Debbi Friedman’s Blog

I am very excited to be able to post a photograph of the completed Catbird building it’s nest drawing. The finished size is 18″ x 22″. It’s been a long time since I have spent more than three months on one piece of work and I’m very pleased with the results.

The drawing is almost finished. Feel free to leave a comment. (Click on photo image and then click on next image for best view).

This is actually two days of work, as yesterday’s post photograph was taken in the morning, and this was taken at the end of the day today.

The drawing is coming to a close.  I am feeling so compelled to work on it everyday and push it to completion.

Here are a couple more days of work to post. I am really loving watching this nest, and subsequently, drawing, pull together!

I am so excited to be working on the final quadrant.  With every development the drawing starts to pull together a little more, and I can anticipate the finished drawing.  (Click on thumbnail, and then on next image for best view).

Finally had time to finish the third section of the drawing.  I have also begun work on the fourth quadrant.

A couple more days of work. It has been difficult to photograph in my studio as the days have been very cloudy, hence less frequent postings, but more progress when I do! (Click on thumbnail, and then click on next photo for best view).

The base of the nest is starting to take shape.  (Click on thumbnail, and then click on next image for best view).

A few more days of work and the green leaves and twigs to their left are taking shape. I like the color the leaves add to the drawing, as well as the asymmetrical accent they create. (Click on thumbnail and then on enlargement for best view).

It’s exciting to be working on a new area. I am hoping I can finish this drawing by early in January of 2008. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent three months or so on one drawing. Weaving the twigs together is challenging yet actually fun. (Click on photo above, and then click on next photo for the best view).

Almost half-way done with the drawing. . . I’m getting so excited about moving on to a new quadrant.

Here are two more days of work on this section of the drawing. The interior of the nest is almost complete now. With the changing seasons and the sun going down so early, I have realized that I need to take a work stage photograph before 3 in the afternoon if I want to avoid the pinkish tinge that shows up in the second thumbnail.

Here are a couple more days work on the second area for viewing. (Click on thumbnail, and then click on that enlargement, for best view).

I am very excited to be moving on to working on quadrant two! Now the drawing will really begin to take shape. Today’s work is posted at right. (Click on thumbnail for enlargements).

Here are two more days of work on the Catbird. Drawing the tail and wing is tedious and slow going, but they are beginning to take shape and look good!  I’m getting excited about moving on to the next quadrant.  Happy Halloween!

Here is more development of the nest and the bird. I’m getting more excited about this drawing! The wings, tail and nest are still being drawn out. I’m posting a larger photograph for easier viewing.

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?

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).