Debbi Friedman’s Blog

I have selected the nest view I’m going to use for my next piece, and the challenge now is to add the bird into the composition. First I sketched an outline of a bird in an extra photograph of the nest with pencil. When somewhat satisfied with the proportions, I went over the outline with a fine-tip sharpie pen. The results were as shown in the first photograph.

This is not enough information for me to proceed with the drawing, so I continued by using some tracing paper to sketch the outline of the bird and cut it out. I then held it over the photograph and used some colored pencils to add some opacity to the bird and block out some of the background of the nest. More simple details were then added to the bird – just enough to give it a little definition, as shown in the photograph below.

Now I have a clearer idea of what I’m going to be working towards. I want to show off the classic catbird pose of it “flashing it’s tail feathers” so that it’s chestnut colors are showing. I plan to change the bittersweet berries that have burst open (a late fall occurance) to unopened, round, golden summer berries. Likewise, the dead leaves will be changed to green, living bittersweet leaves.

Click on thumbnails for enlargements. Any comments?