I'm going to try it. I'm not a totally inept artist but I've always been better at drawing in a cartoony manner, which I think could be fun for birds. Exaggerating field marks might be just the thing to help remember them.
Also, will drawing help me remember warbler songs?
Excellent! I think cartoons of birds you see on your outings or in your yard would be delightful!
I do think drawing will help you remember warbler songs, especially if you can connect them to something you’re already familiar with. I think drawing out the spectrogram might help too. Let’s try it before spring migration really takes off and see what happens! I feel like every year I pick up another warbler song or two, but others continue to elude me (like Bay-breasted and Palm for some reason).
Just the pep talk, and reality check, I needed to get out and field sketch. I, too, haven't met many art supplies I haven't loved or wanted. All. The. Things. But it can mentally bog me down. Your bird sketches are just the best, thanks for sharing your journey.
This is something I need to do and you've made a convincing argument, Kelly. I hanve't sketched in decades, much less sketched something I saw. I would like to begin simple sketches of 2-3 things I see on my hikes. This practice could help with my writing as well and make me less reliant on my camera.
Oooh, I do hope you give it a try, Neil! Those are great goals to start with and they absolutely will complement your writing. Please let me know how it goes for you!
Thank you for the inspiration. I'm a wanna be nature sketcher and tried getting into it quite a few years ago. I'm not quite sure why I stopped. I think I'll dig out my sketchbook and give it another go! I love how it helps make me an even better observer.
Excellent! Getting started is often the hardest part, but I think that focus on using it to deepen your observations will help. Please let me know how it goes!
I love this, thank you. A few years ago, I tried drawing birds at home, from pictures I pulled up on Google. Art is not my talent, but I realized that by drawing, I focused on ID details that would normally escape me.
I love the idea of doing quick field sketches based on memory.
Thank you, Kelly. This did convince me to try to add a bit of drawing into my life. I used to fill sketchbooks when I was younger--“I haven’t drawn since I was 10"--but fell out of the habit. Your points that it doesn't require tons of skill or time, that it wouldn't be for anybody but me (so no worries if one doesn't turn out great), and that it helped you cement field marks with the sparrows and swans, encouraged me to give it a go.
I'm going to try it. I'm not a totally inept artist but I've always been better at drawing in a cartoony manner, which I think could be fun for birds. Exaggerating field marks might be just the thing to help remember them.
Also, will drawing help me remember warbler songs?
Excellent! I think cartoons of birds you see on your outings or in your yard would be delightful!
I do think drawing will help you remember warbler songs, especially if you can connect them to something you’re already familiar with. I think drawing out the spectrogram might help too. Let’s try it before spring migration really takes off and see what happens! I feel like every year I pick up another warbler song or two, but others continue to elude me (like Bay-breasted and Palm for some reason).
Just the pep talk, and reality check, I needed to get out and field sketch. I, too, haven't met many art supplies I haven't loved or wanted. All. The. Things. But it can mentally bog me down. Your bird sketches are just the best, thanks for sharing your journey.
Excellent piece! Drawing isn't just for art, it's a way to learn and boost memory!
I'm experiencing with visual note-taking while reading nature journals. It keeps me actively engaged, and it's really fun!
Thank you, Bree!
This is something I need to do and you've made a convincing argument, Kelly. I hanve't sketched in decades, much less sketched something I saw. I would like to begin simple sketches of 2-3 things I see on my hikes. This practice could help with my writing as well and make me less reliant on my camera.
Oooh, I do hope you give it a try, Neil! Those are great goals to start with and they absolutely will complement your writing. Please let me know how it goes for you!
I would also love to see how and what you sketch, Neil.
Do ping when you start sharing them. I want to see how it feels to be restarting (vs my own Starting off on that skill/habit).
Bookmarked the post for a later reading. 😄
Thanks @Mr Noob and will do.
Thank you for the inspiration. I'm a wanna be nature sketcher and tried getting into it quite a few years ago. I'm not quite sure why I stopped. I think I'll dig out my sketchbook and give it another go! I love how it helps make me an even better observer.
Excellent! Getting started is often the hardest part, but I think that focus on using it to deepen your observations will help. Please let me know how it goes!
I love this, thank you. A few years ago, I tried drawing birds at home, from pictures I pulled up on Google. Art is not my talent, but I realized that by drawing, I focused on ID details that would normally escape me.
I love the idea of doing quick field sketches based on memory.
I hope you give it a try again, Carl! Please let me know if you do.
Thank you, Kelly. This did convince me to try to add a bit of drawing into my life. I used to fill sketchbooks when I was younger--“I haven’t drawn since I was 10"--but fell out of the habit. Your points that it doesn't require tons of skill or time, that it wouldn't be for anybody but me (so no worries if one doesn't turn out great), and that it helped you cement field marks with the sparrows and swans, encouraged me to give it a go.
Yay!!! That makes me so happy, James! Thanks so much for letting me know 😁