Though the photo stays still, it's challenging to get the proportions right--plus I always start out forgetting that it's okay to use the eraser. But a photo allows a slower pace, and lots of study. I think I wouldn't have noticed the warbler's wing structure if I hadn't tried to draw it. I felt like I was able to kind of learn some anatomy, in a way, though I don't know any terminology. Which makes me think that with moving subjects, drawing and even quick sketching will offer similar insights.

Yellow Warbler revisited. 1This time I did sketching with no color. Practicing the exercise a second time was easier. I found my proportions to be more accurate and my drawing progressed more easily. 2 using the photo I noticed the detail in the feet holding the branch more accurately and that the beak angle aligned with the eye differently than in my original drawing.  Being able to enlarge details was helpful. curate 

I was nervous at first because I have been a long-term birder and worried that it would not look right. After getting into it I realized that it was never supposed to be a replacement for photo but my interpretation. Started being a lot more fun as it progressed.

I tend to get wrapped up in detail. How in the field will I better focus on sketching . The key may be the purpose of the sketching- diary or  life study.

I realize that I didn't speak to the questions.  I feel good, I feel focused and alive whenever I take the time to draw or paint.  It is all challenging!  Of course, the more time I took to draw, the more present I became, the more detail I saw.

When drawing, I explore relationships.  When photographing, I isolate.  I enjoy both ways of exploring, and they can overlap.

Drawing from the photo forced me to look closely at every aspect of the bird - first looking at the overall shape, then focusing on the details. It was challenging to get the details of the wing colouring , yet that was what I found so beautiful about the bird, and was also the thing that I wouldn’t have seen if I had just looked at a photo instead of drawing and painting the warbler.

1. Drawing from the photo gave me time to look many times at proportions and details of a perfectly posed subject. Nothing came easy, but the proportions were very difficult and the expression on this cute warbler's face was very difficult to capture.  2. I would not have noticed the way the beak meets the head, the detail of the feet gripping the branch with the long "fingers" extending below the branch, the wing coverts and many other details. Nature journaling gets one to observe these details, but, if one is drawing a warbler in nature and not from a photo, the observation time will be too short for me to get that sort of detail. 

1. Intimidating because it’s my first attempt to do something like this. The attempt was challenging. But I enjoyed it. 2. The proportion of the bird’s body, and details of the branches and the leaves. 3. Absolutely. Nature includes the bird’s environment.

Drawing from the photo was great! You could enlarge the parts when you wanted to observe details. However, as a result, my proportion was off. I hadn’t  used a water brush before. Have to have extra water for rinsing  so paints chips don’t get contaminated. Also must remember to keep white areas white.

When drawing, even when it's from a photo, you notice things that you didn't notice just glancing at the photo. I am encouraged by that because it occurs to me that I have a several years worth of photos I've taken during my travels that I can use for drawings, which will be an excellent way to  document and re-examine those places and visits.

I spent about 15 minutes doing this sketch, I have spent most of my time in nature taking photos, this course on my first day, is already quite an eye opener. Spending some time drawing this bird allowed me to notice more identifying details and I like making notes. I can identify with Elois, drawing from photos is good in some ways, but it is hard to breath life into the sketch.

I was ok about trying to draw from the photo and to prevent it from being too challenging I did not try to make it look like a photo but to make it simple and recognizable as a bird on a limb. i am happy that in my mind when I see my drawing I remember what was in the photo that I did not include in my drawing.

Drawing from a photo is good, but my photo drawings always look stiff to me - sort of like drawing from a stuffed bird. I like to do several “gesture” drawing from a living thing even though it always looks messy and sketchy. I haven’t been drawing much recently and I’m looking forward to the discipline of a regular effort. I also enjoyed looking at other participants drawings. This is a lot of fun!

 drawings allow us to pay closer attention to details. When I'm photographing birds, I'm more worried about exposure, lighting, and composition. With drawing, I'm looking at the details on my subject.

Sitting in the VW dealership as they update my bug's software.  I kept seeing more greens and browns as I looked at the photo.  I also noticed how the bird's toes curl around the branch.  It also looks like it's smiling a bit when you look at its beak.  I may go back and spend more time with it when I don't feel like there's an audience watching me here in the waiting room.

A quick, rough, warm-up sketch on scrap paper. Now I must be brave and crack open the sketchbook!