I did with two garden plants, I think that when you compare , you pay much attention to details.

I selected a familiar wild flower and then one I was not familiar with.  I was a little overwhelmed by the second one   (Right side) . I think the Queen Anne’s lace was closer, easier to see and observe. The second one was more complicated but did make me think of a lot of questions about the flower portion, and leaves.  Great exercise!

Such fun. I found tiny flowers where I thought there were only berries and flowers that seemed to grow from the base of leaves. The leaves were so different. Hard shiny plastic for the red berry and  rough as a fine sandpaper for the second, although they looked so soft. Both weeds I suspect, next to a road. I could not find anything similar when I searched for names.

I compared two Florida flowering shrubs: the Firebush and the Golden Dewdrop.  The Firebush has orange tubular flowers growing in clusters with medium sized continuous leaves.  After the flowers bloom, they form dark red berries at the base of the flower.  The Golden Dewdrop has tiny purple flowers growing downward in clusters.  I noticed before the flowers bloom a tiny stem forms, then buds and then the tiny purple flowers bloom.  It reminds me of a dewdrop and hence the name. Both bushes have similar leaves but they are not exactly the same. One is more elongated than the other.  I learned that both flowers attract insects including butterflies. I believe the Firebush also attracts hummingbirds because of the flower's tubular shape.   I learned that every flower has its unique qualities, but can attract similar insects.  I can balance my drawings by using different sized plants, trees. colors.  I discovered so many details on the bushes that I wouldn't have normally noticed until I  started to sketch them.

I wouldn't have noticed how the plains coreopsis' younger shoots of leaves only have 2 segments where the fully mature and ones towards the base of the plant have 5 segments, with the 2 lower ones being forked. Also the black eyed Susan has the slightest blush of deeper yellow at the base of the petals (which I found even more noticeable when doing the squint test).

I have tried the comparison study,  I compared two trees in a barranca park, I started with the bark, tree, structure, color, leaves, and needles.  I had about 30 minutes to complete the assignment.  I did experience a bit of trouble with my spacing in my sketch book.  Also need to sketch darker and with a better plan, will need more practice. I wondered why these trees were planted in this park.  I noticed that there were a wide variety of very tall trees and many species of birds.  I think that bird diversity for habitat played a key role with the many choices of trees planted.  And the needles seem to draw small bug eating birds to the ground under the conifer pine trees.

Doing a comparison study was a great learning experience.  I did a study between a flight feather and a down feather - which with further study I realized was actually a semi-plume feather.  The flight feather is a wing rather than a tail feather, I think.  It has bands of faded light and dark browns.  So, since it is faded, I believe it is an old, molted feather.  It is 9 1/2 "  and looks to be the feather of a red-tailed hawk.  The semi-plume feather is quite beautiful with a striking spotted pattern.  I plan to redraw it once my drawing skills improve! Also, I need to figure out how to identify this feather.  The spots are probably a good clue.

I did a comparison study on two volunteer trees in my backyard. What I learned is that despite thinking that I pay attention to nature, I don't. I missed so many details. This exercise caused me to look so much more closely. I didn't know what one of the trees was. My tree key was of no help, which was extremely frustrating. My son-in-law identified it with his tree key as a White Mulberry. It turns out the White Mulberry was not in my key, only the Red Mulberry and only with mature leaves. Apparently the leaves change shape as the tree ages. Why? The other tree we confirmed was a White Poplar. I had never even noticed the unusual diamond pattern of its bark! The trees came to my yard via their underground system of root suckers from a tree in a neighbor's yard. This study led me down a path to find more information online, which lead me back to look at the trees, which led me back to more study and drawing, and on and on.

I’ve compared between the sand bubbler crabs and the black stone crabs. The sand bubblers crabs: light colour that resumable the sand, with redish tips. Have popping long eyes. And live under the sand (I’ve never noticed them eating! They are hard workers while the tide is low!) The black stone crabs: black with a hint of dark green colour. Have half round shapes eyes fixed to their body. And live between the rocks and walls by the shore. (Yes, I saw one eating from a green floating weed that got placed by the rocks due to the low tide - they can be spotted even at the high tide time between the rocks and walls) I need to sketch that in details :)

For years I have not been able to reliably tell the difference between two species of blue camas that grow in the Victoria area, common camas and great camas. Both species have blue flowers with six petals and both plants vary in size and colour. So, I decided this would be a good time to really look at both flowers to find some subtle differences.

