This was a fantastic course.  The drawing techniques, proportion measuring, and color mixing were so very helpful!  Since it’s winter here and nature consisted mostly of snow and dried plant-life, I focused mostly on my drawing and watercolor skills.  I'm looking forward to spring when I can get out and really observe nature.  I can't wait to fill up my sketchbook with observations!

I think the proportions were a bit off on the first sketch. It came out squashed in the vertical. Because I planned on adding watercolor to the new piece, I used a 4H pencil and kept the lines light. Still not sure if I should have gone for the best pencil drawing I could muster, then add color. For this I tried to let the color define the bird rather than the drawing. I do need a fine point paint brush, for sure, but I think it came out nice.

In making the second drawing, I used negative space, proportions, shadow/depth, watercolor (mixing colors, glazing, dry on dry for detail and texture. I am pleased with the improvement in proportions and detail--I never even noticed the different layers and the arrangement of the feathers before. I still want to work on the detail if the bird. And, despite the improvement, it still looks very two-dimensional. But overall, I am really happy with my improvement.

Have enjoyed the processes developed during the course. In addition. I feel as though course has vastly improved my knowledge of the various techniques, which has in turn allowed me to understand my previous drawing mistakes.   I can see significant changes in both the form of the drawing and also the finished drawing. I feel a lot more confident in using colour and in mixing pen and watercolour to achieve  the required effect in the drawing. But as can be seen some work still required on achieving the 3D effect especially, but other area's too.

My before and after is right to left. It was easier to get the birds closer for the picture by laying them out backwards. I was able to apply scale/measurements. What a fantastic technique. I also applied negative space, especially between the legs.While not great, my first bird looks more cartoonish...a cute cartoon, but not proportional or close to the real thing. My second image looks more like the reference. It looks like a yellow warbler. The first one looks like a generic cartoon bird. I'm going to go back into the latest one and finish it, but thought the comparison worked now because it's a line drawing like the first one and easier to see the differences. I feel good about the sketch. I think I could go back in an increase values with confidence. I really need to work on watercolor technique. It was fun doing the washes and techniques, but when I tried to apply it to my work, I struggled with details. I 

I enjoyed this class and would like more! I am still working on getting the colors right, but feeling confident with experimenting with the different combinations. It all requires a lot of practice. Thank you Liz for your expertise and demonstrating the act of patience.

I I have really enjoyed this course.  I love seeing all of the other paintings from the group!  I admit  feeling a little timid about the watercolor process but it boils down to practice for sure!

I don't know if I have improved, but I have really enjoyed this class!

Day one at the top, today at the bottom, still working on getting the colors right, but more comfortable with composition and form.

Past on the left, current try on the right. Learning to look at negative shapes and how different parts relate to each other was very helpful in laying down the draft sketch. I've been avoiding watercolor for 20+ years, and finally through learning techniques taught by Liz I am really enjoying it. Waiting for the paint to dry between layering and faintly erasing pencil lines before coloring were two techniques that really helped me move forward. Still need practice on proportion & color mixing.

I’m pleased with my progress and bringing it all together. Still need to work on my watercolor technique! I can see the improvement in everyone’s work.

I like using wet-on-wet to give an effect. Watercolor has a "mind" of its own. At times, I use a wrong color that I intended to use and then will need to readjust my strategy. With more practice I will be able to determine how the color flows. I even have to compensate for color blindness, which can make interesting results. After doing the sketch, I attempted to create the 3-D effect with yellow by using the layering process.

using the skills we learned for measuring proportions and working with negative space definitely improved my work overall. i tried much harder to make sure i was seeing the shape, and not just the object. i'm very happy with the results!  

I have enjoyed this course very much. I definitely see improvement in my drawing. I need more patience with painting. Just let it dry! Thank you Liz. 

                                    I am very pleased with the improvement.  It has been years since I worked in watercolors and I love getting back to using watercolors.  I have really focused on enjoying the process and not so much the product.  I is a wonderful combination of my love fore nature and art.

The drawing on the left is a much truer representation of the yellow warbler. Instead of pencils I used water color. Though I am just learning about them, I find them exciting to use. Though I have a long way to go, I am very encouraged by what Liz has taught me. This class has been a joy and a revelation. Thank you, Liz, and Cornell.

Techniques learned in this course, and used in creating the Yellow Warbler painting: wet on dry, wet on wet, tinting with opposite color (i.e. to create shaded areas on the yellow a little bit of purple mixed in really worked!), proportions and recognizing the negative spaces, using hatch lines to create texture and dimension. I must be leaving something out... :)

The paint brush and I are becoming friends, thanks to the fun exercises in this course! There seems to be an early 'ugly duckling' phase (excuse the phrase), before each effort transitions into something satisfying. One challenge is knowing when to stop :)

I really enjoyed this class and learned so much! Negative space, gesture drawing, proportions, tone and shade - all make such a difference. Color mixing and seeing tone and shade are areas where I'll keep working. My little yellow warbler improved quite a bit! Thank you Liz!

I took art classes in both high school and college. However, I have learned so much more from this course.  Liz Clayton Fuller is an amazing teacher. She thoroughly gave us in-depth instructions for drawing and watercolor skills and techniques.  I especially benefited from from the lessons on adding color to my sketches. I think my biggest difficulty is being patient, and waiting for my watercolors to dry before moving to the next step.   I enjoyed all the lessons, and looked forward to working on the class assignments.  I hope to continue using all that I learned on future art projects.

I liked a lot this exercise because I could practice the techniques to add color. Wet on wet, wet on dry, dry brush, wash, I liked the proportion of the bird, and I think I need to practice more about value. Here is the before and after: