Nambroth's Art Academy Classroom: Drawing birds & their anatomy

[Nambroth]

Quote:
Yes-- anyone can re-do any lesson and I will update their grade if it's better, no problem.

This is a busy time of year for many and I don't mind if things are sometimes late.

 

[iluvsedward]

I colored in my sketch and wanted to show it to you

 

[iluvsedward]

do you love them???? lol

 

[iluvsedward]

hullo? anyone here?

 

[Nambroth]

bella1210:
Bella contacted me in private and did a few lessons that way. For effort alone, bella1210, you get a B! I know you are struggling but I really appreciate and respect that you are trying. Don't be afraid to go slow and really watch what you are doing. If you would like to practice on your own, may I recommend sitting and drawing semi-blind contour art? This means keeping your eyes on the object you are drawing, and not looking at your paper much. The idea here is not to make a perfect drawing, but to train your hand to 'listen' to what your eye sees (and not what you think it sees).

equinehugger3:
This is a great first attempt! You have the basic shapes down pat. I can tell that you spent more time on the top of the wing, as the covert feathers have more attention to the shapes. Don't be afraid to suggest that the large feathers overlap more, as they almost appear to just be side-by-side. This is a great job! B+
(If you still re-do these I would be happy to update this grade)

Ducklover179:
These are very nice! I can tell that you paid close attention to the differences in shapes between the top and the bottom of the wing. I also like that you were not afraid to use guides under your drawing to help you place things. Good thinking! Don't be afraid to slow down and match your feather-shaft lines up with the outlines of the feathers. A

DuckyGurl:
This shows great effort! Did you find that labeling the drawing has helped you remember the feather groupings? Be mindful that feathers don't layer on the wing quite like shingles and would not quite go to the top edge like that. Sometimes it helps to think of the wing in motion, and wonder how it would look as it folded. B+

Chickenfur:
Thank you for the two weeks of work! Your wigeon duck shapes look very nice, and I can tell you paid attention to the form and the different shapes of the bird! A
Your wings are excellent. I really appreciate that you used guides to help you place everything, which can make learning the shapes much easier. I can tell that the wing bottom troubled you a little but you got the anchoring of the primaries and secondaries correct! Your wing top is really on the right track!! Did the lesson help you? A+


Quinn4321:
Your shapes here are very nice! You have the feather groupings placed well and it is very clear which wing is the top and which is the bottom. The only suggestion I might have is that if you practice again in the future, that if you slow down and carefully study the wing you can avoid some of the 'shingle' repetition on the top of the wing. A


NixNoodleNumbat:
These show a great observation of the layering of the primaries/secondaries on the top vs. the bottom of the wing, well done! The top wing looks a little hurried, but I really am not one to talk because things have been so busy! I blame it on summertime! B+


iluvsedward:
Sorry for the delay! Thank you for your patience with me. I like to grade in-depth and it can take me a while to do it, especially with as busy and hectic life has been...
Your wigeon looks great... very nice attention paid to the shapes! I can tell that you were closely observing the photograph. A
Your sketch of the wood duck is very nice! Since we are so far ahead from the first lesson I will accept this in its place (though if you really want to practice, and can do it on your own, drawing a bird from life or a video can really help an artist grow

). I have no critiques for this wood duck sketch-- for a sketch it's really fantastic! A+
Your wing looks good too! I technically asked for an above and a below version of the wing, so if you want to do the bottom view of a wing I will update your grade. I really like that you draw the guides for the bones, and the secondaries are layered really well. I enjoy that the small coverts covering the top of the wing are suggested instead of each one outlined. My only suggestion is to slow down a little when drawing the primaries so that they are a bit more clear. A


animalloverabh:
I don't want you to give an "F" because you haven't failed in your drawing... I just haven't received it yet.

For now I will just mark it as "Absent"...


the duck whisperer:
Thanks for letting me know you have been camping! That's better than sitting at a computer, any day. Feel free to post your assignment once it is done and you can get on a computer. Enjoy nature!

 

[iluvsedward]

Nambroth, you are the sweetest and best teacher I know, I normally don't like reading long posts, but I have read and enjoyed all of your lessons. I want to thank you for being supportive, kind, and the best teacher I know! 100% A+!

 

[Dutchgirl]

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I second that, and I'm not even in Nambroth's class!

 

[Nambroth]

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That's really kind of you to say! I'm actually really shy and nervous about teaching... I am not generally a 'people person', but at the same time I like to help.

 

[iluvsedward]

whens the next class?

 

[Nambroth]

-<< ASSIGNMENT POST >>-

I will do the following assignment with you! This is an exercise in learning more about the wing. We've learned the basic shapes, and anatomy of a bird's wing. They are tricky! But, things get even more tricky when the bird uses its wings. Wings in motion can be challenging. Learning to draw convincing birds, especially flying ones, requires a basic understanding of how a bird moves its wings. It is not just up and down flapping!

For this assignment, please watch at least one of the videos in the following link (if you have time, they are all great!) and study how the wing and feathers move on the flying parrots in slow motion.
Notice the feather groupings we've learned about in the last lesson. The Primaries and secondaries. Do you see where the bones are?

Watch the video at least once in full, then watch it again and pause it at any time that the wing can be seen. Draw what you see! You can draw the entire parrot, or not. The emphasis should be on the wing.

http://showstudio.com/project/perroquet


Assignment Specs:

Title:
Sketching a flying bird wing

Requirements:
- You must sketch a wing (or wings) from the video. You may, of course, pause it at the point where you'd like to draw.
- You may submit as few as one sketch or as many as three sketches.
- You may use any drawing or painting medium that you like!
- You may use color or black and white, or a combo.
- Don't be intimidated! You are not making a finished drawing and it doesn't have to look 'good'.
- Any notes you write on your pages are okay. Feel free to include your observations. This is not required, though.
- While I will be grading these, there is no way to completely fail on this assignment unless you don't do it.
- Due by Thursday, August 4th, please!