The Cornell Lab Bird Academy › Discussion Groups › Nature Journaling and Field Sketching › See How Far You’ve Come
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I feel like I got the overall proportions better by using my pencil to measure. I also got the proportions within the bird more accurate this way. Really like the eye placement and size much better in my second painting. I am feeling good about my water color techniques and want to continue working with them. My new journal that I just started has heavier real watercolor paper in it so I can use my paints a lot more.
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I admire your crisp use of black in the feathers. Your lines are so clean and straight! Any tips for doing that?
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Negative space, sketchy lines, dry brush.
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Great job on the bird, and the branch is very realistic as well!
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Great job I think you nailed it. Love it. The eye is hard to do but you got it. The eye puts life in the picture.
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The branch looks so real...love the eye....great work!
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The branch looks so real....I need toward on the branch too ...love the eye....great work!
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My before sketch was completed in my notebook for the class. The after sketch was completed in the MixMedia sketch pad. During the course, I switched from sketching pencils to a mechanical pencil to assist me in completing crisp, shorter strokes. I am more mindful of negative space. The after image is OK but I would like to achieve more vibrant color and utilize more color mixing to achieve the desired results.The after image was made with a chrome book camera and it does not reproduce the color or image sharpness very well.
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I had not used watercolor prior to taking this class and I have done a few landscapes as practice exercises. A few things I like about the yellow warbler w/watercolor: I didn't overwork the bird as in the original sketch - this is something I've definitely adopted to my sketching; I was much more patient with the watercolor and like some of the texture of the branches and leaves that layering different colors and tones created; I used the negative space to create a more proportional bird. Though this doesn't come through entirely in the photo, I used a water on water technique to just shade the paper green. I was really surprised at how much depth and warmth just that little color added to the overall impression. I'll work on watercolor technique forever, but isn't that the point?
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I am extremely proud of my painting. I love how this image was from strange to expert. For example in the before image the eye is out of course, the olive yellow back was too short, the branch was too short, and the bird was all slim down. But in the after it looks more realistic, alive, and accurate. There is color; the branch, eye, and back are accurate; the details are excellent. I dd not knew anything of proportion or watercolors. But now this made me become a " Be a better Painter". :)
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I'm surprised at the skills gained after a year in the course. How delightful to grow in this journey will everyone and I truly look forward to seeing one year from now how my skills have developed.
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I love the beak, the eye, the feathers...and although I did learn so much with the watercolor, I need to improve my sketching....nice work on your sketches!
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I am pleased how my lessons improved this Yellow Warbler, Watercolor is my medium of choice, sometimes waiting for the paint to dry is my challenge. Therefore, taking my time, waiting until the paint dries, don't be in a hurry. I must say this little bird on July 7th took almost two hours to complete. This class has taught me many new things. I have loved nature all my live, loved to hike and backpack and put in the miles. Now - I enjoy sitting in the forest, listen to the birds, forage for edibles, take photos and attempt to paint. I have often taken my sketchbook along, usually I take a photo and draw at home. My question is - when will I sit down and actually do a plein air....? hoping to find a group to paint outside.
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Gerda, you are so right about taking time to allow the paint to dry. This is my stumbling block to avoid as well, but I'm still slow to finish my work. Sometimes I sit it on the piano where I will pass it several times a day. Seeing it upright instead of flat on a table and at a distance reveals things I can do to improve. BTW, my husband and I harvested acorns this year and made acorn crepes and pancakes. Delicious!
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I have enjoyed taking this course(although it took me months to get through it). I always enjoyed drawing but am badly out of practice. This course helped me get back into it and going forward I am going to draw and sketch more frequently. I did a pencil sketch the second time around feeling it will be a good compare and contrast. In the second one I did pay more attention to detail, as well as using proportion and negative space as aids.
