What a bizarre bird. He’s all up in your face.
Cockatoo Chick
chick
Whopping Crane and Chick
Baby Robin
I like how angry he looks, and those crazy eyebrow feathers. I’m not thrilled about the hand, but it’s not really the focus of this drawing.
Baby Crow
Baby Crow, just as fierce as the adult.
Baby African Gymogene
Again with the babies. I had a lot of fun drawing wispy hairs on this guy.
Herring Gull Chick
Another baby bird. I like the fuzziness of the head, but I think the eyes aren’t great. They look a bit glazed and lifeless.
American Goldfinch
At this point in the year of birds, we were three months into trying to have a baby, and now I was definitely one month pregnant. Just pregnant enough to be slightly miserable, but not pregnant enough to tell anyone. So the baby bird drawings, while infrequent, now start in earnest. I love this one. The urgency of their squawking little faces, the vivid colors of their naked necks… it was fun to draw.
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.)
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.
claire meyler 