bird

Philippine Eagle

| clairemeyler

2010.4.1.Philippine.Eagle

Another proud bird. I was excited when National Geographic did a story on the Philippine Eagle, because I am half-Filipino and I am always proud to see uplifting stories about my Nanay’s (mother) homeland. Apparently, these birds are very secretive and elusive.

This bird really worked for me. His eyes are a little quizzical, a little mysterious. That, with the little squiggle of a mouth makes him hard to read. He might be trying to tell us something, but what?

I sold this one to a friend at an art show.

*Side note – my 100th post! insert fireworks show here!*

California Osprey

| clairemeyler

2010.3.31.California.Osprey

 

One of my favorites from the year. This one just works. Great, powerful profile, such fun little feathers to draw, and I like the simple elegant composition.

I used the brush tip pens, which I completely fell in love with through this bird project. I also used colored pencil. Another proud California bird.

Semipalmated Plover

| clairemeyler

2010.3.30.Semipalvated.Plover

 

Vocabulary word: semipalmated means that he has partially webbed toes. This apparently is common for wading birds. So the very attribute that gives this bird such a funky name is nowhere to be seen in this image. Instead, you get a smirk and some shoulder action. But I like the swallow silhouette in the background.

White Ibis

| clairemeyler

2010.3.29.White.Ibis

 

Not one of my best. And the scan completely washed him out. Later in the year, I learned how to adjust the scanner so that colored pencil and graphite didn’t get so washed out. But for this one, I guess I was still just letting it get washed out and shrugging my shoulders.

Long Tailed Jaeger

| clairemeyler

2010.3.27.Long.Tailed.Jaeger

 

Another National Geographic model. One of my daydreams is to be a photographer for Nat Geo – but then I’d have to be a seriously good photographer instead of an illustrator. Mostly, I just want to travel on someone else’s dime and see lots of cool stuff. If I won the lottery, that’s what I’d do.

Great Egret

| clairemeyler

2010.3.26.Great.Egret

 

Somewhere between graceful and awkward lies the Great Egret. I can’t get enough of these birds. I drew one in January and one in February, too. I just kept finding awesome pictures of them, so I just kept drawing them.

I see Egrets all the time at the seashore, especially when we’re walking our dog at Point Isabel or at the Emeryville shoreline. Most of the time, they just eye us warily but don’t bother to flap away.

Hornbill Chick

| clairemeyler

2010.3.25.Hornbill.Chick

 

The hornbill is such a fun bird to draw. I adore this one.

Once upon a time, I only wanted to draw regal birds. But over the course of this project, I learned that there is something so much more satisfying about drawing an awkward bird than a majestic one. There’s so much more to uncover: wiggly bits, scratchy lines, and fun places for my pen to go wandering. I feel like there’s more discovery in an awkward bird. I learned about pin feathers on this one. They’re neat.

Green Jay

| clairemeyler

2010.3.24.Green.Jay

 

This little guy is sitting on a wing bone from that old (massive 6 foot) drawing, re-purposed as a background for this series. Why did I do the original drawing in red? Because it was a terrible drawing, and many bad decisions were made. I like the re-use of it, though. I chose a green jay to contrast the red.