Florence

Top photo is second sketch.  The other one my first sketch.  I think I’ve improved at least paying more attention to details and sketching what I see not what I think I see. This has been a great class as I’ve learned a lot. Now when the weather warms up and spring comes I can do field sketching.  I’ve had to do all mine indoors.

This is from a photo.  I have enjoyed this class.  I hope to do field sketching when spring arrives and I can get outside to sketch.  Also hoping to improve my watercolor painting.  And sketching birds which I enjoy doing.

I’m used to using acrylic paints. I tend to over work watercolor instead of relaxing and let it flow. I will improve with practice. I hope. 

I’m including the upside down and right side up of the required bird.   That’s was an experience.  As are all the drawings in this class.  Unfortunately I’m not able to get out much to “draw in the field” because it’s winter and weather not conducive for that .  I should have taken this class in the summer.  But my drawing didn’t turn out too bad considering.  Lol..I didn’t include all the squiggly lines in the body. 

Drawing using negative space.  I found this interesting. After drawing for a while I got the hang of it. Actually started making sense and looked like a flamingo. And was fun.

This was very difficult but fun. It shows to me how the brain functions. I tried to concentrate but found myself drawing fast.  Especially see that in the antelope drawing.  Difficult drawing the head.  I didn’t look either.  This was a difficult exercise but I actually enjoyed seeing hoe each one would look like.

I chose salvias for my project. Because of bad weather I picked the flowers from the planter by the front door.. Too rainy and cold to sit outside.  The variety on the left is Black and Blue Salvia.  The color is a very dark purple blue. The variety on  the right is Skyscraper.  It is a pink although it is described as purple on the plant tag.. they are definitely different.  The Black and blue flowers are much shorter than the Skyscraper flowers. The Skyscraper has a cluster of flowers at the top of  the stem. I thought the leaves were smooth along the edge but looking closer I saw they are serated. I think I will be looking closer at what I am drawing and this class helped a great deal.  

Sorry about that. I goofed when sending. This was challenging. Birds are difficult to draw so they look correct and not cartoon like.  I draw from photos most of the time to keep as a record and go back to it later.  Probably several things I missed in the photo.  I tend to only see the basics and going back several times I notice more.

I got interested in journaling after taking online classes.  I love drawing and painting flowers in particular but also birds.  I saw classes offered  in my Cornell lab  email and this  one in particular.  Also want to improve my watercolor painting.  I have gotten some ideas on journaling from the videos and will see where this leads me.  Learning how to “see” is where I need help and this class is doing that for me.  Thank you Liz.