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It took me a year and one day to get this course completed. I think my final bird looks kind of worried, but overall has better proportions than the portly one I first drew. I used the idea of looking at negative space to get the body to be more accurate. From taking the course, I also learned to do the background all at once to start, instead of afterward and I had a lot less color bleeding that way. When I did my first painting, I didn't know about letting the layers dry and everything kind of bled together. In the second attempt, I was able to get more details on the stomach stripes and leaves, from layering and using a smaller brush. Overall, I think the second picture reflects more of the actual bird and the first one is more of the idea of the bird. I still need a lot of practice, but I did make progress! Thanks for the wonderful course.
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I have improved a lot. I did a pencil drawing to make a better comparison. My second drawing is much better observed, with more accurate detail in the branch and the bird. Proportions and negative space are better. I have learned how to see the details and the shapes. I am really thrilled with the result. I’m a lot more confident and enjoying taking the time with my journaling. I expect I’ll improve further.
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I feel like I have definitely come a long way since the first lesson. Adding color was a challenge because I am still learning what to do with watercolor. I was much happier with the wings before I added the watercolors, but I am pleased with some of the techniques I picked up. I do like some of the things happening with the color in the branch even though I did not match the colors from the image.
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Well the the new effort was a bit disappointing. I think I rushed things a bit. I have to remember to be sure it's DRY! The wash didn't come out well because the paper was not wet enough at the top, but came out better at the bottom--lesson learned. I practiced using a dryer brush, still an effort to get that right. With the exception of the rust feathers, the colors came out ok. I find working under yellowy incandescent lights to be difficult on a dreary grey day. Loved this class and really want to get out in the field and practice, practice, practice!
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I think I made a lot of use of proportion and negative space in the second drawing. I would never have attempted watercolour before doing this course. I would like to work on capturing the little details with watercolour.
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I was so excited to look at both drawings. The recent one was more refined. The drawing techniques were fun to put into practice. I focused on negative spaces which helped to get a better drawing. I felt good about the proportions. Need to work on edges and make the bird 3D by applying layers of colors to show form and detail. I'm pleased with both drawings because it was my first time to draw and paint birds in a journal! Thank you for all the tips and tutorial that made this possible. Below are my two drawings of the Yellow Warbler.
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I truly believe I applied most, if not all, the drawing techniques that I've learned in this class! I especially was aware of proportion and negative space with this drawing. I feel very good about how far I've come in the last 10 weeks since I have never attempted to draw artistically previously-"no talent" is no excuse when you have some techniques to practice. I want to work on developing my own style, to be effectively give the impression of the image that I want to preserve without getting bogged down in the detail, shading and dimensionality are goals, as well as being more subtle with my paint colors and values.
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I tried to better use proportion in the second drawing, although I still have to work on values. Watercolor is still a technique I'm working. Less forgiving than the pencil and eraser!
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This course has been absolutely wonderful and I will definitely go through it again! I love the relaxed way that Liz teaches, and all of the wonderful techniques that she demonstrates. Thank you!
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I have enjoyed this class, Liz' instruction and the lessons in general. I feel I am growing in confidence in terms of my sketching; I am still not confident with the use of watercolors and the brush we were encouraged to use. I ended up using a #1 & #2 in this painting - but I have found the watercolor brush with the water reservoir is especially convenient out in the field. In this attempt I practiced wet on dry and wet on wet for the background. I think this composition would have been stronger without the background, but I wanted to give it a try. I have appreciated seeing the beautiful results of others. I feel as if I have learned from you all. Thank you, Liz!
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I couldn’t find my first drawing but here is my second, the fourth water color I have tried. Still figuring things out, like how to get the black feathers in the wings. It was fun to do, and thank you for teaching me!
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I like using the watercolors and I try most of the techniques. I know I still need to work on proportion, especially when drawing animals. Birds are really complex and the proportions and sets of wings are perplexing but I know I can get better with practice. I like to do the birds eyes. Here are my before and after images of the warbler , I definitely think I showed improvement.
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I appreciate both your drawings and like your shading on the bird from the yellow to an olive green transition which I had trouble with. I like the detail in the branches regarding the moss.
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