Feelings- effort to be exact and uncertainty about proportion   Noticed the shape more

It’s been a while since I have drawn, and using a mechanical pencil feels weird, but I feel I can get the hang of it.  Photos can capture all (or most ) detail, where drawing a subject, you can choose an area for detail and suggest other things.  Photos are a moment frozen in time, and a drawing seems to give some sense of movement to me, although I don’t exactly know why.

1.  I draw from photos regularly, so I was comfortable with that.  The bird didn't fly away before I finished!  I struggle more with animals than with plants - perhaps they seem more important to me? 2.  I noticed that how various parts of the bird, eg. shape of head, differs from other bird species.  This is what I love about drawing:  it forces me to look more closely.  That said, looking back at what I have drawn, I think I could look more closely still! I am taking this course in the hopes of developing the habit of drawing / painting regularly / more frequently and learning some techniques to improve my drawing / watercolors.

1) I was full of trepidation because I haven't really tried to draw anything for over 30 years... but maybe the skill will come back. Most challenging for me was catching the angle of the bird's head. 2) I thinkI would have missed the color of the feet and the subtle gray shading on the back and ruff if I hadn't been analyzing the photo to draw it. In nature journaling, this could make a huge difference in species ID.

1. I felt rusty in my skills in communicating what I see to my hand. I thought about how to hold my hand, where to begin making a line, whether my stroke should move forward or backward. The bird’s beak was a challenge, as was where to begin my drawing on the page. I realized quickly that my drawing was too far to the left on the page, and because of this, I didn’t have room to fully explore its tail or place it in context with the setting behind it. My first instinct was to judge my process, but I quickly moved past that when I realized how that mindset was keeping me from enjoying what I was doing. When I relaxed and enjoyed the act of sketching, the more playful attitude allowed me to appreciate certain details. I also began to think of what it will be like to sketch the Yellow warbler in nature, and I will want to include information about where it is perched (what type of tree, shrub, plant) and what activity it seems to be involved in. 2. There were many details I noticed through drawing from the photo that I would have otherwise overlooked: a slight shadow along the bird’s brow, the curvature of the tip of its beak, the downy feathers on the underside of its belly, the gray feathers along its back and shoulders and the rusty streaks on its underside.  

I finally figured out how to post a picture of the correct size.  I enjoyed drawing from the picture, the feet and getting the right angle of the bird was challenging.  I wouldn’t have noticed the stripes on the stomach so much if I wasn’t drawing them.

1. How did you feel about drawing from the photo? What came easily and what was challenging? I like drawing from photos because it takes away from the challenge of a moving subject. The challenge of birds, for me, is their beaks. Each bird species beak is different and unique to their role in the natural world but I can never seem to get the shape perfect!! 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? The branches are so beautiful. If I wasn't asked to draw it, I probably never would have noticed the colors and details in the branches. It definitely would make a difference in nature journaling. Being able to catch a moment in time is so amazing, being able to notice these small details quickly and efficiently so we could capture them is super important... and really fun.

1. My biggest challenge in drawing from the photo was getting the proportions of the warbler correct.  Something to continue working on.  Coloring with the water colors was fairly easy, especially since this is really my first time working with watercolors in a serious way.   2. I needed to pay much more attention to the detail in the coloration of the feathers than I would have if I was not drawing from the photo.  This would make a difference if I was drawing a live bird that was standing still, which is not usually the case.  Drawing from real life subjects has to be much quicker and with less detail, before the bird flies away.

It took me many attempts (in pencil) and erasures to get the shape of the bird correct.  I don't think any part of it was really easy. I noticed more details about the warbler, where it has black and where it has it's orange stripes.  Also that the eye is at the same level as the beak, I though it would be above the beak a bit. 

1. This was a little difficult for me, as I do not feel that I draw very well. I have some problem determining relative distances in the photo, and had to erase a lot. It also felt good that I was able to draw a recognizable image! 2. I did notice details, like the lichen on the limb, and the shading on the bird. I think this would make a big difference in drawing accurate representations of birds and their habitats.

1. It's been a while since I've had basic drawing skills. I started with the ovals and circles and just kept going. 2. Drawing the bird really showed me how to look at the bird. I wouldn't have noticed the subtle shading and wing texture. I think the nature journaling will improve my observational skills. Looking forward to learning about adding color.

Using a photo is not too challenging as the subject does not move. That being said, I often use photo references in creating art but I also rely on my sketches and experience as well. Photos can help with details.

I'm a little behind but I enjoyed drawing the warbler, cant wait to add color

Drawing from a photo bird is easier than the real bird for obvious motion reasons.My own pet birds are suspicious of my movements and the art tools I am using if I try drawing them. I think the limits of trying to catch the bird in action and the environment, including weather/lighting might be frustrating but I also think the "catch the moment" approach my give the study more "life". I did not feel pressure to finish it as i knew I could come back to it according to my work schedule so that may also be an option if I photograph something that I want to continue on.Using the water color medium requires patience and moments of timing depending on technique/methods so I am wondering if maybe using watercolor pencils/crayons etc might be more forgiving in that sense? My mother was an art teacher/watercolorist and would frown on copying from photos as she said one would lose the joy of  life in the moment. I have felt similar but there are times one is limited with time and materials. I might have not noticed the lichen or the "eaten" leaves in the process which I did not spend much time on especially with the leaf position. Also maybe the rust streaks on the bird may not have been as apparent if  I had drawn from life. It was fun to do and I know I have to literally brush up on my watercolor skills.