Barbara

I got very happily involved in this activity! I can get really precious with my drawings and overwork them, and was stymied at first putting down the first few marks & reworking proportions.  I work from photos I've taken frequently because I draw slowly. When out hiking, I usually just take a few notes & then photograph or do a scribbly minimal sketch. Here I decided to play with a mix of pen, watercolor pencil and brush, and pencil. Messing about with media where I'm less comfortable ended up being really satisfying. I know I didn't get the feathers as exact as a photograph, but I don't mind--as long as the significant markers are accurately depicted. (Plus I'm not sure I would ever have the patience.) I did like thinking through how to create an impression of the different textures of the feathers and lichens/mosses and how they moved. Without the photo I certainly wouldn't have picked up on the depth of detail.  I do find that I remember more about my observations when I draw and write.