BYC’s BirdTober Thread - 2024

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

I love the way you draw parrots, Clouds! You really capture their little (or should I say very big) personalities.

Thank you! So true I used to draw people's parrots alot and getting their personality right was a HUGE part of it! And I'm glad that picture shows it cause it wouldn't be a lorikeet/Lory without personality
That drawing was also a bit of an experiment to see how much I could not use references. I think it went well

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Red
Summer tanagerView attachment 3957631

What medium did you use? I love the vibrant colors.

 

[Amer]

The angle of his eye and beak is really good!

Thank you! I feel like that's really the trick to get it looking like the bird you're supposed to draw, and the challenge! Usually when a bird sketch looks "off" to me, it's because I need to move the eye. And every bird species has a different beak shape and angle, so to capture the species, you have to do a new one every time! Drawing the tiny, thin upturned warbler beaks is so strange to me (though manageable) because of the angle and I wonder how the beak closes when it's such a triangle!

Hi guys! I haven't started because I went on an overnight trip. I just got back last night. Hopefully after work I'll have enough energy to at least start today! Everyone's art is amazing!

Welcome back!

Right now I am right on time, not a day ahead or behind. But I have some WIPs so I'll be ahead soon.

 

[Amer]

What medium did you use? I love the vibrant colors.

I used colored pencils. When coloring it I discovered that to get the saturated color without the "pencil texture" I basically had to go over the red several times and press hard. I do have thicker paper though.
The "poppy red" color is Prismacolor. But I have a "Colors of the World" Crayola set which I found very useful for shading the feather details (I used a deep rose.)
I also found that while the white colored pencils isn't very useful for making white marks on colored areas it's perfect for blending the areas where you use less pigment and getting rid of the "pencil texture."
I don't know why but that is the first drawing I've done where I really understood colored pencils. Not sure if something just clicked or if the thicker paper of my new sketchbook is responsible.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I used colored pencils. When coloring it I discovered that to get the saturated color without the "pencil texture" I basically had to go over the red several times and press hard. I do have thicker paper though.
The "poppy red" color is Prismacolor. But I have a "Colors of the World" Crayola set which I found very useful for shading the feather details (I used a deep rose.)
I also found that while the white colored pencils isn't very useful for making white marks on colored areas it's perfect for blending the areas where you use less pigment and getting rid of the "pencil texture."
I don't know why but that is the first drawing I've done where I really understood colored pencils. Not sure if something just clicked or if the thicker paper of my new sketchbook is responsible.

That’s cool! I thought for sure you used pastels. I’ve never been able to get colored pencils down either, but I’m hoping to draw my red bird with some.

 

[Amer]

That’s cool! I thought for sure you used pastels. I’ve never been able to get colored pencils down either, but I’m hoping to draw my red bird with some.

I sort of just caked the pigment on and drew on top of that as well.
I used acrylic spray though to finish so hopefully it doesn't get on the next page

 

[Amer]

So I've discovered that the thick paper makes it almost impossible to completely erase pencil marks.
On the plus side I can layer on the colored pencils and then put on a thick layer of acrylic spray without worrying about it. I've discovered before it dries, this substance (the mix of colored pencils and acrylic) is sticky. With the amount of acrylic I use, I worry for my lungs.

 

[RDchicken99]

Day four: red
Luzon bleeding-heart

They’re such neat little birds and I am an absolute sucker for doves and pigeons. Expect more of them from me.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Day four: red
Luzon bleeding-heart
View attachment 3957964
They’re such neat little birds and I am an absolute sucker for doves and pigeons. Except more of them from me.

Ah, I love those! Gorgeous picture!

 

[Amer]

Day four: red
Luzon bleeding-heart
View attachment 3957964
They’re such neat little birds and I am an absolute sucker for doves and pigeons. Expect more of them from me.

It looks so powerful. The shininess is just

I also love doves and pigeons. The first year I did so many...