Back to Basics: Fundamental drawing techniques
I’ve been watercolouring birds on and off for a couple of years now. Of course, I wish I could do much more. Afterall, there are so many different kinds of birds and poses to explore. While I enjoy watercolour a whole lot, I got to admit though – I can’t say I’ve struck up quite the same camaraderie with drawing.
Yet, as they say, we gain strength and confidence more as we face our fears. So, it was finally time for me to invest more effort in honing my sketching techniques.
John Muir Laws’ bird sketching techniques
I chanced upon (although can I use the word “chance” in an SEO-dependent age now, Google?) artist and naturalist John Muir Laws while googling and I struck gold! Not only has he provided a tutorial on basic bird sketching techniques. He has an entire library of art tutorials – from birds and mammals, to botanical sketching.
John Laws has devised two main techniques for bird sketching with the main intention – to create the main frame/structure of the bird. Like many artists, I'm always tempted to start with the details. While it's one way to go about it, it can also prove to be inefficient at times.
i. John M.L.’s first technique: "Bird-on-stick"
ii. John M.L.’s improvised technique
The second is an improvised version of the other, but I think both are still worth trying out.
Personally, I find John M.L.’s second method more familiar to what I’ve been practising myself – which is starting off with a part of the bird’s body. In contrast, starting off with circles seemed a little foreign technique to me. I found it rather challenging to ignore the details of the bird and delving straight into setting the proportions on an empty canvas without much guidance.
Trying out John Muir Laws' techniques
And so, you've got to put theory to practise. I tried this technique, with a sunbird as reference (see my GIF below).
Steps explained:
1. Straight line for the posture
2. Circle to lock in the body
3. Another circle to lock in the head
4. Lock in beak and eyes position
5. Check proportion of head and body
6. Mark angles on the bird
7. Add in details (I added mine with a micron pen)
8. Add in eye details
And here's the original photo reference of the sunbird, complimentary of my friend, Sharifah, who takes awesome botanical photos. (Click the photo below to check out her entire repertoire!)
And here are the other birds I tried out using the same technique. I have kept the pencil marks so that you can see the work-in-progress.
Now, doesn’t this make you interested in trying it out yourself?
Reflections
Of course, John Muir Laws expounds his techniques best himself, which I recommend you should watch if bird sketching is up your alley. Personally, he is a true educator, taking pains to explain the fundamentals of bird sketching in a simplified way which a beginner can easily grasp. His passion for learning about nature through journaling is also evident in the lessons he conducts, and above all, the resources he has put up online is totally free!
On top of that, he has provided a free PDF copy on the how-to’s for nature journaling, especially for teachers, education practitioners, etc.
Oh yes, as for John Muir Law’s first and best tip for improving drawing techniques?
Draw a lot.
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