I’ve decided to continue with sketching/painting the neo-tropical wood warblers for this 100-Day Project series. By staying with the warbler form, I’ve noticed improvements in both the sketch and the watercolor. I’m using my own photographs and Jim Flynn’s from Chris G. Earley’s , WARBLERS OF CANADA. I also consult Field Guides, such as SIBLEY and old Brooks and Fuertes illustrations. Creating a life-like pose has been a challenge. I’ve been sketching/painting to music, which I cannot do when I write. The first sketch of Blackburnian Warblers was to Zoe Keating (cellist) INTO THE TREES. This second work of male and female Bay-breasted Warblers was done to Nadia Sirota’s (violist), BAROQUE. The repetitious pen/ink detail required for the work is well suited to the sounds created by these artists (No lyrics).
Bonding With The Landscape
Written by Raven on · 3 Comments
About Raven
I am a naturalist. I co-founded Headwaters Environmental Station, a non-profit/tax-exempt environmental education facility at Misery Bay in the Keweenaw Peninsula with my husband, Michael Scheiwe. As a licensed Master Bird Bander and Scientific Collector, I had unprecedented opportunities to teach environment/ecological education to children for 20 years. I co-produced the program, Journeys Into A Sense Of Place, narrative readings that heighten consciousness of community and landscape (6 yrs.) for MN Public Radio. I have a working knowledge of taxidermy (study skins) and annotated and mounted plant specimens at the UWO herbarium. I appreciate the freedom of kayaking, biking, fly fishing, birding, harvesting/drying wild edibles. Illustrating, writing, hiking, photography, and cooking are essential daily activities. I earned a BS in Psychology and an MA in Education from NMU. View all posts by Raven »
Wonderful work! I love the spruce especially. The accuracy of the needle arrangement really lends believability to the whole piece. Keep it up!
Cora, thank you for commenting on that detail. Yes, the White Spruce needles are four-sided and sharp, but have this elegant lift as they emerge from their fascicles.
Enjoyed seeing another image of your project, Diane, and knowing a bit of the research and discoveries that are part of your process.