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Morroco Sketches (1 Viewer)

Well guys, for your inspirational comments, here's two more: a 2nd summer bird sketched at Oued Sous in the same light conditiions as the caspian terns, and an ad at Oued Massa. Phil, your right about the 'uniqueness' of sketching from life; each to their own but I do wonder if this will die out when so many birders carry cameras now. I admire the practice, patience and talent that goes in to bird photography but it's so common place now that, to me, it's lost something. I suppose it was a bit like field sketching back in the late 70's and 80's - a different/more specialist approach. I've been sketching at every available oppo for nearly three years now, but still feel like I've only just scratched the surface! Hmmm, you have me wondering about monochrome now, Colleeen!

Just the Baldies to come and then that's it till the next trip!

Russ
 

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nice work again, looking forward to the baldies, hopefully they'll get reestablished in the Jura Mountains like they used to be, only seen them in zoos - gorgeous creatures.
 
Nice being gripped off by your great sketches!

I'm a little concerned about the amount of cameras I see, and about how it seems that a photo is becoming the only way to prove that you saw a bird. It's almost become obsessive.
IMO it is killing proper recording and observation. The goal seems to be in capturing what you see, without understanding what it is you are actually seeing!
That's why people like you are very important in keeping the flame alive!
People like you are not afraid to contest the reality of what they are seeing. Break it down into something you begin to understand. And, then, translating it back to all of us.
A photo is a 2D image. And as I'm often on the ID forum, I know they are notoriously difficult to assess.
What you do is set down the essence of experience, and tell us why it is what it is.
That is a precious talent, and should never be underestimated in its power to inspire us all.
Russ, keep doing what you're doing, at your own speed.
Because, it touches me, and others.
And if you want proof of this?
Read your own threads!

You are very valuable.

Never forget that.

We are not a dying breed.

We will always be here.

Cave painting never went out of fashion did it? Accurate representations of wildlife from before Civilisation?

The oldest representations of Art are the same as what you are showing us now.

Think of that. Feel better about what you're doing, because of it. Smile. And increase your output!
 
Nice being gripped off by your great sketches!

I'm a little concerned about the amount of cameras I see, and about how it seems that a photo is becoming the only way to prove that you saw a bird. It's almost become obsessive.
IMO it is killing proper recording and observation. The goal seems to be in capturing what you see, without understanding what it is you are actually seeing!
That's why people like you are very important in keeping the flame alive!
People like you are not afraid to contest the reality of what they are seeing. Break it down into something you begin to understand. And, then, translating it back to all of us.
A photo is a 2D image. And as I'm often on the ID forum, I know they are notoriously difficult to assess.
What you do is set down the essence of experience, and tell us why it is what it is.
That is a precious talent, and should never be underestimated in its power to inspire us all.
Russ, keep doing what you're doing, at your own speed.
Because, it touches me, and others.
And if you want proof of this?
Read your own threads!

You are very valuable.

Never forget that.

We are not a dying breed.

We will always be here.

Cave painting never went out of fashion did it? Accurate representations of wildlife from before Civilisation?

The oldest representations of Art are the same as what you are showing us now.

Think of that. Feel better about what you're doing, because of it. Smile. And increase your output!

I read a thread somewhere about 6 months ago about birders who bird by going out and shooting like crazy. Then they come home and try to figure out what they've seen by looking at their photos. That to me is scary.

One of the great things I find about field-sketching is that I keep learning all that I don't know and take for granted in IDing a bird. Last weekend I drew a Carolina Chickadee. He wasn't there long so it was a quick sketch. I didn't have time to see the eye so put it where it seemed most likely. When I got home I checked some photos and guidebooks and found out I was wrong. The eye is in the black cap not in the white area under it. It seems to me that every time something like this happens you learn a little more about a particular bird and also learn how to see birds better.

I find that thrilling!
 
Ken,

Scary is the word!

Love your stuff BTW!

Hope you do well with it!

I love Lars Jonnson's work.

He famously said, " I paint what I see, not what I know."

That has always been important to me. To record the truth of experience?

Coincidentally on the ID Forum today?

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=167882

I still am holding back sketches from years ago, of rare birds in the UK, because they would never be believed without photo evidence!

Russ is doing a valuable job here!
 
