Mariana
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Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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It helped me stay focused on my subject but it also revealed my hand by itself has no sense of proportion, balance, beauty or function-following form :)) -
I found it to be a useful exercise but once in the middle of it I realized choosing two more contrasting examples would have been better, since the two plants might just have been the same with different color and growth stages. Still useful as a practice tool. Also taught me to better organize comparison criteria: height, color, type of plant, leaf and petal dimensions and characteristics, etc... I went about it a little haphazardly. Great practice, nonetheless. Anything that sharpens the eye and trains you to observe and note, is good!
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It was a great exercise to get into a meditative mood where the senses were amplified. Unfortunately, my sit-spot, although great for drawing ducks, had a little too much river traffic and could never deliver enough silence to allow nature´s noises to come alive. The boats drowned the ducks´ quack, the leaves´rustle, the sound of water hitting the edge. That made my impressions and notations lack meat. Still, it was a good moment and I´ll be repeating it often.
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Lovely!
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Those are really nice!
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They´re really lovely! You´re a pro... Can I ask what pencil you´re using? Is it a thin charcoal or a drawing pencil? Thanks
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It was great fun trying out all the new techniques, some of which come easier than others!
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Everything was challenging about drawing the bird. My proportions and composition were muddled, I had to change the eye placement and beak direction about four times each and in the end, the bird ended up elsewhere from the photo. But it was good to have given it a try. Drawing definitely turns you into a better observer. I would have never noticed the different types of feathers, the feather pattern in the back, the flatness of a bird´s head and skull, the length of a tail with respect to the body, how shading a background makes an object pop up - even for someone who doesn´t know what she´s doing.
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1. As a student of environmental science I am trying to learn continually about every organism I can, it´s physiognomy, taxonomy, interconnectedness and ecosystem. I was inspired to take this course with the goal that being a keener observer might help me to familiarize myself and better differentiate species from each other; form and function. That applies to the rational naturalist in me, but I also believe, as Humboldt noted, that nature has to be absorbed by the heart and senses as well. Learning to draw, I figured, would be a great way to honor the beauty of the natural world. What catches the eye and goes straight to the soul and elevates the spirit. A celebration of the beauty of life we were to meant to live next to, to protect, and to safeguard for following generations. What better way to honor it than to study it closely and draw or paint it beautifully? 2. I was specially taken aback by two journalers, a gentleman who drew only (no paint or colors) but with a sharp eye for form. And a lady who painted the most beautiful watercolors of everything that crossed her path, seasonally. Both looked to be far above my potential skills (if there happen to be any!) but I appreciated seeing their process and results and hope a little bit of their influence might somehow manifest itself in my work. 3. No, as they are the samples already exceed all my ambitions.
It helped me stay focused on my subject but it also revealed my hand by itself has no sense of proportion, balance, beauty or function-following form :)) 
I found it to be a useful exercise but once in the middle of it I realized choosing two more contrasting examples would have been better, since the two plants might just have been the same with different color and growth stages. Still useful as a practice tool. Also taught me to better organize comparison criteria: height, color, type of plant, leaf and petal dimensions and characteristics, etc... I went about it a little haphazardly. Great practice, nonetheless. Anything that sharpens the eye and trains you to observe and note, is good! 
It was great fun trying out all the new techniques, some of which come easier than others! 
Everything was challenging about drawing the bird. My proportions and composition were muddled, I had to change the eye placement and beak direction about four times each and in the end, the bird ended up elsewhere from the photo. But it was good to have given it a try. Drawing definitely turns you into a better observer. I would have never noticed the different types of feathers, the feather pattern in the back, the flatness of a bird´s head and skull, the length of a tail with respect to the body, how shading a background makes an object pop up - even for someone who doesn´t know what she´s doing. Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)