Catherine

While I started this course in October I am just completing this exercise now, sitting in my snowy garden. I learned a lot and will need to practice this much more often. The gesture drawing lesson is very helpful here with the birds in the yard. I was a bit surprised that I wrote much more than I drew. Maybe the ratio will shift when my drawing skills improve. I paid much closer attention to the structure of the snowdrops than I would in the past. I looked at how they survived last week’s 30 cm snowfall and how the leaves may have helped shelter the blossoms. 

Same with me, Alicia, I also had a harder time with the sketchy lines. I need to slow down and practice these exercises some more before I move on to the next lesson. I was also surprised that I had trouble with the shadow when trying to draw an apple. My new resolution: when I want to eat an apple I have to draw it first!

I can see you were able to capture the bird's head turned slightly. It was not until I started drawing that I noticed that, and found it hard to do.

I have kept a written weather/nature notebook for years. Last year I started a homemade bird book from my photographs but found myself wanting to make more notes about their behaviour throughout the year, like chickadees making a nest in a dead apple tree in my yard. I tried small drawings but was frustrated by my lack of skill. I have learned some ideas from each of the journals shown. I like the zoom idea, trying different movements of the birds and simple use of colour. I am also learning a lot from the comments of my new classmates, thanks!