Cheryl
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Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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I noticed a large insect flying over a trellis in my desert back yard while I sat on my patio. I was amazed that the dragonfly was of the same color. It thoughtfully posed for me as I took this photo. I am not sure I would have investigated what it was had it not been for this course. Noticing even the smallest things comes easier after being still in a sit spot. Terry Tempest Williams is one of my favorites. I am working my way her essays on national parks the The Hour of Land. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben will make you walk through a forest with new insight and respect for the ancients that live there. -
This was fun and I learned much from it. I have a century plant blooming in my yard. The stalk is higher than my house and loaded with buds. Every morning a Gila Woodpecker comes and announces his presence with a sqawk. Until the desert heat hit, I love sitting and waiting for his arrival. I think my biggest takeaway from this is to really make sure the paint is dry before adding another layer. It also showed me how tough it is to know how dry or wet to get my brush. I think I need to play with the paint more to get a feel of that. Thanks for all the good demos and teaching
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I had fun doing this, but might try again now that I have seen the next lecture on the three ways to lay down watercolor. It was fun to mix the colors. I actually created a reference with all the colors in my box with a few of their tints, tones and shades. It is interesting to see the color bias that comes through when adding white, gray and black.....it sure can reveal the other colors that make up the other hues. Thanks for this lesson it was fun.
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I attempted this drawing two ways: in the first I started with the feet and plant and in the second I started with the shape of the sparrow. I was much more successful with using the sparrow's body as a reference point for all the rest of the detail. It demonstrated to me how easy it is to get lost in the detail first which can end in disaster. When I drew the major shape first I was able to add the detail more accurately. Fun exercise that made me focus intently on what I was seeing in front of me.
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Yes it really helped me to stay focus. I did the exercise a couple of times and found that as I focused more and slowed down I got better. My own subject turned out the best, but I did it last. I was impressed that my huge gaffes were with lines that were supposed to be more or less parallel. Without the visual feedback getting those right was difficult and threw off the rest of the drawing. I really appreciated doing this as it showed how focus can help direct my hand without the visual. Thank you.
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I have been looking at this course for the last year. I even bought all the materials and then did not enroll for a forgotten reason. I just finished the beginning birding online class offered by this organization and after looking at birds in my neighborhood, came home and drew them. My skill with watercolor is non-existent, so I decided to take this course to add splashes of color to my drawing and start taking my journal with me on my walks. Social distancing has offered up opportunity for this kind of activity. Walking alone gives me time to study things around me that I see every day but don't really look at. I enjoyed all the journals and was thrilled to see that even with the different styles and abilities the results were so pleasant to me and so meaningful to the person creating the journal. I look forward to starting.
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Vermillion flycatcher seen in a park by my house. He leaves and returns to perch after catching insects on grassy area. My second bird was also might be a flycatcher. It is similar size with a tail that it wags up and down while perched. Head and chest gray with no distinctive markings. I think it is a gray flycatcher but could not get a photo. Song was similar to what I heard on Merlin app. I believe this is a Anna's hummingbird. Red flash seen on entire head and throat that appears black in photos. Green on back.
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Gila Woodpecker visits my agave bloom multiple times a day. He noisily announces his presence. Phoenix, AZ
I noticed a large insect flying over a trellis in my desert back yard while I sat on my patio. I was amazed that the dragonfly was of the same color. It thoughtfully posed for me as I took this photo. I am not sure I would have investigated what it was had it not been for this course. Noticing even the smallest things comes easier after being still in a sit spot. Terry Tempest Williams is one of my favorites. I am working my way her essays on national parks the The Hour of Land. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben will make you walk through a forest with new insight and respect for the ancients that live there. 
This was fun and I learned much from it. I have a century plant blooming in my yard. The stalk is higher than my house and loaded with buds. Every morning a Gila Woodpecker comes and announces his presence with a sqawk. Until the desert heat hit, I love sitting and waiting for his arrival. I think my biggest takeaway from this is to really make sure the paint is dry before adding another layer. It also showed me how tough it is to know how dry or wet to get my brush. I think I need to play with the paint more to get a feel of that. Thanks for all the good demos and teaching 
I had fun doing this, but might try again now that I have seen the next lecture on the three ways to lay down watercolor. It was fun to mix the colors. I actually created a reference with all the colors in my box with a few of their tints, tones and shades. It is interesting to see the color bias that comes through when adding white, gray and black.....it sure can reveal the other colors that make up the other hues. Thanks for this lesson it was fun. 
Vermillion flycatcher seen in a park by my house. He leaves and returns to perch after catching insects on grassy area. My second bird was also might be a flycatcher. It is similar size with a tail that it wags up and down while perched. Head and chest gray with no distinctive markings. I think it is a gray flycatcher but could not get a photo. Song was similar to what I heard on Merlin app. 
I believe this is a Anna's hummingbird. Red flash seen on entire head and throat that appears black in photos. Green on back. 
Gila Woodpecker visits my agave bloom multiple times a day. He noisily announces his presence. Phoenix, AZ Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)