I don't remember ever seeing this many cardinals all together, and especially not 5 males all together. They're very territorial, except in family groups--and this would have been a BIG family!
I used VERY quick gesture sketches to get their poses, and then firmed them up with color...
I find your Cardinals totally amazing Kate! There is hardly a bird more recognisable in the world and the way they are depicted on Christmas cards (we can buy here) living brightly-red and happily in the cold snowy conditions is totally awesome! Lovely sketches!
ReplyDeleteLove you cardinals. Its always fun to see a gathering, but, yes, more often, I see them chasing each other away! Cold sketching these days but a bird that always lights up the landscape!
ReplyDeleteI like them very much too, but they never stayed on one spot.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sketches and birds!
ReplyDeleteThank you, all! And Vickie, that's it! They're usually chasing one another off...these were just peaceably eating our offerings.
ReplyDeleteYour cardinals are beautiful, Kate. I grew up with them ... but none here. I miss them.
ReplyDeleteI would miss them too, Elva...they're so beautiful, at all times of the year.
ReplyDeleteKate, I always like the way your overlap the pieces in your sketches. Do you plan that from the beginning, or just let it happen?
ReplyDelete"Plan??" :-D Mostly things just develop! I wanted a large closeup with more detail and there wasn't room left on the page, so I just stuck it in there and let the earlier sketches lap over...
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm doing gesture sketches like these, I'm working so fast I don't have time to compose...I'm hardly looking at the paper at all!
Beautiful bird and very nice sketch I would like to see both original!
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