I really enjoyed drawing the leaves and branch but struggled with the bird. I couldn't get the depth in the feathers that I could see in the photo so I tried adding some outlines but I'm still not happy with how it turned out. I'm excited to continue with the course to see how I can improve. I'm leaving the page blank next to this drawing so I can come back a re draw it right next to this one to directly compare the two.

1. Its good to draw from a photo I can take my time and and se more details the more Im coming in to the state of the right side of the brain. Nothing was easy its the first time I draw in 20 years, but an interesting thing is that I normaly write with my left hand but its easier to draw with the right hand isnt that interesting ? 2. I noticed more of the small details in the wings, the claws, and the colours ! It is a difference to notice more details and study the details !

I enjoy drawing from a photo.  I can see the details and do not feel rushed.  I can look and study the shapes.  This may change as I get more proficient at drawing.  I plan on using photos and drawing from them. I will use my observations to catch behavior and my thoughts in the journal  and try putting the 2 together.

Embarrassed at home bad it is

After uploading the image yesterday, I decided to add some descriptive information. Drawing from a photo is one thing, but I don't see how I'm going to do it from a moving object!

What are chirps? How do I get or give them? oh never mind. I figured that chirps are just comments.

I just used my mechanical pencil then filled in with my kid's colored pencils. Didn't want to touch those watercolors yet, since I'm sure I would have made a mess. What I find impossible is how to make the "outline" disappear. Also, my drawing looks flat. I need to learn how to shade or whatever you call it to give the subject depth and curves and volume.

I tried to upload some pictures but I failed. It's ok. I am going to type here. So I tried to draw the bird with my pen first so that it has a configuration of the outline of the bird. However, the proportion is hard to control. I tried a couple of times but it was just not accurate enough. So the last time I just gave up and used color pens directly. A very colorful bird has emerged. I just felt that things don't need to be perfect. It's almost done. It's ok.

This is my yellow warbler. It didn’t take much time, I think I’m gonna draw it again taking more time and using color. But drawing from a photo is not like drawing in the field. I am afraid it will be quite difficult to make a sketch on site, with the bird moving...

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It was easier to recognize detail when drawing from the photo. I didn’t draw to scale and looked up some detail about the bird. This was fun and I hope to learn to sketch faster so that I can draw and paint from experience in my back yard, my flowers, plants and bird feeders. Also, would like to slow down on walks and drives in the country to record the details. I write in a journal, and love to paint watercolor from photos, but have never drawn or painted from real life experience.

Overall I would do things a lot different already.  ;)   Especially with more guidance. I was nervous about most of it. Then I realized I needed to find a balance between trying to make everything perfect and just capturing what’s important. Overdoing it led to some bad mistakes. I think that the photo is easier than movement , you can definitely capture more details, unless your sketching a tree or plant. With animals a still photo will be better for me as of yet. The challenge for me was the bird. I kept wanting to get the right proportions. Then painting was hard because I’m not familiar enough with it, I can see myself enjoying it once I can allow myself to let go and also learn some helpful techniques. The branch was much easier. Now I just need to work on the details, sketching and painting.  I’m excited to learn about the different plants and animals that will soon be filling my journal, and learning more techniques that will help me draw and paint better.  I love seeing everyone’s art as well. Some are absolutely amazing!!!

Drawing from a photo is not as challenging as drawing something in motion. I think that I captured the overall essence of the photo, but I had a difficult time with the shape of the bird and getting it right.

I enjoyed what became my singular focus on drawing this bird & kept returning to the page to “fix” this or that until it was almost edited out of existence. Tried the color pencils & my poor bird wanted to fly away from them so stopped before I ruined it and lose the sense of pleasure at working on it at all. Working from a photo made it easier because the visual angle stayed the same. I could back again and again to change a line or correct a bit of shading to satisfy my eye. Almost got myself in trouble by enlarging it and seeing the delicate feathering but after trying to capture that, decided to stick with one focus because that would likely be closer to the actual field experience. I agree with another nature journalist here that I get too hung up on my version of “perfection” and need to let that go!

I found this exercise challenging, but overall enjoyable. I first drew the branches without leaves to help establish scale for the bird, but then after I had the outline of the warbler I got distracted trying to portray precise leaf arrangements instead of focusing on the bird itself. The bird was hard, especially in black and white. I really was struck by the subtlety of color, and how much variation there was. The eye (or getting the expression of the eye) and the feet were what I struggled most with.

It was fun! I often use the photos to draw. So this exercise was very familiar to me. Photo provides to see small details, though my photos aren't good as sample photo. I think I need bigger journalbook or sketchbook!

I enjoyed the exercise but I find when using a photo I get hung up on perfection ! I am hoping this course will help me loosen up more . You can be that exact when you have a moving object and I need to work on that . I always get frustrated when my subject moves so I am looking for tips to help me relax with that and just get on with it !