not to get too detailed with the background. 
Observations:
This took a lot longer than I expected! I did this over three sessions, stopping when I got "stuck," and picking it up again later.
Leaves = hard!
For me, the shape of the bird was more difficult than the shading.
I probably would not have noticed the interesting different types of lichen on the branch. I didn't spend a lot of time drawing them, but the act of sketching definitely made me more aware of them.
I find myself wanting to draw all the wildflowers in my yard.
I look forward to being able to add color. I love color!!
At some point you have to call it done, and move to the next lesson.
I will be learning more than sketching in this course. ;-) I was not far in before I realized I had to make a choice between enjoyment and discouragement. I chose enjoyment. I hope I can continue to do so!
(I'm had trouble uploading when using Firefox, even though my photo was a jpg and is only 136kb. I would say 100% uploaded, but then gave the error message. It worked on Chrome.) 
How will I ever draw from real life? That's what I'm currently wondering.
I enjoyed getting to see the details of the warbler's feet. I admired the still image because of the details.
Working with watercolors and drawing are new for me, so I can't wait to see how I progress as time goes on. 
I was excited to draw the bird. It was hard to get the shape of his head right and the angle of his eye. I wouldn't have noticed all the lichen and mosses on the tree branch if I hadn't been asked to draw this, because the bird is so vibrant, so I can see this is a definite advantage to nature journaling. 
First a note to my fellow students who have replied. I am truly inspired to learn where you are and why you are taking the class. Thank you, all of you, for sharing your thoughts. It's so exciting to know we are from all over the world and sharing this connection. May you fare well in this surrealistic time.
It is very reassuring and inspiring to see everyone’s work!
I enjoyed drawing from the photo. I drew on 4 different days. First a sketch, next a background watercolor wash. Then I did two days of green and yellow. The original pencil helped with some grey tones on the shoulder and parts of the wings. The top photo is of the 2nd to the last painting day, while the bottom photo is my epiphany day.
I used the strategy of looking for geometric patterns of distribution on the whole photo, and parts of the bird and trees. I found though I started with overall shapes, I was identifying smaller and smaller shapes without end! I also had trouble judging the spatial relationships and proportions.
I did the first drawing on 3/28, and now it is 4/4. I realized I'm procrastinating about "completing" this assignment because the work is so "unfinished."
Then I had the revelation that my goal is to make progress towards learning more about sketching from nature and refining my sketching, coloring, and watercolor painting skills.
I also tried sketching some birds at my bird feeder, and realized that I need a lot of practice to hold an image in my memory long enough to sketch even a part of a bird because they move quickly, even at a bird feeder.
I wouldn't have notices the brownish patches if I didn't have to draw it. 
My 6yo son is taking this class with me! He said the photo made him feel like he was outside. For him, the easy part of the drawing was the background and the challenging part was the bird because of the feathers and the tail. For me, drawing from the photo gave me a chance to really look at the Warbler instead of trying to draw it like I thought it should look. I felt the easiest part was trying to get the general shape of the bird, but the most challenging part was to shade the markings, especially tying to distinguish between the black and brown markings. I never would have really looked at how the bird’s feet were gripping the branch if I had not had a photo to look at. Out in nature, I am sure I would never have noticed small details, as there just wouldn’t be the time. 
An interesting start. Working from a photo gives the luxury of time that I doubt we would have in the field! Good practice, all the same. 
My late night try at the little yellow warbler. I wrote my comments on my sketch page actually. Thanks for the opportunity to share. 
I really enjoyed this activity. I am learning from home because the schools have closed and this will be my art project. It was challenging to do it with no instructions. I can’t wait to get outside and start drawing. 
This was a really fun exercise, and I can't wait to learn techniques and tricks to make my drawings come to life. My main take-away was that it's going to be much more challenging to draw a creature as when we see it in nature, because I had to refer back to the photo dozens and dozens of times to try to get it right! 
It was very difficult to get the shape just right. Oh and the beak is terrible. I hope I improve. I used some colored pencils but am looking forward to using water colors. More and more subtle colors are needed. I could see the details but just couldn't duplicate them. However, I have to say I liked the challenge. 
Easy : ( adavantage with photo) no movement , and I can take my time
but , no context, no memory associate 
I wasn't entirely happy with how this turned out, found it hard to get the proportions right and spent too much time fiddling with it. Found it difficult to get the angle of the beak right and the positioning of the legs - details that I probably would not have observed so closely had I not been trying to draw it. 
I was nervous about it at first, but once I got going I got more comfortable. I photograph the birds in my backyard a lot. What noticed about drawing/painting is paying more attention to small details. But of course the advantage to photography is it is quick. My goldfinches would be long gone by the time I drew them! 
1. I got this new paint and brush set and I’m still getting used to it. I overloaded my brush a few times and got my sleeve in some paint so there are some splotches. 2. I think I had to look a lot more carefully at the colors in order to paint it. 
1. Working with watercolor is hard for me. I always end up using too much water and my colors all bleed together.
2. Because I was trying to draw it, I counted the number of black and yellow stripes in the wing, the softness of the feathers around the shoulder, and the curve of the fingers around the claw. I didn't capture all of those details accurately, but I looked at it much more closely than I would have otherwise. 
I felt not very confident going in to this, but the results turned out pretty well, although I am more accustomed to drawing larger birds. A detail that I Would have missed would most likely be the feather detail. This would make a big difference. 