BlueJay

[Erica Shipley]

After posting Shenandoah and a suggestion to use watercolor with it came up I got an idea. I went through and found an old thread on drawing using embossing technique. So I took a photo I had been saving for a special drawing and printed it to size I needed and placed it over a piece of Bristol paper and traced hard as I could.

This is the result.



I have used my dip pen with artist inks, and charcoal sticks both black and white.

I still need to fill in the branches but so far its been a fun thing to try outside my normal scope of things.

Any suggestions or input is welcome as I am making this up as I go along I don't know what to ask yet.

I have no plans to forget and leave this one out in the rain!

[Erica Shipley]

Here it is a little further along with some branches being worked in. Long way to go still though.

[Debzy]

Hi Erica, I don't know what to suggest yet, I think this is just lovely! What a darling little bird! You have captured him very well, soooo cute! I think you are showing great skills here! Cheers =)) Debs.

[Erica Shipley]

More filled in.

[Finally painting]

Hola Erica, I think this is lovely, don't know how much more you want to do on it but it seems to me that with the bird being the focus that it doesn't even need more of the background. Reminds me of winters when I was a little kid.

[Erica Shipley]

I was going to do a hazy background so the snow and ice on the branches stand out. Leaning toward the light greyish neutral tones.

The original photo the shrub was totally iced up with him sitting in the center so I snapped it before he flew off. I am glad it conveyed a wintery feel. Will try to finish up tomorrow and repost a shot of it.

until then here is the photo.

[Debzy]

You are really doing a fine job here Erica! Gorgeous reference photo, no wonder you wanted to do a painting of it. What a darling little chap! =)) Debs.

[Erica Shipley]

Pending any Critique I am thinking its done.



was still a little bit wet and photo was at night. unless I need to fix anything I will work on getting a photo with the good camera in proper lighting tomorrow.

Perspective ok?
Shadows ok?
Is snow/ice to light or to much or to little?


Side Note:
I found a pic of a female cardinal from last winter I think I want to do next in the same bush different storm.