Drawing from a photo, especially one in front of us felt awkward. Sure it gives you certain information that might be important for basic identification but it gives you one dimension. Drawing anything from nature is interactive. You can move around to adjust your viewpoint. I had a hard time understanding the bird's wing structure. It makes me want to study basic bird anatomy. In your sketchbook samples I loved the way the woman drawing the hummingbird looked at the bird many times and did a multitude of drawings to understand what was going on! I loved her inquisitive work. Its not "finished" per se but very self educating and personal.

1. Drawing from the photo was fun.  The easy part was drawing the outline of the bird.  The challenging part was getting the legs and bill just right . 2.  I might not have noticed the black in the wings.  This would make a difference when nature journaling.  It would help me learn the field marks that separate a yellow warbler from all the other small yellow birds out there.

Most challenging for me is being patient enough to take the time to see how proportions and designs relate to one another and relay them accurately. I didn’t quite capture the either the fullness of the bird or the angle of its head. I was struck by the strength and shape of its claws. I am always fascinated by how lightly yet how stable they are as they perch on a branch.

I thought the overall structure wasn't too challenging, however the more I drew the photo, I noticed minor things that I didn't see before. For example, I didn't see that the feathers on the breast were brown in the beginning, I thought they were black since the wings had black lines. I think when I go nature journaling, I need to be patient and try to notice the details so that I can try to tell the difference from other species.

1. What advantages do photos have over drawings? Observation. A photo is a snapshot, but a sketch requires looking at the subject, its surroundings, and then capturing the energy of the scene on paper. 2. How did you feel about drawing from the photo? What came easily and what was challenging? Honestly, it was hard as I do not have an art background and have only just started drawing in the last six months. This was literally the second bird that I've ever attempted to draw. The part that is becoming a bit easier is seeing value in the subjects that I sketch. 3. 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? Yes, the lighter values around the eyes, and various patches on the head and body. These variations in color patterns could be important to identification of the critter you are observing. 4. Why are you taking this course? What do you hope to get out of it? I am taking the course as I want to learn to see better. I love natural history and am an avid hiker / backpacker, my long term goal is to do outdoor travel writing and help people better understand the role that humans have in nature and help them reconnect with it. I am also taking this class to overcome my fear of drawing in public and letting others see my work. In truth, I wasn't going to do this post, but my goal is to get over my fear no matter what one step at a time.

This was fun.  I did the sketch quickly.  The most difficult part to me were the lichens.  I didn't get the look I wanted for them.  It will be interesting to see what this looks like at the end of the course.  Drawing did cause me to look at the details more closely.  I think the advantage of a photograph is that you can catch your subject before it moves or flies away.  The advantage of drawing is that you notice the fine details.

1. Drawing from a photo has the advantage of being able to look back at it over and over again, while a live subject won't be still for that long. Most of my best bird sightings are fleeting at best, from a distance, and sometimes back lit. It is challenging to place the first lines from a photo that is a complete image, while a drawing is only just begun.I also really wanted it to be in color, but a pencil was all I had at hand. I'll likely go back and add color later. 2. I noticed the lichen and moss (?) on the twigs, and the insect damage on some of the leaves. I also noticed the different parts of the wing once I started to add shading and lines to the overall shape. This would be a great advantage in nature journaling to pick up on otherwise overlooked details.

I liked drawing from a photo.  There was no pressure and no hurry.  The challenge was to be able to create a 3d effect.  I need to further develop the skills required to manipulate light and dark better.  The background in the photo was totally washed out.  I think drawing live would have allowed me to add more details about the environment, eg. weather, time of day, season, maybe other plants or creatures, making a more complete picture.

I was glad to start with a still object as a photo. This was my very first bird ever to draw! So I really had to think out of my normal site to view a photo. I tried to measure in my mind distances in order to get perspective. How do you draw feathers? Wow that one baffled me. Also to relay softness in the body didn't work. How do you draw softness? Yellow legs was something I would have missed if not drawn.

Drawing the photo was not easy for me. I worried about getting the proportions and shapes right and it was challenging to get the positioning of the feet right. Good thing I could use an eraser! I had difficulty getting the bird’s tail to arch up. My second attempt was slightly better in capturing the bird’s stance. Because I was drawing the bird I paid more attention to reddish brown streaks on the warbler’s breast and the contrasting colors of its feathers. I think learning to be more aware of the details and variations in coloration will make a difference when nature journaling. Also I am learning to have a greater appreciation of how birds stand and move.

It’s challenging to get the right proportions for the head and body, and the correct angles, but I look forward to developing those skills so I can sketch birds more accurately and quickly. I loved exploring the feather groups and how they overlap. Feathers almost look furry. And bird feet are crazy interesting - such long toes. I wouldn’t have noticed the subtle colors and feather groups if I hadn’t try to draw it.

I always find birds challenging. Even though they are made up of simple geometric shapes, they are tricky! I started by trying to identify simple shapes, and then I went back in with pen and did a more true outline of the bird with minimal texture for the different feathers. Sketching initial shapes was challenging, and going back in afterwards felt easier. So maybe sketching the shapes first was helpful...? If I hadn't been asked to draw this bird and had just seen it, or perhaps taken a photo, I might not have noticed the beautiful little branch it was on. I just loved the different colors and varieties of lichen on that branch! Natural journaling certainly helps you take in general impressions of things as well as the tiny details.

I like drawing from a photo. The correct shape of the bird, it’s beak, and feather details were most challenging. The very small details in the different feathers and the branch I only noticed when trying to draw them.  The details are what makes the image so beautiful.

I'm in my late 60's and just beginning to learn to draw, so drawing this little bird was a fun challenge. If I hadn't had a photo to work from, I probably would just have a drawing of an empty branch and maybe a big oval for the bird. I don't think I could have captured much detail other than size and color on a live bird. I certainly would not have seen all the shading on the feathers or have been able to get any of the details correct. It was difficult to do even from a photograph.  

1. I have no problem drawing from photos; I have done it before. My challenge was loosening up the hand muscles. They felt tight and not flexible. I couldn't get the eye-hand relationship to the drawing. I guess that comes with practice. 2. Later, I noticed the dried tree fungus on the branch. The fact that the fungus is dead might say something about the environment. It is important to notice details. Developing the skills of art is to help one to "see" rather than to "look."  

Drawing was challenging, particularly the sizing and spacing of the complete drawing, then the bird shape and beak I found difficult.  Many details of the photo where more obvious when drawing the bird.

It is much easier to draw from a picture, not rushed and subject is not moving!  I can go back and redo, or add what i missed.  The dark lines on the bird's breast would not have been evident had I not been trying to draw it, and may have been important if the drawing was going to be used to make a specific identification.

It was difficult to get the proportions correct for all the features I thought, e.g., distance between the eye and the bill, etc. Details on the feet I hadn't noticed until I tried to draw them. It may not be necessary to capture every detail if you just want to create an overall impression of the bird as you saw it.

Unable to download mine but  I enjoyed seeing everyone's drawings . Drawing from a photo is a great way to start - a big plus the bird sitting still  LOL  -  I can see I have lots of room for improvement with my sketch - I'm looking forward to continuing with this course