I haven’t drawn a REAL bird in awhile so I decided to try the American Robin.
I have been observing them outside my kitchen window snacking on dried red berries from my crabapple tree.
I started with a light pencil sketch on 140 lb cold press watercolor paper before I added a wash of color:
The robins have been fluffing up their feathers to keep themselves warm since we still have winter with more snow on the way! ;-( Apparently, the robin’s body temperatures are 104 degrees Fahrenheit so by fluffing up their feathers they keep their bodies warm.
I finished my painting by adding details with watercolor pencils:
I will be adding this American Robin to my mixed media sketchbook. I will show you my completed page next Monday.
When I see a Robin in winter, I will picture them a little differently now. A sauna comes to mind… perhaps there is a future weird bird here! 🙂
Happy Friday!
Cheers! 🙂
P.S. If you’d like to see a previous post I did on a Robin, you can find it here: An American Robin It is wonderful to look back and see how I am making progress in my drawing and watercolor skills!
Very nice!
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Thanks Kathy! 😃
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Lovely work, Jill! Birds are fun to draw and paint, aren’t they?! You’re coming along in leaps and bounds with your art skills and it’s very exciting to see visible progress !!! 🙂
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Hi Hilda, yes! Birds are fun to draw and paint! Especially when they actually look like a bird! Lol! 😁🐦 Thank you for your kind comments! 😍
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You’re very welcome! 🙂
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I love your Robin Jill! I keep forgetting about DAB day!
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Thanks Jodi, I usually forget but I remembered this month! Hoorah! ☺️ Happy Friday! 🐦💕
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Good Morning Jill, what a beauty. I’ve been seeing the Robins in my yard as well. Happy Bird Day, I remembered to post a bird, too,
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Hi Sharon, Robins are so fun to watch. 🐦❤️ Happy Bird day to you too, I look forward to seeing what you created! 😃
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I have only tried to draw a bird once, and he turned out to be a pot bellied parrot 😂 Your little robin is adorable! I had no idea they flapped their feathers to keep warm! Stay warm in the snow, we’re expecting more storms in Alabama…
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Hi Jenna, I took a class on drawing birds one time and I learned to see the bird in shapes. I have always remembered that the body starts as an egg shape and this has helped me tremendously. And I think your drawing and painting skills are FABULOUS!! 😃🎨
I hope you stay safe, Jenna! ❤️
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ahh, that’s a good tip, and that is something I usually do when drawing, breaking down into shapes, but it never occurred to me to try it with a bird, thanks Jill!
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Robins are abundant here and are quite territorial while nesting. Don’t get too close! I’m sure your sweet bird would welcome a visit, though 😍
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Hi Carol, this is true when they are nesting. I love seeing their youngsters when they are out of the nest with their speckled feathers. ❤️😍
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This is lovely! When I see them I know Spring is near.
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Hi Deborah, yes, I hope Spring is near! 😃🌷 We are still supposed to get more snow! 😳❄️ Most everyone around here is tired of the snow… we have it later than normal this year.
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Love your Robin! They are a delight to watch and paint! 😀 I can’t wait for Spring to arrive. 🌷🐦💚
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Thanks Patty Anne! 🌷 I was happy how this watercolored robin turned out. 😃 It is nice to see that I’m making improvement! 👍🎨
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Great job!👍😀
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I haven’t seen a robin yet this (hopefully soon) spring, but I have seen them in winters past. Birds do look at you in just that way! Great face. (K)
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Thanks Kerfe! 😊 Apparently, some stick around in the winter too. And we still have winter here….❄️❄️❄️
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Us too.
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That is lovely! I was looking at Robins in the backyard the other day and realizing I haven’t drawn or painted any yet! 😁❤
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Thank you, I love watching the Robins… but sometimes I forget to draw them because they are so common. I hope you give one a try! 🐦💕
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You’re welcome! I know what you mean. Honestly, I use a lot of photo references from old animal books I used to read to the kids, but I never copy them exactly.
I will definitely give one a try, too! 🐥❤
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Beautiful Robin! Love this, Jill! 😍And you’ve just leveled up! 😉
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Aw, thanks Charlie! 😍 Practice does help! 😉 If it wasn’t for your World Watercolor Month in July, I would probably rarely paint in watercolors! 🎨 You inspire me! 👍
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Aww yay!! hehe… That makes me so happy to hear!! 😃💕
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Beautiful robin, Jill :-). The colours are so wonderfully robiny! And I love his pose and vibrant and friendly eye!
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Superb. This is my blog for my paintings https://wordpress.com/view/aarthyblogger.wordpress.com
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Thank you! 😃 You have a very nice blog too! 💗
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