• Dee
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      Yellow warbler 1 Dec 10 2020What I liked about this was studying the details. Frustrating to not really be able to judge scale.  Benefits of sketching is the attention you pay to the details, a photograph captures the details, but one may not really notice them since everything blends together more.  I would not have noticed the veins in the leaves, or the layers of feathers if I didn't draw this and just snapped a photo.
    • Kathryn
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      imageDrawing from a photo is easier than a live subject as you can study details.  Just admiring a photo, I probably would have missed the lichen on the branches.
    • Richard
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      thumbnail Photos capture detail that is difficult to achieve with a sketch, particularly from a live bird that is moving around.
    • Charlotte
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      1. How did you feel about drawing from the photo? What came easily and what was challenging? The hardest was not judging myself--I'm gonna need to practice drawing without self-judgment! The eye and beak came sort of easily, the proportions of the head and body were challenging. So were the lichens--yikes. Oops. Judging again.   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? Lots: the texture of the branch, the number of colors in what I thought was simply a yellow bird. I've seen them in the wild but never had a chance to study what they actually look like in detail. Will absolutely make a difference going forward!yellow warbler
    • Mwangi
      Participant
      Chirps: 8
      IMG_20201215_113507 - drawing the branches and leaves seemed easier than drawing the warbler - the warbler's proportions seem off, elongated in my drawing while it seems more compact in the photo - fun exercise, glad to start on this course!      
    • Cecilia
      Participant
      Chirps: 4
      12.13.20.YellowWarbler Drawing at all is a challenge after not doing it in so long. Drawing from the photo was helpful because, of course, the bird is not moving, in contrast to the birds at my feeder, who dart in and out, especially the nuthatches, or the birds in the woods, who are seldom close or still. The photo made it possible to really look carefully. I can see the different parts of the wings, but I really don't know how they all fit together. This helps me identify the knowledge I need. I think if I understand and draw the structure of the wing, that will help drawing in the field -- even quick sketches. I actually loved drawing the leaves and the lichen. My frequent "interactions" with leaves and lichens probably inform my drawing.
    • Joan
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      IMG_1941
    • Deva
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      IMG_4214 (1)
      • Deva
        Participant
        Chirps: 2
        It was a challenge to get the angle of the head and body, my leaves are much smaller then they should be.  If this was in nature I would not of had any chance to study it, getting the color of the Warbler or the gray on the branch or the lichens on the branch.  I normally take photo's of birds, getting the light correct and getting a good pose, you have to be fast and take a lot of photo's as they jump around from branch to branch.
    • Margaret
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      How did you feel about drawing from the photo? It was a challenge which is why we are taking the course and are using it to connect with a granddaughter many miles away over Zoom. What came easily and what was challenging? The eye and beak were the easiest and the body was the hardest. Was there anything in the photo that you might not have noticed if you weren’t asked to draw it? The angle of the legs seemed unnatural so I was drawn to the fact that I had to correct my first attempt which was straight up and down. I also "felt" right away that something was off in my picture even though I thought "that can't be right" when looking at the angle of the legs at first so it kept me honest! Would this make a difference when nature journaling? It would depend on time and purpose. In a photo you might be able to go back and notice a detail but in sketching you are more focused at the time so you may note or make note of, some detail you might even miss in the photo. IMG_5817
    • Susan
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      51981D21-70FC-4A08-9B72-8260B9F3C43D
    • Annick
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
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    • Angie Paola
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      eab05716-a5af-476c-ad7a-1ed17c537f3a 1. Very good, it was very good to jump directly to illustrate, I wanted to do it in a more detailed way similarly, detailing from the branches to the bird itself. 2.Maybe you see the details of the moss on the branches. This could make a difference because it could give us data on the type of vegetation and even the climate, in this case, for example, the moss on the branches denotes that it was a humid environment.
    • Brandii
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      I love drawing from photos because you have time to really study every aspect - the light brown in the feathers, the pattern of black in the wings...Drawing from nature wont allow the luxury of unhurried studySketch 1
      • Joan
        Participant
        Chirps: 2
        I love how you got the little nod of its head.  Not sure what you did to do so?  Bill profile definitely, but still, I can't see what you did beyond that (and bill profile is subtle!)  Also love the shading you did on the head and back.  Branch detail is great too!  Joan
    • MARY JANE
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      I have no idea how to insert a photo of my bird AND insert my reply to the questions.  Sorry for, perhaps, creating a little mess.  If any one can give me a few clues how to streamline inserting photo and replying I'd appreciate it.   How'd I feel about drawing from photo?  It was fine with me.  I had very little time to devote to the drawing so I just dived in and did it without recommended pencil or drawing pad.  Quick sketch wasn't too hard.  If I had tried for accuracy/details etc I may have become discouraged AND color would have been a nightmare!  I drew so fast that I didn't have time to notice details other than color of beak, feet, and reddish lines on chest.  All things I would have "seen" as a long time birder.  I was happy that I just jumped in and sketched quickly because FEAR always 1st Drawing Quick Dec 4 2020holds me back from drawing.  Drawing YES would help me see more!
    • Florence
      Participant
      Chirps: 18
      Sorry about that. I goofed when sending. This was challenging. Birds are difficult to draw so they look correct and not cartoon like.  I draw from photos most of the time to keep as a record and go back to it later.  Probably several things I missed in the photo.  I tend to only see the basics and going back several times I notice more.
    • Florence
      Participant
      Chirps: 18
      0781663A-EFF6-4A32-9F28-F0E75B0CF5CD
    • Mary
      Participant
      Chirps: 6
      DFAB6200-46A5-45E2-8313-4E07913563C8 I found it some what daunting to draw the image . I wasn’t sure my drawing would actually take the proper shape  I also had trouble with perspective I noticed more of the details on the birds feathers and also the coloring  it isn’t just a ‘yellow bird’ it has other coloring and markings yes I would be more observant than when I would have been taking a photo
    • Adrienne
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      8D497766-BCF9-43F4-9B5D-FD7753CE3B41I found the process to challenging but enjoyable. A couple of months ago I would have found it to be a bit more challenging, but I have been practicing drawing birds here and there using a great nature journaling resource by John Muir Laws. It’s been both relaxing and rejuvenating to spend some time practicing while my young girls are resting. The sketching portion is definitely easier for me, although I find getting proper proportions and small details to be a challenge. Painting is even more of a challenge for me, but I am loving it! Sketching and painting definitely allow me to pay better attention to the subject and feel more intimate with it than I would by simply studying the photo. I love putting than finishing dot on the eye and feeling as though the bird has come to life in front of me.
    • Nancy
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      5AE89C2B-C71F-432F-87B5-A59A6B7B47AA_1_105_cintimidating but helpful to look at how others approach the challenge!
    • Susan
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      MORITA WARBLER I found the exercise challenging as I haven't drawn in years and I did not excel in drawing years ago.  While trying to draw the bird, I noticed how fluffy the birds feathers were and how cute he was.  I normally don't have a chance to really look over a bird I see in real life.  I found it hard to draw the tree branch he is perched on and make it look realistic.  I have a tendency to want to draw either straight lines or smooth curves.
    • Tracy
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      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. 20201202_220049
    • Sherrie
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      It's been a couple of years since my last art class. Looking forward to using my water colors again.20201201_122830
    • Clare
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      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.yellow warbler
    • Martha
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
        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
    • Martha
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      0727D312-C79D-419B-A7AE-8FFA73D19E27