The American Robin

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!

An American Robin

I found a dead Robin on the sidewalk in front of my home today.  I’m not sure how it died but I decided to include it in my nature journal today:

I see them everywhere here in the Pacific Northwest so I often take them for granted.  I enjoyed remembering my feathered friend today as I did a sketch in my journal with pencil first and then pen.  Finishing it with a loose watercolor painting and including a feather or two.  🙂

I did a collage of a Robin last Spring that you can find here.

Happy Friday!  🙂