Happy to be drawing again – it’s Thursday and time for an update on my drawing project.
On the Lookout, #2 is graphite being drawn on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper, the smooth side. Today was spent cleaning up the wood post adding in more wood grain and darkening/lightening areas that will make the post standout. Also work began on the Heron, establishing its foundation using an HB pencil, then the head came next (I wanted to draw in the darkest parts of the bird to establish the darkest values in the scene [HB, 2B, 3B and 4B]). Finally using HB the foundation of the body/feathers were drawn with a variety of graphite pencil values and a tortilum was used to blend out the feathers. This was only an initial start to the feathers a lot more work needs to be done. A kneaded eraser was used to bring out the highlights in the feathers, and also a short camel haired brush used on the feathers to smooth out the feathers for a softer look.
Next week the back will be expanded out to the right a bit more (to give a more fuller body and hunched look) and I’m hoping the feathers will be completed. Can’t forget the feet! Either next week or the week after final touch ups will be made, the lightest areas I’ll go over one last time and perhaps the darkest darks too.
Thank you for checking in, have a wonderful weekend ~ click onto image for a larger view.
On the Lookout, #2
Oil Pastels by Mary 
A masterpiece, Mary! Thanks so much and I hope you are having a terrific weekend! 🙂
Thank you Fabio, always appreciate it! The weekend was great – best wishes for a wonderful week ahead!!
Very nice finish Mary! ~Rita
Thanks Rita!
One of the most fascinating creatures, and you are doing him justice!
Thanks Elena! They are gawky and elegant at the same time ~ quite the character.
Nice work on the feathers. That bird has a bit of attitude, it seems 🙂
Thank you Pauline – the feathers are fun to work out. I’m glad his attitude comes through – he’s a tough one!!
Fantastic work of art, Mary — I love that classic heron pose, and enjoy reading about your process. 😀
Thanks Jet so much – I really appreciate it. You would absolutely know the Heron stance, thanks for noticing. We have one that visits all the time and sits up in our Oak tree – patient, but always on the hunt.
Beautifully executed so far! Can’t wait to see the finished piece. I love how you really developed the texture.
Thanks Catherine, really appreciate it. I love drawing textures with graphite and charcoal – finding all those patterns and seeing if something can be made with them. Thanks for commenting on them.
Awesomeness!!
Thanks Susan!!!
Mary, very skillfully drawn! I just LOVE the character of this guy. The title is spot on 🙂
Thanks Heidi, glad you are enjoying the Heron – he is a lot of fun to paint.
He looks quite fierce 🙂 Good for him! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend, Mary.
Thanks Jo – I really wanted that fierce, hunting look, thanks for noticing! I really enjoyed the weekend and coming right up to the next and I’m fighting the clock on getting everything done. Hope to catch-up with everything over the next couple of days. Hope you are well!
He’s being very patient whilst you deal with his feathers Mary 😉
Developing beautifully !
Thanks so much Poppy, this is a fun project to work on – couldn’t resist did a little yesterday! Have a great weekend ~
Herons make me laugh. They’re very beautiful and graceful when they fly, but when they’re perched on something, they’re almost goofy-looking. I think this drawing already has a lot of personality.
Thanks so much – you know they are the oddest birds, but gorgeous as well. This one is a wonderful specimen that I really am having a ball drawing. Have a wonderful weekend.
Wow…gorgeous…art in process! I am glad that you said something about the feet because I was wondering about that 🙂 Beautiful talent, Mary!
Thank you Patrick – it’s an amazing bird to draw and reminds me of one that visits us often (in the same hunched perch too). Those feet, yeah I thought they would be one of the last things I draw – funny right? Thank you for your compliment – means a lot.
Love this guy! Great feathers!! ~Rita
Thanks Rita. I love this guy he is a lot of fun drawing, especially the feathers.
Great Job Mary! Looks fantastic, the feathers are beautiful.
Thanks so much Isabel – appreciate your kind feedback!
Really great drawing, Mary. This is one of his classic poses, especially in cooler weather. I always think he looks rather grumpy when pulls his neck right in like that. He’s going to be magnificent when you’ve finished with him. 🙂
You are so right Sylvia, thanks so much. I see this stance all the time with the one that sits high in our Oak tree. I love working on him, pleasurable to work those feathers. Have a beautiful weekend.
Another good one developing
Thanks Derrick!
