Laurie

Drawing the Yellow Warbler helped me generalize what I Thought a yellow warbler looked like.  I paid more attention to the shape of the body and to the details of the red stripes.  Also, I saw how the values such as dark and darker helped define the wings, the beak and the eye.  I'm aware how much easier it is to paint something that doesn't keep flitting around!  I'm not sure a yellow warbler would hold still for me if I saw it in a bush!

I enjoyed reading your note.  I, too, am trying to find ways to get out of my house in socially distancing ways.  I usually love camping but am not sure how that will be possible at this time, especially in more natural areas.  I've decided to begin right where I am, in my tiny back yard.  I have a feeder and want to try to use the quick sketches of birds to show behavior and posture.  Also, I suddenly have two baby squirrels coming often.  I think I've always taken them for granted.  But as I watch them I see how delightful they can be.  I want to try to do quick sketches to capture some of their antics.  As flowers bloom I want to do sketches with dates as a way to keep track of what's happening.  With climate changes I can see doing this over the years as a way to document changes.  Hopefully, I'll get to be in nature and can do more "wild" living things.  I've made some attempts in past but would like to be more intentional and consistent about my nature journalling.