• Bird Academy
      Bird Academy
      Share your work! This forum is a space for you and others taking the course to share, comment, and exchange helpful ideas.
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    • Ellen and John
      Participant
      Chirps: 5
      We really appreciated this class. Learning about feather groups gave us a different perspective on birds. Learning to paint acrylics with water brushes was a challenge. Thank you! John and Ellen IMG_7031 IMG_7029
    • Ellen and John
      Participant
      Chirps: 5
      This class is great, Jane!  Here are a couple of swallows from my husband and me: IMG_6930IMG_6931
    • Laurie
      Participant
      Chirps: 4
      IMG_0246
    • Martha
      Participant
      Chirps: 5
      I had some of the same challenges with the cardinal as I had with the barn swallow. My initial drawing was smaller than the photocopy and I had trouble keeping the feathers straight. I am happy with both results anyway, and have learned a lot.IMG_20241218_160448539~2
    • sophie
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the quality of this course. I've never learned so much and enjoyed it so much. Thank you so much. A first try with my acrylics while waiting to receive my order of Golden Fluid. I'm having a bit of trouble mastering the flow of water from the brush, but I think that will come with practice. THANK YOU !IMG_9776
    • Vivian Salome
      Participant
      Chirps: 13
      :) WhatsApp Image 2024-06-12 at 1.53.05 PM
    • Cornelia
      Participant
      Chirps: 5
      Kardinal
    • Sadie
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      20240402_232352
    • constance
      Participant
      Chirps: 4
      My version in watercolor.  Thanks so much for your teaching.  IMG_2057
    • Janet
      Participant
      Chirps: 12
      IMG_6616
    • Cote
      Participant
      Chirps: 17
      20240216_171630_(1)
    • Elizabeth
      Participant
      Chirps: 12
      IMG_3455
    • Kathleen
      Participant
      Chirps: 14
      cardinal
    • Maureen
      Participant
      Chirps: 21
      cardinal paintimg
    • Stephen & Emily
      Participant
      Chirps: 6
      So much fun to paint a cardinal. We see lots of them were I live. Never realized just how much variation there was on a cardinal. Had a hard time with the feet. Going to have to practice on them.Northern Cardinal-How to Paint Birds
    • William
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      So happy with this one. I feel like I did a much better job with texturing the bird this time.PXL_20231017_160109348~2
    • Tony
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      Screen Shot 2023-09-13 at 10.25.30 PM
    • Karen
      Participant
      Chirps: 15
      IMG_7832
      • Cornelia
        Participant
        Chirps: 5
        The eye looks so real and alive, great
    • Steve
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      Northern Cardinal This time I tried some background treatment. Didn't quite get all the colors I wanted but though it best to stop. Time on project 3 hours. Had a lot of fun on this and the Barn Swallow.
    • Sophia
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
      I'm a bit unclear on why we should learn to draw the bird if we are using tracing paper to transfer the image to the final paper for painting. Might as well just trace from the photo. I think learning to draw the bird and know all the parts is a good thing. It's just if we're tracing, might as well use the most accurate image possible, the photo.
    • Cecy
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      Northern Cardinal 23
    • Sally
      Participant
      Chirps: 12
      CardinalCardinal
      • Sophia
        Participant
        Chirps: 7
        Lovely! The face has so much expression too!
      • Steve
        Participant
        Chirps: 11
        Well done - Sally!
      • Maureen
        Participant
        Chirps: 21
        Beautiful Sally. I am always impressed with your work.
      • Cheryl
        Participant
        Chirps: 21
        Great job on the bill. Wonderful.
      • Cornelia
        Participant
        Chirps: 5
        Kardinal
    • Did mine with watercolors.  I think it came out better than expected!  Fun!!Northern Cardinal
    • PL
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      Cardinal WC This is done with watercolors.  I struggled with the wings and lifted entire sections 2 times, which roughened up the paper a bit. But now I understand bird feet a bit better!
      • Steve
        Participant
        Chirps: 11
        Nice job! In general I can see that other students struggle with the same things I do - color selection, values, water, etc.
      • Maureen
        Participant
        Chirps: 21
        I really like this watercolor. Now I want to paint a male Cardinal in watercolor!. Bird feet are not easy. I was given the book, Laws Guide to Drawing Birds by John Muir Laws.  JML recommends to draw 50 pairs of bird feet.