The Artful Bird - Week 5 and 6

 The class is really kicking my ass.  Too much homework.

FALSE STARTS

                              

MOVING TOWARD FINAL ILLUSTRATION

INSPIRATION FOR FINAL COMPOSITION

FINAL ILLUSTRATION ON VELLUM

Week 4 - The Artful Bird

Here is my next assignment for The Artful Bird.

I just wanted to be sloppy here and not so studied.

We needed to do some research for the homework.

Here some images I might use for the final project.

Heads

Feet

 

Week 3 - The Artful Bird

I did a lot of this assignment on planes and trains as I was traveling this week.  It wasn't ideal for doing the color pencil work. I wish I had more time.  Although I did spend a lot of time on the assignment.  

Here's some basic info.

The barn swallow has long, pointed wings that help it:

• Catch flying bugs like flies, beetles, and mosquitoes while flying
• Make quick turns to chase insects 
•  Fly long distances when it migrates
• Move easily both high in the sky and close to the ground
• Its long, forked tail works with these wings to help it turn quickly while hunting.

Other birds that catch insects in the air have similar wings:

• Other types of swallows have long, pointed wings since they also catch insects while flying
• Swifts, which eat the same kinds of insects, have very similar wings

Here are some examples birds that live in the same places as the barn swallows that and eat different food have different wings:

• Sparrows, that eat seeds from the ground, have shorter, wider wings to help them take off quickly
• Warblers, that pick insects off leaves, have wings made for short flights and hovering

Here are some wing diagrams.

I hope to finish these soon.

 

Week 2 - The Artful Bird

I think this week's assignment was hard but I think useful.  I just kept working on everything until my time ran out. I'm about to get on a plane to visit my mom in Philadelphia so I have to get this assignment turned in.  I'm not sure I still really understand everything that's going on inside the bird. But I'm trying to learn.

My line work is a bit shaky.  I need a more confident line.  I remember when drawing the human skeleton the teacher said to exaggerate the joints and make them darker and stronger lines.  I think I could work on that some more.  I'd like to make the bones feel more volumetric and less flat.  I'll keep practicing.  I 

On Friday I took a quick linoleum block printing workshop and I made a design from one of the swallows from last week.

I'm going to redo it when I have more time.  I was rushing in the workshop to get it carved and printed before the workshop was over.  When I redo it I'm going to make the moon white instead of black and the air behind the branches black instead of white.

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Week One - The Artful Bird

 I'm working through the courses at the RISD Extension Natural Science Illustration Program.  Here's week one homework.