Ideas for a new still-life
I’m planning to start a new still-life and have decided to draw a Catbird’s nest with a Catbird sitting on one of the branches of the nest. I still can’t decide if the bird will have nesting material in it’s beak or not.
I have had several experiences with Catbirds nesting near my community garden, as my plot is the last one on a long aisle, and it’s sited right next to the Wellesley College wooded grounds. It’s very overgrown and brushy, and there are many berry-producing shrubs and trees all around – the perfect habitat for Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Mockingbirds, Robins and Cardinals. Last summer I decided to see if I could find where some Catbirds were nesting and I walked up to the nearest Bayberry shrub (approximately 5 feet from my garden fence), looked straight down into the shrub, and there were four nestling Catbirds staring straight up at me, mouths open! I do have some photographs of them, but unfortunately they aren’t digital.
Here are a couple of photographs of a Catbird nest from different angles that I’m considering using. (Click on thumbnails for enlargements).