Inspirational comments indeed! Honestly, I do get a buzz out of sketching, like it's an different, infinetely more challenging approach to birding and nature strudy in general, and I see kindred spirits all around on this site. I'm sure I'll never top learning to draw and see.
Bald Ibises at Tamri, not much detail I'm afraid guys; these were sketched at 60x mag quite some distance away, and the little time we had at the site meant we had to make the most of 'em like this. I'd have loved to have had a few hours with them at much closer range; anyway, here they are - one of the world's rarest birds. Alas, they didn't stir the emotions like the spooners did!

Russ
 

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The Balds are superb. Sketching out the "isness".
I love the third frame esp. Very evocative of the bird's spirit.
It lives in these, or becomes alive.
I feel in these you begin to really understand "what makes it what it is..."
And in, your new found expertise, a few lines and some shading translate it back to us!

Perfect for me. More at ease, confident, flowing, at one with the subject.
Like that!
 
the distance between you and the birds I think has really helped you to see the shapes and proportions without being blinded by details. They are magnificent beasts to sketch, but a bloody bugger to draw too, mine were a lot closer, but the bars on the cage were a tad annoying! There are some great sketches here, just wish they were mine, there would be some lovely paintings to do from this little lot.
 
Never seen them before and not enough of the Glossy Ibis to really have a good sense of the family. But these do give a very clear sense of their overall shape and posture. I wonder if Nick is right that the distance was actually a help in allowing you to simplify and get to the heart of them. In any case a nice collection of sketches!
 
Often an impression contains the "spirit" of the bird, because that's all you have to work with.
Nick, I believe, is spot on about the "bogged down with details" point.

This free sketching. Unhindered and flowing.

I like that kind of Cave Art!
 
This a really authentic series of sketches- Ruddy Shelduck and Audouin's have the true drawn as and when seen feel.

ps- the gentle nudges towards some coloured work won't stay gentle for ever you know- by mid-summer it will be a clamour...
 
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This a really authentic series of sketches- Ruddy Shelduck and Audouin's have the true drawn as and when seen feel.

ps- the gentle nudges towards some coloured work won't stay gentle for ever you know- by mid-summer it will be a clamour...

LOL, I've been saying this to him for...Mmmmmm at least five years? ehh Russ, You can do it!
 
Ok Russ I think I've found a good interm step for you, Creatacolor Graphtint pencils, you can draw as usual, I like the 4b and then use plain water to turn them into a wash. They come in two versions, in wood, like any other pencil or woodless solid graphite... once you get used to the washes, color will be easy......now no excuses:-O

They are Austrian, so you can find them on both sides of the pond...here is a quickie I did on watercolor paper, but they work on any paper a pencil works on and you can leave them as pencil. I couldn't find any samples or demos on the web, so pardon me for posting here, if you use a smoother paper you get smoother lines.
 

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I thought folk might like the style of the Ibises. I was in two minds at the time whether to attempt these due to the distance, but as I endeavour to draw what I see it wouldn't matter that I only had an impression of the pink face and bald head -the jizz is all that mattered.
I think what Nick says about just having a shape rather than detail to focus on certainly helps, but Ive been trying to 'block out' detail and just see the basic form for months, actually, so I think it's a combination of both the distance and that extra effort while out practicing. Incidentally, I was sketching curlews yesterday and bemoaning the fact that I couldn't get close enough to em, which actualy helped me get more realistic shapes.
I've heard of graphitint, Colleen, and I'll give them a go; will a selection of browns, olives and buffs do for starters?
Anyway, encore time: couldn't leave out two specialities: Levaillant's woodie near Oukamaiden and my, bird of the trip - Desert Sparrow at Erg Ghebbi out in 'Lawrence of Arabia' country. The woodie obligingly perched up for 15 mins or so, offering crippling views, and the 'spuggie' has mystique, scarcity and is a wonderful example of the environment here.

Cheers

Russ

Ps - aye, Rockfowl has always been right: less is more; it's just that I need someone with a cattle prod behind me all the time!
 

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cracking angle on the Levaillant's, something I'd love to see. Nice full solid bird - I often draw Picus too skinny. Desert Sparrow looks like a happy chappy.
 
delightful sketches Russ,

I wasn't thinking of color yet, just getting the hang of washes and values that is why I suggested the regular pencil...but by all means add some color too.
 
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