January 8, 2014

Life drawing birds.

I flipped open my sketchbooks in the Paper app and found these drawings. It's bone-chilling freeze-your-face-off January outside so naturally my mind drifted easily back to summer when the sparrows were hanging out in the garden.

I liked to watch them in the trees and grapevines near the pergola.


Birds are always moving, so they're hard to capture. I suppose that's the point if you are a bird.


I wait until a sparrow hits a pose I like, and I let it imprint in my minds eye, holding it there for a few seconds while I lay down the drawing.


I guess I'm not so much drawing what I see, as drawing what I've just seen.


Sometimes I don't even look down at my drawing, even if the bird has flown away. I'm still staring at the picture in my head.



When I'm happy with the silhouette, I add the details. It's important not to spend too much time or it loses its spontaneous quality.


You'd be surprised at how few lines make a bird.



So I'm watching the sparrows.


But I think they're watching me too.


9 comments:

  1. This is the first time I've been lucky enough to find your website. Your drawings are wonderful and lifted my spirits in the midst of all this cold weather.

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    1. I'm so glad you told me that. Thank-you! Your comment made my day :D

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  2. I love these JC! Sparrows are one of my favorite birds and you captured them so beautifully. I hope you printed and framed your sketches, they would make a sweet collection to hang.

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    1. I'll look into it, maybe a limited edition print or sumink.

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. so beautiful! i want them! xx

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  5. Just gorgeous. Love the shading.

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