Outstanding! You’ve captured the intensity of the bird so well through his eye and posture. This will be another in your long list of awesome graphite drawings! Love it Mary.
Thanks so much Rhonda. I love working on this particular drawing – I’m forced to think about what I’m doing with the feathers and values, etc.. It’s hard not to just sit down and finish it ~ have a wonderful weekend.
Coming along well, Mary. Grey heron haunt my riverside walks here in the UK. Such gawky, pre-historic looking birds. They let me approach quite close – close enough for a chat! But raise a camera and that’s it – off over the swell, flapping low, calling harshly, to resume their cruel vigil on the opposite bank.
Might yours be a Great Blue? I look forward to the finished pic.
Paul
I so agree with you Paul, thanks so much. We have one that sits high up in our old Oak tree and is very per-historic looking, as well as hunched like this character that I’m drawing. Mine is a Blue Heron and I’m having a great time working on it.
Very lovely work Mary, lovely contrasting, great depth is building up and the details on the bird (feathers, eyes, beak) is wonderful (love the kinda not happy expression on the face) just as the woodgrain details on the box. It’s going to be a most beautiful piece.
Hi Eva, thanks so much. This is such a rewarding piece of art to be working on – I get totally in the moment working on the feathers (that’s the analytic side coming out in me). It was hard to resist working on the Heron just a bit today – we have one that sits high up in our old Oak tree and has a hunched perch like this guy I’m drawing. Have a wonderful weekend.
Feathers look good to me, Mary. 🙂 Look forward to seeing what you’ll do do them next time.
Thanks Geralyn! Have a great weekend.
You too, Mary!
It looks so cool w/o feet.. like a fantasy story for kids.. a different world.
Thanks so much Resa, oh yeah those feet – well they’ll be coming.
Cool! Just a note/question… When first I saw your reply about the feet coming, I was using my annotator (little comments box in right hand corner.) There was a Poll Daddy link attached to your comment & it is still there. When I clicked it was reams of HTML.
So, I came to your site & that Poll Daddy link is not here, attached to your comment.
Was this something you attached by accident, then erased?
OR if it is not, then I will report this ghost link to WP.
Hi Resa, I don’t know why this is showing up I’ve noticed it when I approve comments. Very strange, I’ve looked up the control measures for poll daddy and can’t find anything that addresses it. I’ll send a note or put something on the forum to see if I can’t get it cleared up. I don’t know what a ghost link is. Thanks, Mary
I have had this on other comments as well. I’ve reported it to WP, and they are looking into it.They found it most interesting.
Thanks very much Resa! Looking forward to seeing what they are able to do with it.
If they do not reply, and the tagging link stops, they’ve done their job!
Thanks Resa, it’s still popping up – a very weird thing.
I see the popping up. Until we see no more popping …do not click on the link!
Mary, the contrasts on that bird are cool and flattering. Great work. xo
Thank you so much – appreciate your feedback!
Such subtle gray values in the feathers. Can sense the volume in the layers. Beautiful, Mary!
Thanks a lot Tom! Really appreciate your artist eye – I need to work the values more so the highlights will show on the feathers, it looks like a couple more weeks before it’s done.
mary, that is fantastic, especially the feathers 🙂
Thanks Debi – it’s been a lot of fun working on this piece.
He’s a joy, Mary.
Thanks Patricia – have a lovely weekend.
Wonderful Mary! I especially love the feathers.
Thanks Nicodemas!
wow it looks like a photo!
Thanks so much Cindy and welcome home!
This is like a beautiful bird photo. The details of the feather is incredibly beautiful.
Thank you Amy – appreciate it! A bit more work to do on the feathers, but it’s coming along. Have a good weekend.
Looks great, Mary!
Thanks Jill!
Looks like Winston Churchill, if he’d had feathers and a beak, naturally. Something about the intensity of the look, I guess.
Ha, I so get it Prospero!! Thank you ~
Wow! If this was a photograph, it’d still be amazing! Woo! Yeah pretty much speechless!
Yeah, Laura you’re pretty awesome – thanks my friend.
The picture is unfolding itself beautifully… 🙂
Thanks Maniparna!
It’s coming along beautifully – look forward to seeing the next stage…thank you, Janet
Thanks Janet – it might take two more weeks, a lot of work to do on the feathers. Have a wonderful weekend.
You to:)
Very nice definition over all, Mary. Shows off your skill! ; )))
Thanks Cynthia – much appreciated!