• I drew a bird standing on a limb. It definitely looks like a bird but not as nice as a rogervtory Peterson It was not challenging cause I drew like I always bit I’m hoping to do a whole lot better after this class.
• i think I noticed every

I am not brand new to drawing, but have much to learn. Drawing from a photo made it easy to focus on detail. I imagine drawing birds out in the field would be challenging with all their twitchy movements. Much harder to capture their shapes and details. I think I'll need to learn to make more general shapes to start and then fill in detail later. I have a tendency to make some shapes and do detail as I go, but I am guessing that is not the best way to do it.

This was more difficult than I expected. I think I should have done better! The general shapes were easy enough but I don't think I got the colouring very well, and trying to fix it would only make it worse. I might not have noticed the extent of the lichen if I hadn't drawn  it. It took longer than expected so I can't imagine being able to do it outside with a live bird!

The photo makes it easier to draw more details of the Yellow Warbler then being in the field getting a quick look at the bird.  That is why it is good to get a photo of the bird or object when you are outside and then complete the drawing afterwards.  I found it challenging to draw the details of the wings-primaries, secondaries and tertials.  The body proportions-head, bill, and back and belly were challenging too.  It was easier to revise and adjust the sizing and fan-like shape of the wings with a photo. I also noticed how the wings are aligned and the tarsus and toes grasping onto the branch was much more apparent.  If I was doing a nature journal and saw the Yellow Warbler, I would miss these details.

Drawing from a photo gives you the luxury of taking your time. i really want to use the water colors and I find getting detail a challenge. Using micron pen is helpful and I like this combination. I really noticed the textures in the photo, soft feathers, glossy leaves , rough bark...I'd like to be able to capture that feeling.

I prefer drawing from life so I was resistant at first to work from a photo, but birds don't sit still for long, so photos are often the only option.   It was challenging to get the proportions/anatomy to look right, but once I had the pencil drawing done, (the hard part) inking and coloring the sketch was very enjoyable.

Drawing can bring back memories of that specific time, weather, song of the bird, etc. Photos can quickly capture a fast moving critter or insect

Much easier to capture angles and details from a still photo. The brown lines on chest might have gone unnoticed or seen as black/grey like rest of markings. I also might not have noticed placement of pin dot in eye  that may hint at direction of the light source. Also, the wrap of the claw around the branch might not have come off so well if not in photo, maybe with more practice and understanding leg and claw/talon, grasp angles.

It’s a bit different than critiquing a photo.  Instead of paying attention to exposure, focus, overall composition and potential edits, you’re looking at anatomy, form, proportion, eye, bill, leg color or shade relative to body, You’re spending real time studying  the image, not seconds or minutes.  I’m NOT dissing the artistry of photography, or —for that matter — the difficulty and patience and time required to get a good shot of a small, moving target in a tree or a tangle of brush.  Drawing forces you to notice anatomical details that the photographer might not think about, at least when he or she is pressing the shutter.  In my view, drawing requires a deeper look and would probably lead the committed journalist to learn more about the subject than the photographer.  Although not necessarily.

There are a lot of details ina bird that are really easy to gloss over or miss. Unless you take the time to proportion and draw every feather, it won’t be true. Photos are quick and easy, but you don’t study the photos you’ve taken unless you are a real photo hound. A drawing forces you to study every aspect of the subject.

Photos preserve a moment and all of its details for in-depth study. Drawing focuses attention on things that are of particular interest, and drawing lets you explore those while removing distractions.  In this way, drawing sharpens attention to things that might get lost in a photo. It was easy to draw from the photo because the bird stood still! Details were easy to note and the source remained to compare and correct. It was still challenging to get proportions right. For instance, the legs are too long. I would probably not have noticed the subtle shades of gray and orange if the bird had been moving around. I think the movement and changes will make nature journaling more challenging, but will also make it interesting.

I feel really good about my drawing even though I chose not to add the yellow. The beak was hard to get right for some reason, but it’s ok.  I also decided not to worry about the branches other than the one on which. the bird was standing. I don’t think I would have believed the legs were coming out of the body where they appear in the photo.

It seemed fairly easy but it was harder than I expected.  Getting the shape of the bird right and getting the pose right was the most difficult for me. I left a few leaves out and simplified it a bit.

I like having plenty of time to study the bird and yet I still can't get it right.  But that comes down to patience, I think.  The idea of drawing something in the field that will fly away is pretty daunting but I'm looking forward to learning some tricks that will make it easier.  I just realized, looking at this bird and knowing what I know about birds in general, that they often have their weight a little forward when they land so they're ready to fly off again.  The eyeball is a tricky area and the key to getting a drawing right.

1. Drawing from a photo gives one lots of time to study the bird.  In nature the bird would be moving every which way making it hard to get "measurements" like eye size compared to beak size, or head size to body size or leg length.  Even with a photo I have a hard time drawing the wing feathers as they fold over the back or the talons and how they wrap around the branch. 2. I might not have noticed all the dark smudging on the back and wings. I might have thought that was just shadow and made the wings all yellow! I might have put the legs too far forward too.  It probably would have made a difference in the journal by making my drawing less accurate. In real life I would wonder what the bird is eating and would want to hear it's song and see if it was with other birds. Thanks!

It was a little less intimidating drawing from a photo because it was already in 2 dimensions. I've always found it difficult to translate from 3-D into 2-D without my drawings looking flat and cartoonish. Also, a photo doesn't move. I really want to try my hand by adding color. I've always been scared of water colors or any colors at all but pencils. I still remember the disappointment I felt in 4th grade when I did an awesome sketch of a deer that I was so proud of and my teacher made me color it. Crayon wax just ruined the delicate sketch lines and shading. I threw it away when I took it home. I adore looking at water colors and long to try it but that sting sticks with me. I think this class will be good for me. This is the before. We will see how the after goes. The idea of doing this exercise again at the end of the course gives me courage. 

It's a little daunting to look at my drawing after seeing those of others! I know it's not about comparisons but I think it's pretty human to start looking at the differences. On the other hand, it was also inspiring, particularly seeing how others used watercolors in such thoughtful ways. I have more experience drawing from photos vs drawing from nature (part of what I'd like to do better is drawing outside more!) so it felt ok to me. I noticed the shapes in the bird (some great triangles!) that I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been drawing it. 

1/ How did you feel about drawing from the photo. Even thought the bird was still I found I got the proportions wrong around the head and beak and managed to place the eye in the wrong spot making the my bird drawing look very odd. Not sure if for this exercise should have just stuck with first attempt but will admit to rubbing out and redoing face and beak etc. Having the photo meant I could redo this without worrying about the bird flying away. Hopefully will become more accurate and quicker at sketching as progress through the course. I don't I would have noticed the detail of the beak if just viewing the photo and not drawing the bird. Getting the proportions right and the detail where the feet grip the branch was a challenge.