Written by When I first started sketching, a group of artist bloggers and myself would all post a sketch of a bird on the 8th day of each month, so I often put a bird prompt on this day. This original art gathering was a year-long extension of the actual Draw A Bird Day which takes place on April 8th. And from this experience, I realized I rather adore sketching birds! I’ve sketched quite a few on my journey, but thankfully nature has thousands to choose from each time. For today, I’ve chosen a couple of European bee-eaters as I was captivated by the colors. As the name suggests these are insectivorous creatures who enjoying eating all types of flying insects, but seem to find bees, wasps and hornets particularly yummy. Though they are visually lovely, not everyone is a fan. Particularly bee keepers, who have a warranted disdain for them since they devour over 250 bees a day. Even though bees are small, this still seems like an astounding number to me. And since they feed in the open, there are many stunning photos of them catching their prey in mid-flight. Until, of course, I stop to consider that they’re eating bugs, and then the little boy in me just scrunches up his face and says, “Ewww! Gross!”
Philippe is a huge fan of the original Jurassic Park movie and dinosaurs in general, so that’s another reason I enjoy birds since they are our living dinosaurs. And each time I consider it, I’m so incredibly thankful that they’ve shrunk in size since that time. What’s fun on a movie screen would be perfectly terrifying were it to land in your backyard. Though birdwatching would certainly become much easier and not even require binoculars. What I’ve found is that the most colorful birds, outside of a cardinal, are rather rare where I live. So, sketching them is a fun excuse to learn and discover different kinds of birds. A sort of virtual form of bird watching, which as many of you know, can easily distract me and it’s any wonder I manage to make a sketch at all. I try to stick with birds, but darn if those cute cat videos don’t lure me in every time. So, I quickly leave the video world and go back to just reading about birds, like I did when I was a kid. It’s fun to learn new things that just yesterday weren’t a part of my knowledge. That said, there’s only so much trivia one brain can hold, so I’m not sure how much of it I actually retain.
I’ve no idea if knowing a bit more about your subject matter makes it easier to sketch. But, I do know is that, for me at least, it makes the whole experience more well-rounded and fun! I get to gleefully be that little geeky kid I once was, and enjoy the fact that I’m still that little geek. That silly goofy kid who wanted to learn more about every single new thing he discovered. The one that felt the act of learning was an experience in itself. This is why I hold that little kid close to me as I sketch and paint each day. I often need to be reminded that the act of learning something is the very thing itself. The outcome isn’t nearly as important. As most of us now realize, when it comes to watercolor, there’s a certain lack of control and absolutely no guarantees. In truth, sometimes I think watercolor is in itself a commercial for just about any other medium. It’s unruly, we have limited attempts to paint on top of it, and we’re simply stuck with the end result. And that’s exactly the reason I adore it! If I knew that I could simply rework a painting for several years, like Da Vinci did with his oil painting of the Mona Lisa, I’d probably collapse in fear and frustration. Instead, I far prefer the spontaneous moment that happened only today as I made a little something just for the love of birds.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Aureolin, Vermillion, Indigo, Cobalt Turquoise, Terra Cotta and Cobalt Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Click Here! |
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I’m a birder, so I love learning about birds. Bee-eaters are very cool, not to mention beautiful. You’ve captured their loveliness quite well.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕Yeah, these birds are really beautiful. I’d love to see one in person!
I’m a birder from way back. I still get a thrill when I see something new or rare. My little secret for choosing watercolor or other paints comes down to my basic laziness. Watercolor is the easiest to clean up after. Plus, it’s fast. If I make something ugly, I know pretty fast, and I can start over. It’s just paper after all.
Yeah, seeing an usual bird is such a thrill! 😃💕 And yep! That’s precisely why I love watercolor… hehe… it’s low maintenance fun!
Beautiful painting of beautiful birds! I like virtual tropical vacations via drawing colourful birds. 🙂
Thanks so much, Myriam! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, I love going to places I can’t at the moment via my sketchbook!
I’m a fan of colorful birds too. Those beaks do look menacing though. (K)
Yay to birds! 😃💕Does anyone still compile them all in a post? And yeah… those beaks do look menacing. I don’t think I’d want to have one of these birds zooming toward me! lol
What a beautiful painting of bee eaters, Charlie. They look like they’re discussing (arguing over) whose bee this is. My dad loved birds of all kinds and taught me how to identify them by beak, feather, wing, tail, and silhouette. I had plastic models of backyards birds to put together, we played Bird Lotto, and listened to bird records of their songs. Of course, that was in the last century. I’m probably out of date.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 That’s so awesome!! You had quite a bird-loving upbringing. I adore them… so many unique and wonderful versions. And my identification skills are getting a bit better as I doodlewash them! hehe
Virtual bird watching..Love the idea…💕..Working on one painting for years..months..weeks..is not my cup of tea…
Yeah, virtual just about anything is possible via a sketchbook! 😃💕 I love it! And yeah… I don’t have the patience to work on anything for too long at all. 😊
Here’s to the geeks! I love this one!
Thanks so much!! 😃💕 Yay to the geeks!
Bee-eaters are beautiful! Only second to Lilac Rollers I think. We had about 4 inches of snow last night. There have been an unusual amount of birds around for this time of year and I wonder how they’re faring.
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 Yeah… the snow is crazy this year… hope those birds are fairing well. And I had to look up Lilac Rollers… awesome… I’ll definitely have to paint them next!