Amanda
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Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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Having trouble submitting my photo of entire journal page but was able to upload these detail shots. Spent 15 minutes outside listening, observing, and writing and completed drawings later. I liked letting my mind wander to whatever avenues it was directed to by my observations.
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First try at chiaroscuro. More successful in pencil than colored pencil, I think. The contrasts on the pepper were much more dramatic and yet I had trouble capturing that. Maybe because it needs more blending? I like to look at what others have done and I saw some comments that others felt their own drawings suffered in comparison to others. When I feel that way, I remind myself that comparison is the thief of joy. We will all improve and as someone else pointed out, we are not all starting from the same place on the path. I am enjoying re-discovering this part of myself.
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With a still photo, it is easy to focus on the details and perhaps spend more time than one should on a quick sketch. The biggest difficulty I had was in proportions. I could not quite get the sizing right from bird to branch to background. I was not able to show well in my sketch that the warbler's head was turned to the viewer. I do feel like my sketch shows some of the vivacity of the bird and I like that. Drawing is another way of remembering so I hope that in doing so, it will cement some of the field marks for these species in my mind.
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Watching my daughter take her online art lesson at home due to Covid has reminded me that hey, I used to do that. I had many wonderful art teachers over the years in public schools but over time, I stopped creating with pencil and paper. I have never stopped making some kind of art; it just hasn't been on paper. I do sew creatively. For example, I make my kids' Halloween costumes, quilt, and do all kinds of needlework (embroidery, cross-stitch). My oldest son and I are both into nature photography and we take mostly bird photographs. Recently, I took up ceramics but that is on hold now due to Covid. Animals have always been a large part of my life as pets and as subjects for observation. I volunteer as a naturalist for a local Audubon Society and that has rekindled my love of bird-watching which I have alway participated into some degree but there have been highs and lows to that. I guess I have a bit of short attention span and like to try new things! Yesterday, my son and I participated in backyard bird count with our local Audubon Society and we counted 22 species. Not bad for not leaving the house! We were supposed to go to Peru and the Galapagos this summer. That may now be on hold. Regardless, I would like to try my hand at depicting some of the nature I see at home and perhaps in these wonderful wild places.
Having trouble submitting my photo of entire journal page but was able to upload these detail shots. Spent 15 minutes outside listening, observing, and writing and completed drawings later. I liked letting my mind wander to whatever avenues it was directed to by my observations.
First try at chiaroscuro. More successful in pencil than colored pencil, I think. The contrasts on the pepper were much more dramatic and yet I had trouble capturing that. Maybe because it needs more blending? I like to look at what others have done and I saw some comments that others felt their own drawings suffered in comparison to others. When I feel that way, I remind myself that comparison is the thief of joy. We will all improve and as someone else pointed out, we are not all starting from the same place on the path. I am enjoying re-discovering this part of myself. 
Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)