..."The birds and the beasts were there...."

I joined a few urban sketchers at the state fair—where I found it hard to focus on drawing, with so much to see.

Poultry barn

Kiddie rides



Lamb judging

Sailing the seas of Asian cuisine, Thai and Chinese

Maneki-Neko (Good luck cat)

We recently visited a couple of Asian restaurants.

Joey Chang's, a beautifully decorated, semi-formal establishment housed at Mill Run (Hilliard), serves the Thai and Chinese food of Mr. Chang's heritage. The friendly young waiter recommended the combination platter; we took his advice, and split a delicious dinner portion.

Café China, located in the Perimeter area of Dublin, seemed to be a quick week-day lunch stop. The large golden cat, beckoning from the end of  the counter, begged to be a focal point. The Lucky Cat, originating in Japan, has also become a Chinese symbol of good fortune.

Bird hunting food

This bird stood by the northwest end of the pond awhile, then crouched, half-hidden, down in it. Then it climbed out and walked jerkily (on jointed legs) south, then east--off into the distance. Its neck had an amazing range of shape and motion, shrinking into a small, tight "s", then angling up and out long, almost into a straight line. It appeared to have a black stripe across the side of its head, but that stripe flew back a little loose when it was walking fast. It was the only bird I saw there, mid-afternoon. It may be a blue heron? Not sure.

Graphite and watercolor. This small Cachet sketchbook paper doesn't take much water. I use it mostly with dry media, to practice drawing people.

Robins at dusk

National Draw A Bird Day

Starling, from photo

I drew this iridescent starling for National Draw A Bird Day last year, from a photo shared by artist (and naturalist) Cathy Johnson. The bird had a piece of corn on its beak, I think.

Sketching is as much permission to gaze as it is permission to draw. I developed a new appreciation for the creativity God put into the lowly starling. (Looks like I got confused about the species!) This is the first sketch I remember trying to figure out the best medium for the subject. I ended up choosing colored pencils.

Related tutorial: Anna Mason, How to paint shiny colored feathers in watercolor

Ducks and geese, gesture sketches

Playing with Caran d'Ache water-soluble pastels.

Neighborhood duck

There were two, but only had time to draw one.

Highbanks Nature Center

Seagulls in the Rain, parking lot near Sawmill