This comparison of two plants brings more attention to detail and how the same part of two different plants can be so vastly different. The question of pollinators, who does it ... probably hummingbirds or specialized moths on the columbine but what about the tiny blossoms on the unidentified flower. Using words, numbers and drawings intensifies concentration.    

I tried another comparison that looked at different stages of development of an Amaryllis over time. I used to study Goethean Science which uses drawing to understand the dynamic form of natural organisms, so it was fun to draw on those old skills.

A nice exercise. Really increases capacity for detailed observation.

I really like the comparison lesson. It's amazing how toggling back and forth between two leaves reveals things you wouldn't notice were you drawing them individually. I'm still overworking the medium to try and get the colors and values correct, but hope I'll improve over time. 

Living in NYC I don't feel comfortable taking a bus/train to get to the nearest park so I've been googling images for references. I couldn't get as much detailed as I wanted but I enjoyed the process. I can't wait to be able to do this in the real world. 

I am enjoying this course and finding that sitting, listening and observing the small things in detail amid the larger surroundings quite absorbing and calming.  Sketching does make one take the time to really observe and think further. This has been a wonderful way to observe the arrival of spring and see connections in nature that I have not noticed before. I am so impressed by everyones submissions!  I hope to add color to my attempts before long.  The black flies and ticks are currently limiting my time sitting outside (and the yard work that needs attention)

These were definitely two very different flowers. The columbine flower fell apart before I could finish drawing it, but it had very unusual petals (see top of picture for the real petals). Drawing these flowers has made me want to restudy the parts of a plant because each of the recent flowers I have drawn in this journal had me looking up flower parts and I still feel a little unclear about what was what. I would have called the sepals on the columbine petals...I found myself pondering the pollinators who would prefer these two plants - one with a very flat landing pad and one where you would need to approach the flower from underneath. Because the flower fell apart I was better able to discern its separate parts. If you had enough flowers to do this, I can see the advantage of taking a flower apart to better understand its components. I like to have plenty of room for the image so I sometimes have additional notes on another page.

Enjoyed this exercise!  It helps watching the video and seeing how everyone else is doing it.  It helps get past the, “oh no, it’s a blank page” in front of me!

1: Yes, I tried a comparison study & learned that I really need to do more of them. It brings out the child-like wonder, awe, & curiosity of learning & exploration that I miss. I did my study on 3 different types of Irises in my front yard & gardens. I noticed that Irises have lots of differences in color, shape, size, quantity, function, & systems. They also share similarities. The “why” questions of color, shape, size, quantity, function & systems all expanded into further study ideas & more questions to ask. 2: To balance my journal pages, I need to add more writing details & get use to adding numerical data to the drawings. I have been focused on the drawings & making them detailed & life-like, and by leaving off the information of who, what, where, when, why, & how that tells the whole story, was the important missing pieces to complete the pages. Everything is equally important.

I decided to compare these two plants in my back yard. It’s an unmanicured bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Some of the vegetation was intentionally planted by the prior owner, but most is native happenstance. I think these two plants are natural inhabitants of the land. I have no idea what either one is, but am now curious to find out. The comparison study caused me to think about qualities that I might not have noticed if I were just looking at one plant by itself.

I have tried a comparison study. Since I have seen the video I have started to notice things differently in the nature. I decided to compare two herbs and I have noticed different colors, texture, and leaves. By observing them during a comparison study I have noticed that parsley has got big leaves with a triad of leaves together while a thyme has got many leaves in a more symmetric shape. It was difficult to draw them, but the comparison observation made me thinking how many times I have not noticed things that are there. I do not like eating parsley, but after the comparison study I have to admit that I like its colors very much. It brings me happiness and light.

I'm so far behind on this course I think I'm in front.  Yesterday I went out to do my comparison study, our first decent day weather-wise in two weeks.  Either freezing to death or drowning in rain!  Some Virginia spring!  I compared two common weeds, common cinquefoil and what is called Indian mock-strawberry.  Both have tiny yellow flowers.  Both have palmate leaves.  Both are growing abundantly with all the rain.  My sit spot is in our "bird garden," a mulched patch with old-growth trees, holly shrubs, about ten feeders of different kinds (viewable from our breakfast nook window), bird bath, and the fattest squirrels who live in condos in the big trees.  The feeders attract the usual suspects: cardinals, house finches, downies, red-bellies, nuthatches, tufted titmice, chickadees, mourning doves, "snowbirds" that have just left, blue jays, bluebirds, robins, catbirds (who knew they eat suet?), and northern flickers.