I should take a better scan of this one. It looks too faded. quack.
Ring Necked Duck
brush tip pen
Surf Scoter
Lumpy beak face. It’s like a chipmunk baboon face duck.
Brush tip pen and colored pencils.
South American Comb Duck
Weird bills are fun.
Eleven Day Old Paradise Flycatcher
Fun with scribbly pen lines. Clearly, I was loving the awkward with this one. By the way, I draw a grown up flycatcher later in the year. They’re gorgeous birds, when they’re not all scrawny and molting.
Darter
Neat-o neck, drawn back and ready to spring.
Double Wattled Cassowary Chick
If an awkward adult bird is fun to draw, then the chick form must be even more wonderfully awkward, yes? Yes! I enjoyed drawing this one immensely. The “wattles” look creepily like human ears. One could call it “eerie” even. (Drum kick noise, then groan.)
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.
claire meyler 