...and I was very happy to see the first juncos (or snowbirds as my mom used to call them) at our feeder! It's been warm here, but apparently not so where these little birds come from.
We were also delighted by the red-breasted nuthatch--we normally see its less colorful cousin, the white-breasted variant. I keep a variety of bird books at the shed--my favorite is still Peterson's--and hadn't realized this little guy was as common as he is!
I've been enthralled by John Muir Laws' wonderful book, Laws Guide to Drawing Birds*--among dozens of other inspirations, one pearl of wisdom I especially liked was "if you can't see it, don't draw it." So I'm trying to remember only to draw those things I actually SEE, and not worry if the bird flies before I can finish.
The basic shape and pose is all you can expect in a field sketch--a touch of color fleshes out the image. And of course quite often the bird will return so you can capture a bit more!
I have a lot to be thankful for, and one of the most important things to me is the opportunity to see and sketch the creatures around me.
*Please note John's comment below--if you use the link above, you'll be able to get a signed copy of his wonderful book, and it will benefit the artist/author!
Kate;
ReplyDeleteI think links to both books are not working :(
Thanks, Nina, I'll try to figure out why not!
ReplyDeleteKate,
ReplyDeleteYour artwork has been an inspiration to me for years. Your sketching advice has gotten me through many a rough patch and helped me develop my love of the world through art. I am delighted that my work has been an inspiration to you! Here is a link where your readers can order a signed copy of the book.
http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/store/the-laws-field-guide-to-the-sierra-nevada
Thank you, Jack
Done, Jack, and thank you so much! I hope you get a lot of orders! I'll change it on the Sketching in Nature blog, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you so much for your kind words...I think we all help and support one another.