1. The shape came easily, but the markings and feathering was difficult. Hard to capture enough detail. 2. I might not have noticed the difference between the clear yellow of the head and face and the greenish gray of the shoulder area. I might not have been able to fully appreciate the brown streaks on the lower body or the softness of the feathering around the legs.

I was not comfortable just jumping in but felt as if I was loosening up as I worked on the sketch. This has a lot of erasures and is overworked, but not unhappy with my first, rusty, attempt at getting back to drawing. Was trying to capture gesture of the bird and the negative space around it and the leaves and branches. In the field one would never have the time to go back and redo areas that aren't right. Would like to be able to capture the image more quickly with less "thought." I also noticed the feet and the way they wrap around the branch as I was observing closely to draw them. Might not have seen that in a photo.

Hi, my name is Astrid and I'm from Austria. I'm a nature photographer but never did any drawing before. When I took my journal and pencil I first thought: I can't do that - never! But then I just jumped in. In my photography I focus on "the small things" going for macros and patterns in nature so I'm pretty much use to paying attention to details but actually drawing something is a totally different thing again. You really need to pay attention and it forces you to look properly. So this is my first try on a bird and I must say - that's NOT easy! I really had problems with the beak. I'm looking forward to learning how to bring to paper what I see and find even more astonishing things in nature that are worthwhile observing, memorising and recording.

• It was hard for me to get the shape of the bird.  I was also challenged by using the watercolors although I enjoyed how quickly the colors were applied. I had to look more closely at the bird to see his markings which I didn’t really capture in this drawing. 

  I treated this as more of a "quick" sketch, rather than try to capture every detail while drawing.  I've been drawing from photos a lot lately, and it's coming easier for me.  Still hard to get the proportions right though!  I'm feeling pretty good about my results today, as usually my subjects are a little simpler. The things I noticed in the photo that I may not have if the bird was flitting around were it's tiny feet, and the fine details of the feathers.  I also looked closely at the branch the bird is sitting on. This was fun!

I found that I enjoyed the process, but I expect it to be quick, and it is not.  I also could not get the beak right.  I used a hard lead pencil, and some colored pencils.  I noticed the streaking a lot, and the way the cute little feet wrapped around the branch.

1.) Wings and beak are difficult. I appreciated having the photo instead of a moving bird!  It was difficult to get the proportions and shapes right and then to fit them together into a whole. 2.) I would not have noticed that the Yellow Warbler is actually dusky grey on the back or that the reddish marking extended up the throat.  I have not observed either of these marks in the wild; I am usually overwhelmed by their yellowness.

1. I was nervous about drawing from the photo, but I was surprisingly happy with the result. The outline of the bird’s shape was easier than I thought it would be, and I found the feet to be the most challenging to draw. 2. Drawing the yellow warbler helped me to focus on the delicate bill shape and the patterns of its wings. I think having photos to refer to would be helpful in capturing details for nature journaling since birds are most often moving quickly in nature and often, for me, disappear before I can see or capture most of the details.

Here is my first shot at the assigned drawing. I found working from a photo a relaxing way to start paying closer attention to detail and slowing down the whole process. I figured out how to do the transfer on my iPhone. This has been really enjoyable ! Love seeing everyone’s work on these posts.😊 mary ann

How can I post my photo of my drawing here.I am taking the pic of my work with an iPhone. Then wanting to transfer that photo to this reply  "Inserting Image" Thanks, Mary Ann

So many impressive drawings and helpful comments - Thanks so much for sharing! I liked drawing from the photo because I had the time to take into account the whole picture spatially as well as the details (even though my warbler came out too skinny this time : ) Also the photo helps one to better see details, by being able to zoom in closer and capture the image of the bird more discretely, than otherwise possible from a distance.

The whole exercise was challenging since my drawing experience is minimal. I can't say that any of it came easily! If I hadn't been drawing the photo, I wouldn't have noticed details like how the bird's feet clasp the branch, the dark and light areas on the leaves and branch, the details of the outline shape of the warbler. Here's my drawing. There's nowhere to go but up!

    1.  Drawing from the photo was ok.  It was easy to get the general idea sketched down.  The bird and the branch and a bird shape.  Getting the proportions right was a little difficult.  I feel like my bird isnt as full.  The picture is also really really detailed and its a challenge to capture that in the sketch.   2.  Yes, the fine hairs/feathers that are whispy are noticeable when you are studying the detail.  And each layer of feather is also something that I picked up on from the photo.  This definitely makes a difference for nature journaling.  I think the details and textures will matter.    

