Deborah
Forum Replies Created
-
Melissa, I think your drawing is one of the most unique ones I've seen in the course because of your use of a decorative frame. Your yellow warbler is so sweet! I think the black ink pen outlining gives strength to your watercolors. Thanks for sharing.
-
I had the same problem Jean, my eye and hand speed didn't match.
-
Well that was frustrating , humbling, and a good exercise to loosen up, observe and enjoy the gestural quality of line. Also made me laugh. Love my Springbok drawing it reminds me of cave drawings.
-
@Karen Karen thank you so much for your much appreciated comment. I hope I can encourage others to post their work too.
-
I really like the placement of your drawn objects and the way you connect them with a wash of 'water'. Very visually appealing! Your lettering is to be admired and an inspiration for me for future journal entries of mine. Thanks for posting.
-
Light from above spreads over the many surfaces of the apple causes multiple highlights and shadows. An apple is an imperfect sphere. Challenging. This apple is a yellow and pinkish red gala. -
Susan, I'm so happy that you discovered your talent!
-
I love how spontaneous this watercolor feels!
-
@Penny Thanks it's a journey. Looking forward to and excited about seeing where we all go!
-
I was very excited to try the new watercolors and watercolor brush suggested in this course. So first I did a color drawing then the pencil drawing. I overworked each drawing.I struggle to get the right angles and proportions. When drawing from a photo I have so much time to think and I don't concentrate on the essence and gesture in the moment but details. My drawing ability , lack of knowledge of bird anatomy and desire to make a realistic drawing stop me from looking at the overall shape and angle of the bird. I'm like a kid in the candy shop caught by all the colored candy (details) not knowing which to choose. I still had fun trying!
-
WoW! I love this drawing! you nailed it with so few lines and less detail. That Warbler looks alive!
-
@Lisa Having studied art too ( almost 50 years ago) I realized while doing my drawings and the next lesson that my drawing teachers would emphasize contour drawing. We were trained to not put sketchy short lines on paper but 'confident' flowing line in a stroke. I feel this in your drawing.
-
Olwen, what a great idea to give yourself a time limit! I was attracted to the lichen too. I didn't see five species. Thanks for noticing.
-
I really like the way you used short squiggly line to show texture on the branch. You did such a good drawing for someone just beginning to draw.
-
@Adrienne And you too Adrienne! Your work is hanging in my home too! Lisa gave me one of your amazing drawings for Christmas last year. I can't wait to let Lisa know I met you in this course. We are happy to have Lisa closer to home but I know she misses The Field Museum and the people she worked with a lot.
-
Adrienne, We have a connection with the Field Museum. My daughter Lisa worked there, on the Sue project and just returned to the NYC area. I'm wondering if you know each other.
-
@Maidie Thanks Maidie for appreciating the humor and story behind my sighting and drawing. In defense of my knowledgeable friend they gave me suggestions to help in the future bird sleuthing/ drawing. Their words: "I'm clueless as to the bird species.. Golden- or Black-bellied Plover? What did the beak look like? Legs? Color of breast and back? Any wing or tail patterns? On NJ shore, you can get lots of oddities.We get NW species and an occasional European ones." That red knot had lots of attitude! It made me go on a search to identify it. The good news is the population is hopefully increasing and I'm determined to see another Red Knot. Hoping to see one during spring migration when the birds land at the horseshoe egg laying season in Delaware Bay.
-
@Alicia Guess what Alicia you are right! Red Knot- first one I have ever seen on the shore of Lavalllette, NJ. I went to Island Beach State Park in NJ and spoke to the naturalist in their Nature Center. They had a taxidermy carcass of a red knot, pictures and a mural with a red knot on the wall. Bingo!
-
@Karen Thanks for your encouragement Karen!
-
This is why I'm taking this course! I saw this unusual bird on the beach and came home and drew it from memory. I sent the pic to a friend who has her MA in Ornithology with these notes: bird's body was compact & football shaped, dirty rusty colored breast , legs were hidden by the sand bank, very alert and purposeful in gaze and movements. Solitary. She responded," I have no clue what bird it is." Looking forward to learning a lot!
Light from above spreads over the many surfaces of the apple causes multiple highlights and shadows. An apple is an imperfect sphere. Challenging. This apple is a yellow and pinkish red gala. 
I was very excited to try the new watercolors and watercolor brush suggested in this course. So first I did a color drawing then the pencil drawing. I overworked each drawing.I struggle to get the right angles and proportions. When drawing from a photo I have so much time to think and I don't concentrate on the essence and gesture in the moment but details. My drawing ability , lack of knowledge of bird anatomy and desire to make a realistic drawing stop me from looking at the overall shape and angle of the bird. I'm like a kid in the candy shop caught by all the colored candy (details) not knowing which to choose. I still had fun trying! 
This is why I'm taking this course! I saw this unusual bird on the beach and came home and drew it from memory. I sent the pic to a friend who has her MA in Ornithology with these notes: bird's body was compact & football shaped, dirty rusty colored breast , legs were hidden by the sand bank, very alert and purposeful in gaze and movements. Solitary. She responded," I have no clue what bird it is." Looking forward to learning a lot!