Sketchbook work and a new goldfinch

 

I thought I would share Bea, a little goldfinch doll with one of her pages from my sketch book.
When creating a new bird I find watching the bird is always the best way to know the bird but drawing the bird also helps you to know plumage, My bird dolls are obviously very styalised, but my drawing are pretty literal.
The bird dolls I make are always taken from birds in my garden and in the woods behind our bungalow. I feel I know them and can render them accurately. I also collect bird greeting cards for inspiration. There I look for highly styalised rendition to give me a glimpse of how others see the bird and yet you can still see it is a goldfinch or a chaffinch. Some of my favourites are Jane Crick's work and Isobel and Frank prints.