Sometimes you just need to reconnect with the basics so here we have Birds. These are in effect still life drawings as all of them are metal ornaments/sculptures so I’m not trying to target moving objects. Critically though, they’re not photos which means I’m translating an actual 3D image out in the real world into a 2D one on a flat canvas. I’ve used watercolour pencil on primed canvas and it won’t escape anyone’s attention that I’ve managed to increase the complexity of each image sequentially! The small ones are definitely sparrows but the identity of the larger, long-beaked bird is anyone’s guess.

I’m actually pretty pleased with these. Quick and relatively simple, I’ve made all four in a couple of hours with no preliminary sketches. What pleases me most is that I feel I can see living creatures there, not frozen, very still, still life objects, and that may be the eyes. Whatever else I leave imprecise, I always feel compelled to put life into the eyes and that lifts the whole drawing/painting.

With one exception.

I should have left these as they were.

SCH 2023

For a list of workshops, groups, conversations, and other activities see my dedicated page