The summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to further develop illustration skills as well as work on something I am truly interested in at the same time. I needed a subject that could be viewed first-hand in which I could properly investigate and really get to know. Luckily when I arrived home from Carlisle I found that there was two(!) abandoned chaffinch nests in the garden, and so, I set myself a personal project to study bird's nests. I set out to explore these lovely creations and as many ways possible.
Initial pencil studies
Acrylic study of light on dark
white on brown
I began to become influenced by the art nouveau movement in this one:
Painting with twigs and using leaves for stencil effect:
Bringing techniques together; watercolours on top of an initial pencil drawing:
Ink pen studies
More watercolour on pencil with fine liners and gel pens to add detail:
Ink with watercolour and pen for up-view studies:
Blended watercolours for a more abstract approach:
Pencil and pencil crayons with watercolours: I found this created a softer, much more natural look.
More white on brown:
A few sketchbook spread scans to show how they are in the flesh:
