I’ve been itching to draw for a while but either I was too busy and couldn’t spare the time or my hand was already sore and I didn’t want to press my luck. I’m amazed my hands still work considering what a lot of work they’ve had to do for me all these years.
My most ambitious venture was our “attack” dove. I probably should have used a larger piece of paper — or drawn the bird smaller. One way or the other, this page was a bit petite for the drawing as I drew over the tear-edge at the top. Oops.
Inspired by still having a functioning hand and realizing that I remembered how to draw (it has been a while) I decided to try a new Catbird. I was very pleased with this version. He is more flowing than my earlier attempts. It suits him as catbirds are graceful and great posers for my camera.
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Categories: #Birds, #Sketchbook, #Sketches, Anecdote, Arts, Drawings
SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
I like the way you got the colors of the dove’s feathers to go together! Mixing different colors together to make natural looking shading was definitely not one of my strengths, so I greatly respect anyone who can!
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It is (I think) easier by hand (albeit a bit more painful) then on the computer. I can’t do ANYTHING using the mouse, so I was always impressed by YOU. Mutual admiration?
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I can’t even do the color blending by hand, so you definitely got me there! Colored pencils or painting…
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It took me a while and sometimes, it comes out really well — and other times, not so great. For every really good drawing, there is at least one really bad one and another totally mediocre one. There’s a show on the Disney channel (if you get it) called “Sketchbook.” It’s various Disney artists showing how they draw characters. I picked up a lot just by watching. It was much more interesting than it sounded.
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That dove looks all puffed up and ready to attack. Good one, Marilyn.
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He was. Doves get very “chesty” when they are upset. They also get fat and this one wasn’t ready for his/her bikini being both upset and plump.
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These are great – your drawing style seems to show how your confidence has grown since your earlier attempts, it looks more free-flowing and relaxed 🙂
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I noticed that too and since I haven’t done much drawing since July, I was surprised. How can ones style change if one doesn’t do any drawing? But I like it.
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Both are excellent.
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I can’t even say I practiced. I haven’t done anything significant since June. It was good to discover I remembered HOW to draw! I was afraid I’d forgotten. Glad I didn’t 😉
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They are just perfect
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Thank you. It’s going to be awhile before I try again. My hand really doesn’t like this. I don’t think it’s ever going to entirely heal, but if I don’t push it, it might last me the rest of my life — which is all it has to do.
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Yeah, be nice to your hand. 💖
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Two drawings — well three, because there’s one I haven’t photographed yet — and my hand is sore. It wasn’t great when I started. I thought by now it would have calmed down, but it’s arthritic — like the rest of me — so it doesn’t get better. It either stays the same OR gets worse. And all I can do is be careful.
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I get that. Hugs
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I love the attack dove!
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Who’d have imagined a dove could get into “attack mode”? They have gotten weirdly protective of the feeders.
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It’s so interesting because we always see them as peacemakers
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Peacekeepers? More like guards! I think they are behaving the way they are because of the feeders. They usually don’t have a food source they CAN protect, so I think this has given them impetus to protect their food. Honestly, though, I’ve never seen doves behave this way. Apparently giving them a food supply changes their behavior — a LOT.
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There are both great pictures, Marilyn. The attacking dove is simply splendid.
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The doves have gotten really protective about the feeders. All of them, but especially the flat feeder. I’ve never seen doves behave like this before.
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Hi Marilyn, I had a real problem with doves a while back. They took over all our feeders and then sat about in the garden, dozens of them, waiting for more food. I had to stop feeding for ages and now I use a small feeder they struggle to access.
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Well, the grackles are back, so they will shove the doves out of the feeders and maybe THEY will take care of the problem. I had withdrawing food this time of year because this is when they need it, but the doves have become a serious problem.
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