Chicken Play

I didn't do a lot of art this week that is fit for human consumption, but there was some fun with chickens going on.  

I got inspired by Roz Stendahl who sketched a chicken as part of a sketchbook review.  You can find her blog post and video here.

 

From My Desktop

I sometimes save reference photographs to my computer desktop for those moments when I don't know what to draw.  This one has has been kicking around for so long that I don't know where it came from. 

Geography is Destiny

At the WWT these birds are being trained!  This is another entry in my International Fake Journal.  Just over a week left!

Watercolor on Gesso?

Watercolor and Gelato in 6 x 6 Junk Journal

Roz Stendahl does fabulous drawings in beautiful handmade books.  She also does exhaustive experiments and reviews of all kinds of papers and media.  One of her recommendations for mediocre paper is to apply a layer of gesso.  She will use this even for watercolor, so I thought I would try it.  (I'm finding that I'm attracted to a square format book lately, and the only one I have is this 6 x 6 journal made from scrapbook paper.)

I can't say that I'm convinced.  It dried OK, but the watercolor was very slippery going on.  The background of gelatos was very fun, though - fingerpainting!

Talkative Tern

Reference Photo by Sandy Scott, Paint My Photo

Sketch with Sue Kemnitz

Reference Photo by Sandy Scott, Paint My Photo

Hubby gifted me a wonderful on-line sketching course for my birthday.  One of the lessons encourages us to draw a bird - I didn't need much encouragement.

I'm loving the course - you can watch a preview here.  Sue's style is very whimsical and fast, both of which match my approach to drawing.  

Thoughts on Unfinished Journals: Why My Brain is Tired

Zeigarnik

Sprayed Ink Accordian Journal

Zeigarnik is the psychological fixation on unfinished tasks.  Zeigarnik explains why I spend so much time thinking about my unfinished journals.  You can read more about it and see some beautiful sketchbook pages here, on Laurie Doctor's blog.  She talks about how this is linked to procrastination, productivity, and multi-tasking.

Although I feel better knowing why I think about it and how to solve it, getting at the solution is harder than it looks.  (I already knew what the solution is - just finish them!)  Even before I read Laurie's article, I began to take the unfinished journals off my shelf and work on finishing them.

I'm trying to do them in the order in which they were started.  This is the first, an accordian journal just waiting for a few small entries to complete it.  

Now it is done:

And on the reverse:

Here's a close-up of a few of my favorite pages:

Oh, Canada!

ATC

Pencil Crayon

Original Photo at Paint My Photo

I guess there was one more bird in me!

I'm thinking about drawing faces again. 

A Different Viewpoint Means A Different Challenge

Elegant Writer, Inktense

Strathmore Watercolor Journal, 5.5" x 8.5"

Photo by Steven Meister - Paint My Photo

Spoonbill

Elegant Writer, Inktense

Strathmore Watercolor Journal, 5.5" x 8.5"

Photo by Angeline Rijkeboer - Paint My Photo

Just a Goose

Elegant Writer, Watercolor

Strathmore Watercolor Journal, 5.5" x 8.5"

Photo by Sanne - Paint My Photo

Blue Crane

Elegant Writer, Watercolor

Strathmore Watercolor Journal, 5.5" x 8.5"

Photo by Mariaan Otto - Paint My Photo

People on Instagram have said that these would make good hooked rugs or children's jigsaw puzzles.  I love it when people take time to make a comment; I so rarely get any feedback and it is very encouraging.

I Love Birds With Attitude

Elegant Writer, Watercolor

Strathmore Watercolor Journal, 5.5" x 8.5"

Photo by Angeline Rijkeboer - Paint My Photo

Roseate Spoonbill

Elegant Writer, Watercolor

Strathmore Watercolor Journal, 8.5" x 5.5"

Original Photo by Susan Mulno Paint My Photo

Definitely a Series

Elegant Writer, Watercolor

Strathmore Watercolor Journal, 5.5" x 8.5"

Photo by Nicola B, Paint My Photo

Yes, these birds are definitely becoming a series.

Another Bird Series?

Elegant Writer and Watercolor

Strathmore Watercolor Journal

5.5" x 8.5"

Photo by Angeline Rijkeboer - Paint My Photo

I think there might be another bird series coming.  Of course, that's only until I get distracted by something else.