JTMB
Well-known member
Spotted Sandpiper
These sketches (first three in ink, last one in graphite) were done from a video I shot at the natural area which I bird frequently. So they're not really done from life, but it seemed like a good way for someone new to life drawing birds to build up experience. I put the video on continuous loop and sketched from that.
Spotted Sandpipers are common summer residents and breeders in my local area, and relatively easy to find and observe. So next year when I have my first full summer drawing birds from life, they'll be one of my target species for a lot of practice. In non-breeding plumage (here) they have lost the large spots on the chest and belly that give the species its name.
I'm finding that bills (and feet) are my biggest challenges to get 'right' at present. That was true with these. The large eye ring was hard to get to feel at all natural, maybe partly because I was using ink...?
Critiques and advice welcome as always!
These sketches (first three in ink, last one in graphite) were done from a video I shot at the natural area which I bird frequently. So they're not really done from life, but it seemed like a good way for someone new to life drawing birds to build up experience. I put the video on continuous loop and sketched from that.
Spotted Sandpipers are common summer residents and breeders in my local area, and relatively easy to find and observe. So next year when I have my first full summer drawing birds from life, they'll be one of my target species for a lot of practice. In non-breeding plumage (here) they have lost the large spots on the chest and belly that give the species its name.
I'm finding that bills (and feet) are my biggest challenges to get 'right' at present. That was true with these. The large eye ring was hard to get to feel at all natural, maybe partly because I was using ink...?
Critiques and advice welcome as always!