Advantage Drawing: I get a better understanding of the subject’s physiology, overall size and shape. By drawing it I can emphasis and focus on some the “Trade Mark”ings of the subject. Advantage Photo: Stops Movement. Size and Shape are not disputable. 1. Drawing from the photo gave me time to complete my sketch. The angle of the Warbler was the biggest challenge (I felt). 2. The feet and their grip on the branch was interesting and I’m sure I would not have noticed that in the photo alone. Also, the emphasis surrounding the eye would have been lost for sure. Louise

I enjoyed this activity.  I thought the positioning of everything was the most difficult.  I also wish I would have added color.  The shading on the tree and some of the bird is also difficult to capture.  Sorry if this shows up twice I submitted an answer previous but didn't see the submission. I would not have noticed the nostril or the membrane on the beak if I wasn't asked to draw it.  Additionally, I would have missed all the Lichens.  

1) I have not drawn anything since high school--about 50 years ago. I enjoyed my art classes then. So, drawing from the photo brought back a lot of those memories. I remembered how much better I got when I drew every day--that kept me encouraged. I think it would have been frustrating otherwise. Drawing perspective to make the bird look three-dimensional was challenging. Drawing the relative sizes of the bird's body parts (bill, head, eye, wings, etc) was easier than drawing the perspective. 2)The leaves look as though they have been eaten--I wouldn't have noticed it without drawing them. This might be important for information about the bird's environment. Does the bird eat the insects that eat the leaves? It made me want to ask more questions about the photo--what time of year is this? Is the bird migrating? Drawing the photo made me notice field markings for the bird--no eye ring, the color of the legs, the amount and color of the streaking on the breast,etc. This would be helpful if I were trying to identify the bird in the field.

I'm retired, and haven't drawn anything of note since elementary school. I enjoyed taking the time to notice fine details in the image, and I found the process meditative. My pencil drawing was okay, had trouble adding the watercolors. Look forward to learning some techniques to improve the drawing and colors. I love seeing all your different examples. Nice work!

As mentioned by others, having the photo meant the bird kept still and I had time to see details.  After reading other comments I realize that I was. Outing and trying to draw the details of each feather without noticing the general character of clusters of feathers. getting the initial shape was hard. My poor bird was anorexic at first.

Drawing from a photos is within my comfort zone.  I’ve drawn birds before so the outline is less of a challenge. Branches and leaves on the other hand are a lot harder photos are useful to see all details when zoomed in. Also the subject matter stays in the same pose so you can take your time.

Getting the basic shape and proportions wasn't too hard. (I've drawn birds from photos before.) Getting the feathering right without it looking stilted was almost impossible, and I have a tendency to do everything in a very sketchy manner. I would like to address this during the course. I wouldn't have noticed the other toes on the feet curling around from the back of the branch if I hadn't been drawing it. I'm not happy with the way I did the wings and how the feet emerge from the body. It will be fun to sit down another time and make a good, detailed drawing.

1. Drawing from the photo gave me lots of time to mess around on the page, maybe too much time because there is a lot to see on one little bird. The basic sketch was easier than I thought it would be so I was surprised and happy with how that turned out. Once I decided to color it I felt like I was ruining it. My bird looks more like a thrush than a warbler. Oh well first try! 2. I wouldn't have studied this photo as intensely if I wasn't drawing it. I really got into the feathers. I love feathers, they are so beautiful. I really want to play around with sketching and painting feathers. On this warbler the yellow feathers above the legs are so wispy and the scallop pattern on the wings and tail are super intricate. The feathers really produce the shape and attitude of the bird. It's hard to reproduce that. The drawing flattens the warbler. I hope to learn how to put some personality into the subject by making those feathers fluff out on the page.  

I found the suggestion to think of the bird as a series of connected shapes (ovals in this case) to be helpful for getting the proportions right.  I enjoyed trying to capture his personality.

SO much fun looking at everyone's wonderful drawings. :-)

1. It was nice having the subject not move! In fact, I started it on the 7th and then had company and didn't finish it until today, the 15th! It was challenging to capture everything I saw with pencil only. Decided not to try color yet since I am totally new at this. Also was challenging to not keep fussing with it. 2. I really noticed everything going on with the branch, with all the texture and lichen. Also the different colors and patterns in the bird's feathers. And the irregularities in the leaves--chewed areas, brown spots, etc.