SBS Seeing week 4

One of my favourite nature artists, Cathy Johnson, was our instructor this past week. Several of Cathy's books have made it into my art library over the years and I've followed her blog as well. You'd be hard pressed to find a more generous soul and she didn't disappoint in her teaching.

We were to paint from nature and now that the cold weather has returned some old friends have returned to the yard. Cardinals are plentiful around here and the males in their red brilliance are certainly eye catching but I do love the soft tawny colours of the female of the species. This was painted from a photo taken on our farm.

I'd love to spend more time doing the gesture drawing of birds from life, trying to capture their essence before they move or fly away but that will have to wait until later in the winter, when time slows down again.

The next lesson for Sketchbook Skool has already arrived in my inbox as well as the first concept from Sketching Now - Foundations. These two courses overlap for a few weeks so between classwork and getting my xmas cards in production - well let's just say my time management skills are getting a good workout as well.